Slog - Comments on Sweeney Hiphop http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop Is everyone aware that Johnny Depp, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter are starring in a Tim Burton adaptation of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, currently in production? Sounds fucking rad. Except. Says Liz Smith in Variety: SPEAKING OF cutting remarks, Sacha Baron Cohen is trying to cut his co-star, Johnny Depp, dead. These two are filming the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd" at Pinewood Studios in London--wherein Cohen plays barber Adolfo Pirelli and Depp plays Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. There is a competititon to see which actor can best shave another person with a straight razor.... Copyright 2008 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:43:58 -0800 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:46:46 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by A frustrated ex-singer who can't act Musicals are always being poorly cast by directors who don't give enough attention to the "musical" part. If someone can't sing, they shouldn't be in a damn musical.

Not that I won't see this, of course...I never miss anything Burton does.

]]> A frustrated ex-singer who can't act http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685753 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685753 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:23:34 -0800 Comment by elswinger Sweeney Todd is pretty much the only musical I really like. I knew Tim Burton and Borat would fuck it up.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685754 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685754 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:24:37 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo I saw the 5th Avenue's production of Todd last year. It is one of the more outrageously demanding vocal scores I've ever heard -- serious, operatic-level chops required. Not to cast aspersions on the fine actors cast in those roles, but there is frankly no way in hell they can sing those parts without some serious technological help. And by "technological help" I mean "somebody else sings it."

If Burton intends to leave the "rap-style" singing in the final cut, then we can only assume he's going the Chicago route and simplifying the song-and-dance numbers to the point where the big name actors can look good doing it. Which would be a shame, because it's a great score. I'm saying this as somebody who ordinarily hates Broadway musicals.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685755 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:27:06 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi When was the last time Burton directed something decent, meaning something that anyone other than his die-hard fans consider good?

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685763 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685763 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:38:07 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways i dunno...liz smith isn't exactly the Oracle at Delphi...

but Sondheim is always tough to sing, and Sweeney IS one of the toughest...i AM a little nervous about this....

i thought the movie soundtrack to Chicago, was better than the cast album...ann reinking was AWFUL...i actually prefer zellwegger...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685780 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685780 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:53:40 -0800 Comment by Peter I would pay a disturbingly large sum of money to never have to see this, um, "movie".

]]> Peter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685812 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685812 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:32:55 -0800 Comment by Victoria It's going to suck in all ways anyway. I mean, Helena Bonham Carter? Nepotism, much?


]]> Victoria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685866 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685866 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:16:32 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways it IS worrisome that none of these people are singers....

does fucking tim burton qualify you to star in a musical...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685923 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/sweeney_hiphop#c685923 Arts Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:46:46 -0800