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Sweeney Todd

 "Sweeney Todd," by Stephen Sondheim, is often ranked (among Broadway zealots) as the greatest American musical in our history. (Its big rival is "Gypsy," also by Stephen Sondheim.)


One of the joys of "Sweeney" is the way it breaks some unwritten rules. For example, a rule: Your protagonist must be likeable. Nellie Forbush must be a ray of sun, a cockeyed optimist. Marian Paroo must be a fine sister, a fine daughter, a paragon of good sense. Maria the postulant misses mass because she wants to admire the "dark green shadows" of the trees. Who wouldn't love that problem called Maria?

But Sweeney Todd is gloomy; he is a half-zombie. A plan he has is to commit mass murder. He doesn't "warm the heart."

Second, another rule: The hero should get what he or she wants. Nellie finds love on some enchanted evening. Marian discovers her white knight. Maria weds and (I guess) she climbs an erotic mountain, among other mountains, in Act Two.

But Sweeney doesn't really get what he wants. He wants to honor his wife; instead, by mistake, he kills her. The writing is almost unbelievably cynical!

My all-time favorite moment in "Sweeney"--a product of Sondheim's black, black heart--is when our hero attempts a love song. But, being a zombie, he can't sing to a human. He addresses his love to a razor blade--a blade he intends to use in several acts of homicide. "Your shine is merely silver--but soon you shall drip rubies...." Sweeney is so crazy, he projects his own grief onto the razor, which is just a razor: "You've been locked out of sight all these years!" To make this song more insane, Sondheim has Mrs. Lovett in the background, trying (pitifully) to get her lover's attention. "Silver's good enough for me......Mr. T!!!!!"

I'm not wild about the Josh Groban casting. I keep thinking of Audra McDonald. Ms. McDonald--Broadway's next Barbra--has gone on the record, naming the title role of "Sweeney" as her dream part. Can no one with money imagine Audra in this role? Does it really take a huge leap? Pair the operatic voice with the Sondheim songs. It just makes sense. Well, apparently not.

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