Sweeney Todd...or why I baked.

[nolawitch58]

Because hmc_lavadogs was born on 3.14, I baked him a square apple pie. *waits for the geeks to stop laughing* Incidental at best. If I had more round ones, I would have made the apple one round too. The square casserole dish was my only option. I have three round pie plates, two of which contain pumpkin and one has pecan pie. I am ready for Christmas Day at the in-laws' house.

Friday, we went to see the new movie with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Having been fortunate enough to see the original production on Broadway with Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury a million years ago, I was worried that the film would cut corners and not be as good as I remembered it to be. I'm so happy to be wrong.

First of all, Johnny and Helena are pretty decent singers. Vel reminded me that Johnny was in John Waters' Cry Baby years ago and did his own singing. I had forgotten since I only saw that movie once. For some reason, I have better memories of things I've viewed or listened to more than once or twice. That doesn't much apply to the play "Sweeney Todd." It was the first Broadway play I ever attended.

Let me give the production designer for the movie huge props. The sets looked like a gloriously gloomy London of long ago. There were no serious anachronisms that I could spot. The costumes were wonderful. Sacha Baron Cohen was delightful. Watch him in the future. He's got more in him than Ali G. and Borat. The little fellow who played the urchin Toby, Ed Sanders, has some good pipes. His singing was excellent. According to IMDb, this is his first film. Keep a watch on him too. Alan Rickman's performance seemed a little one-dimensional for him.

If you like Sondheim, you'll like this production. Go see it.

Strangely though, as I watched the first scene in Mrs. Lovett's shop, I couldn't help thinking (aside from the deplorable hygiene), "Her problem is that she's overworking her dough."

Comments

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

You are a true pastry chef, for sure!

Oh, methinks the geeks will only laugh if they don't get a pie. If they get 1, they'd be too busy eating!

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

I'm going to see it on Tuesday. Seeing movies on Xmas day is a hold-over from growing up Jewish :-D

I can't wait (I'm a huge Sondheim fan).

My brother has also declared taking me to something on Broadway for my birthday (when he visits right after new year's). There's a new Sorkin play (Farnsworth Invention, that I've seen, but would see again with them), a new Stoppard play (!) (Rock N Roll), and I wouldn't mind seeing Avenue Q or Young Frankenstein. I gave him those choices and let him and his wife pick which one.

Merry festivities, y'all ;-)!

[saminz.livejournal.com]

When that one makes it here, I'll pay attention - never knew that Johnny could sing, too!

What a guy ;-).