Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/19/2003 09:01 AM PST

This is a re-post ....

DR Jose -- I want to encourage you, and give you a warm e-hug; I think this would be a splendid weekend for you to bake away to your little hearts content. Of course it would be unseemly to just let all of those baked goods pile up around your place, and if they did then Chet & Eileen would probably come in there, tie you down, and inflict any number of heinous punishments upon you !! Can you imagine being disciplined with a balloon whip and a melon baller??!?!!

Soooooooo.....the only logical thing to do is for you to ask which DRs would like to receive examples of your culinary orgy, and are more than happy to pay you for the shipping of said delights. Isn't that a splendid idea??

In fact, because it is such a splendid idea, I think I will re-post it at the head of tomorrow's (really today's) posts, as soon Morpheus releases our dear Bruce from his/her arms.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/19/2003 07:54 AM PST

DR Jose -- I forgot one very important point.......

Please -- NO RAISINS ! Ugh, pthuhh, yuck, . It is a little known fact that raisins were actually invented by Torquemada as a torture worse than the rack or molten lead!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/19/2003 08:00 AM PST

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/19/2003 09:04 AM PST

BK, I couldn't agree with you more about POPEYE. I saw it at the theater when it first came out and I thought it was a real stinkeroo!

On the other hand I am very envious that you have the region 2 DVDs of HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER and EARTH VS THE SPIDER. EARTH VS. THE SPIDER is my top favorite film next to ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE and it's star June Kenney is my #1 fave actress! I do hope they release those films on DVD here in the states!!! And I would give my right arm to find out whatever became of Ms. Kenney!!! June, where are you!!!!

Posted by MBarnum @ 07/19/2003 09:07 AM PST

I also read last night's posts. They
are indeed quite entertaining.
On the topic of the day: If Sam
Mendes really directs a film of
Sweeney Todd (though I don't think
that he is the best one for the job.
Tim Burton, the original choice
would be far superior.) the best
Sweeney would probably be Kevin
Kline. In that case, Christine
Baranski would probably be a good
person to play Ms. Lovett. If they
wanted to go younger and sexier,
Hugh Jackman and Catherine Zeta-
Jones might work. (And why not?)
Maybe Kristen Chenoweth as
Johanna, Gavin Creel as Anthony (I
saw him in Bounce, and I think that
he has the chops.) and...Neil Patrick
Harris as Tobias! Again! (Actually,
he could be Anthony, too.) For a
really interesting take, why not
Queen Latifah as Mrs. Lovett? She
has a strong voice and a great comic
presence, and she would be sexy,
too. besides, I'd love to hear her
make over "The Worst Pies in
London" as a rap the same way that
she did "The Cell Block Tango"!

And MusicGuy, you are beginning to
worry me. I am alarmed by the
baroque inventions in some of your
posts. "Arms of Morpheus"?
Shouldn't Kerry be keeping you
more sane than that? ;)

Posted by Hapgood @ 07/19/2003 09:15 AM PST

I was SO excited yesterday when i read about Sweeney Todd. Is this really going to happen?

I think more interesting than who we would cast ideally, is who we can think of who would be acceptable to them. I'm assuming they want big names?

I just really hope that they choose people who can really sing!

Posted by Jennifer @ 07/19/2003 09:21 AM PST

DR MusicGuy et al... I'll see how the next few days come along in regards to baking. I would probably have time to bake said treats, but not enough time to pack and ship said treats. That is my dilemna. Even though it is my "weekend", I actually have some work to take care of too, unfortunately.

And as for raisins... I don't really use them too much when I bake. I use currants in my Irish Soda Bread - although, to some people, the use of currants in ISB is a blasphemy. I like raisins, but just don't use them too much when I cook - just don't come across that many recipes that require them. -I do, however, have a carrot cake recipe I'm dying to make soon... *I have a friend who calls raisins "cowardly grapes".

-Oooh... Maybe I could manage to get some baking done, and bring some treats to "you know where" on "you know when" in "you know where" when we get together with "you know whom" to celebrate "you know what"....

As for the Sweeney film... I, too, would love to see Christine Baranski on film. She totally understands the differences between the various mediums - stage, TV, "silver screen" - and it would be wonderful to see how she enhance (and/or change) her performance for the big screen. Plus, she was just soooo nice to me last summer. :-)

As for Sweeney's.... Hmmm... Maybe Hugh Jackman for Anthony... And even Len Cariou for Sweeney (would he be a bit long in the tooth by now? or short in the tooth? And does he still sing that much lately?)...

And, strangely enough, Robin Williams just popped in my head as a Pirelli candidate... well, at least Jonas Fogg.

Ooooh, and in a bit of stunt casting, Cybill Shepherd as the Beggar Woman.

Does Ben Kingsley sing?

-I'll check back later... Two shows today.. and then the 'weekend'!!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 07/19/2003 10:04 AM PST

"Yummy, Yummy, Yummy
I got luv in my tummy!"

