Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert (TV 2001)

This movie is a recorded performance in concert. It all begins when Benjamin Barker( George Hearn), a mysterious,quiet,and subtle barber, returns to his hometown in London after escaping ... See full summary »

Director:

Lonny Price

Writer:

Hugh Wheeler (book)

Stars:

George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Neil Patrick Harris

Won 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview:
George Hearn	...	Sweeney Todd
Patti LuPone	...	Mrs. Lovett
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Tobias Ragg
Timothy Nolen	...	Judge Turpin
Davis Gaines	...	Anthony Hope
Lisa Vroman	...	Johanna
Victoria Clark	...	Beggar Woman
John Aler	...	Beadle
Stanford Olsen	...	Pirelli

Storyline

This movie is a recorded performance in concert. It all begins when Benjamin Barker( George Hearn), a mysterious,quiet,and subtle barber, returns to his hometown in London after escaping from a prison in Australia with help from a young sailor named Anthony. Now Sweeney Todd, he returns to his home where he and his wife Lucie and daughter Johanna used to live. When he arrives he meets Mrs. Nellie Lovett(Patti Lupone), a lonely woman who owns a down and out pie shop, and discovers that his wife has poisoned herself and the judge that unfairly punished him is responsible and the judge also has his daughter. So then Sweeney plots his revenge on the judge and his accomplice the Beadle and with help from Mrs. Lovett he re-opens his barber shop and vows to give the judge the closest shave he will ever know and give Mrs. Lovett a tasty new ingredient for her homemade meat pies.

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Plot Keywords:

based on book | character name in title

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Musical | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sweeney Todd, a Fleet Street démoni borbélya - koncert

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ellen M. Krass Productions, KQED

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou opened at the Uris Theater on February 6, 1979, ran for 557 performances and won the 1979 Tony Awards for the Best Musical, Book and Score.

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Quotes

Mrs. Lovett: And who says the week's out yet? It's only Friday.

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Connections

Version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Johanna"
Performed by Timothy Nolen

User Reviews

Another Brilliant Rendering of a Musical Masterpiece

For those who may have missed it on Broadway or the filming with most of the original Broadway cast, this film of the 2001 concert version performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra is equally as exciting. Director Lonny Price has assembled a first-rate cast for this concert version of the 1979 Gothic musical about the relationship between a demented barber hellbent on vengeance and the slightly daffy but lovable owner of a meat pie shop who falls in love with him. This version is almost more riveting because, as a concert version, with limited sets, costumes, and props, the audience is allowed to focus where their focus should be...on Stephen Sondheim's frighteningly beautiful musical score, flawlessly sung by a rock-solid cast backed by a first rate orchestra. Tony winner Patti Lupone puts her own spin on Mrs. Lovett, the pie maker originated on Broadway by Angela Lansbury. Lupone is careful to never mimic Lansbury and because she is technically a better vocalist than Lansbury, gives the musical portion of her performance so much more meat than Lansbury did. George Hearn, who followed original Sweeney Len Cariou on Broadway again proves to be the ultimate interpreter of this role in another powerhouse rendering of this richly complex role, which at times is downright bone-chilling, particularly in his rendering of "Epiphany" one of the most powerful pieces of music ever written. Timothy Nolen's brilliant interpretation of the evil Judge Turpin is a standout, including his rendition of "Johanna"...a song that was cut from the original Broadway production. Davis Gaines makes a strong Anthony and works well with Lisa Vroman, who is the loveliest Johanna I ever seen, offering a flawless rendition of "Green Finch and Linnet Bird". Victoria Clark is outstanding as the Beggar Woman and TV's Neil Patrick Harris makes a surprisingly devastating Toby. A once in a lifetime concert experience that will stay with you.