If they could sing it:

Sweeney -- Sean Connery
Mrs. Lovett -- Judi Dench
Anthony -- Hugh Jackman
Johanna -- Some sweet young soprano
Beadle -- Peter O'Toole
Toby -- Some sweet young tenor

But, that's just one way to go...

Would LOVE for Lansbury to land Mrs. Lovett...but "could" she???

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/19/2003 10:29 AM PST

Mendes is married to Kate Winslet, who I know has already sung onscreen before. It wouldn't surprise me if he worked her in there somewhere.

I'm still pulling for Meryl Streep as Mrs. L.

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 07/19/2003 11:14 AM PST

Though it will never happen, neither Angela Lansbury nor Len Cariou are too old yet to do the film of Sweeney. Instead we'll get something like Julia Roberts and Vin Diesel or maybe Vivica A. Fox and Martin Lawrence.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/19/2003 11:19 AM PST

I quite love the idea of Robin Williams as Pirelli. Heh. Heh heh heh.

To MusicGuy and Maya -- a belated "thank you so very much" for your good birthday wishes, especially for MusicGuy's lovely hats and candles. They were perhaps the highlight of my day.

Cut out the "perhaps." They were.

To Maya: I'm currently a student at the Juilliard School, doing the whole drama thing.

Back to Sweeney Todd, I know you'll all think I'm nuts and crazy and bonkers and everything else similar, but who else might get a kick out of seeing Mandy Patinkin tackle Sweeney? Hmmmm?

I'm betting that they'll nab Leonardo di Caprio for Anthony. Or Ethan Hawke. Oy. But I'm just waiting for the extra talented extra extra young Evan Rachel Wood to age a couple years so she can play Johanna. That, I believe, would actually work.

Just so you know, I am writing this from Ohio, where all is flat.

Posted by Anna @ 07/19/2003 11:41 AM PST

As much rumor as I've heard about them northern gals, I'm trustin' you're referrin' to the geography of Ohio, rather than its people!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/19/2003 12:30 PM PST

YES, Ben Kingsley sort of
sing....

He is the KING opposite Julie
Andrews' Anna in a very good
cast recording for Phillips --
1992/93?!,...

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:11 PM PST

I vote for

Anthony Warlow as Sweeney,

and Judy Kaye as Mrs L. -- or
Karen Morrow! --

but then I'm French and
prejudiced! ;- )...........

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:14 PM PST

A belated answer to Jrand52 re: Brook Benton. Think Twice was indeed on the album I mentioned.

BK: The lovely wife, Julieanne, and I also had a lovely and sparkling time last night. Good food, good companionship, good conversation. We both went home and, to maintain the Kimmelmania, we each trundled into bed with a Kritzer opus. I knocked off another fifty pages of Kritzerland and would have plowed through more, except that Julieanne, who began Benjamin Kritzer, kept interrupting me by laughing all the time, so I had to keep asking where exactly was she and what she was laughing at.

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 07/19/2003 01:17 PM PST

I'm going to be called VICIOUS
again but wouldn't it be fun if
they choose

Johnny Depp as Sweeney

and Vanessa Paradis as Mrs
L; even though Brigitte Bardot
looks the part now!

Ouch! I'm mean!.....

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:18 PM PST

Oh, my!

Benjamin in bed with Mr and
Mrs Pogue!!!

Told you!; i'm French and
vicious -- redundant, right? --

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:21 PM PST

Oh.... good choice, Anna!

Mandy Patinkin as Sweeney

and Barbra S. as Mrs L. ??

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:24 PM PST

Where's everybody????

Out for lunch, to eat Jose's
cookies????

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 01:30 PM PST

I'd love to see Meryl Streep as Mrs. Lovett, Hugh Jackman as Anthony, Kristin Chenoweth as Joanna, Neil Patrick harris as Tobias, and maybe Anthony Hopkins as Sweeney.

I hate to say it, but Len Cariou's voice is a thing of the past. The last couple of times I've heard him sing, he was so flat that it was embarrassing and very unpleasant. I don't think it was a fluke; I think he's just lost his singing voice.

Posted by Matt H. @ 07/19/2003 01:36 PM PST

Well, if we want really weird casting (but not beyond the realm of possibility in today's Hollywood), how about Antonio and Madonna? Or Antonio as Sweeney and Melanie as Mrs. L.? You've gotta love it.

Btw, a week or so ago Liz Smith had a note about Melanie as Roxy and she did mention our very own "charming" Brent Barrett--you know, the Sexiest Man Alive.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 07/19/2003 01:42 PM PST

Must play the disco version of "The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd" again. It was Hapgood's Rap comment that did it!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 02:08 PM PST

I'll preface my suggestion here by saying yes, absolutely, let's make sure anyone cast in SWEENEY has the vocal chops to handle the score properly. That said, I don't know if John Malkovich has a singing voice or not, but I can readily visualize his characterization of the role. I'll concur with the dear readers who have already mentioned Christine Baranski or Meryl Streep as Mrs. Lovett, but I add Kathy Bates (though, again, quality of singing voice unknown) to the mix. How about Alan Cummings as Pirelli? Kristen Chenowith as Johanna. Davis Gaines reprising Anthony.

That the making of this film has been announced is most exciting!

Posted by Jay @ 07/19/2003 02:14 PM PST

We're all just fantasizing, of course, as there's no script, no contract, no studio green light and no distribution deal. But I'd go with Tracy Ullman as Mrs. Lovett. I realize this is a "name" who's not trusted to sell tickets. So we'll need a bigger name in the title roll. My sister was once in a musical with Nicholas Cage... I see Samuel L. Jackson as possessing the proper level of malevolence. This is, indeed, a hard role to cast. Let's go with Jack Nicholson as the Judge, Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent as the Beadle, Judy Davis as the Beggar Woman. The young lovers: Hugh Jackman and screen-worthy Laura Benanti. Toby: McGuire

Posted by Noel @ 07/19/2003 02:38 PM PST

I am not a fan of SWEENEY TODD...yes, I know. I am sorry, but that's that. So I will not venture any names in this casting frenzy.

Anyone Mr Mendes wants to put in it will be fine with me.

Thank you, DR Charles Pogue. That is my favorite BB song, and now I must spend more $$$.

I got my VCD of WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR today. Lots of discoteque action. The music kept waking me up.

Very warm here, closing night of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, at last, and so....goodbye. Then on to GYPSY.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/19/2003 02:41 PM PST

My Colin suggested Dawn French & Rowan Atkinson in the lead roles. This followed his suggestion of Dame Edna & Sir Les Patterson! Maybe they'll cast Michael Crawford!!!!
Maybe Jonathan Price would be OK as Sweeney. I would like to see Philip Quast in the role but he is not well enough known. Jackman would be a fine Anthony

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 03:33 PM PST

Well, before he passed away, I suggested Mr. Anthony Newley as Sweeney. I saw him on a "Murder She Wrote", when he was a bit older than Littlechap, and he seemed charmingly malevolent.

Does anyone know anything about the record label Sh-K-Boom? I just found Amour at our local Borders (but no new OBCs of 9 or Man of la Munch) and gave it a first listen.

Went to the Sh-K-Boom website and discovered that they also produced The Last 5 Years, which I also have, and they have come out with Debbie Does Dallas. Not to mention an Alice Ripley CD.

But their website is cacky doo-doo. It has a Flash program that messed up my screen, and then when I tried to downoad an Alice Ripley clip my memory got all befrazzled, and I had to reboot.

Also, they charge extra for signed CDs. Not like our illustrious and humpy BK. No sir, not like at all.

Love Amour, however.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 07/19/2003 03:43 PM PST

"Love Amour"!

That's cute Mr Orr!

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 03:50 PM PST

A confession to all the lovely dear readers here, and to our esteemed, worldly, svelte, multi-lingual BK --

I confess to apparently having a deficient gene or brain cell or something, because I, also, am one of the tiny minority who just can't get anything out of Sweeney Todd. I have listened carefully several times, and it just doesn't touch me either emotionally or intellectually.

The wonderful thing about the lovely Bruce and the superb H/Ks, is that I can admit the above and still be welcome here.

By the way...a day or so ago, one of the DRs made the observation that HHW backwards was Seniah Sih Yaw ... All I could think was that it sounded like some radical Sephardic fringe group. Unfortunately, having been Kritzer-warped, I find myself reversing all sorts of words; our own fearless leader becomes Ecurb, which to me sounds like a place to park while sending an email.

DR Hapgood -- Kerry gave up on trying to keep me sane years ago. I hope your summer work is still going well, and that you have a big adventure and maybe a romance this summer!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/19/2003 04:13 PM PST

Well, my dear Mr. Cisum Yug, let me just say this:

Anyone who doesn't fall into paroxysms of rapture over Sweeney Todd is an insensitive, uncultured slob of gross hygienic habbits and suspect morality...

Oops, I thought I was on All That Chat.

Never mind.

Oh, a Gilda Radner reference.

Posted by Rro F. Mailliw @ 07/19/2003 04:21 PM PST

A mention of Mr Newley is always a good thing IMHO. I wonder what happened to "Quilp" and its score. It may not have been a great movie but it deserves to be available on DVd & CD. There is still not that much available of Newley on CD and there was so much on vinyl.

DR MusicGuy: Have you seen a good production of Sweeney? It is great theatre..I don't listen often to the recordings but love the whole theatre experience - much as I do with "Sunday In The Park". I find "Sunday" ponderous at times but am always moved by the end - and that depends so much on what went before - dramatically and musically. This Sunday I am pondering. A house full of visitors in a few hours and so much housework to complete!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 04:25 PM PST

Was that Adlig Rendar?

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 04:27 PM PST

I know nothing about SWEENEY TODD!!

But I do know that it is hot here in Oregon and the heat caused me to go wild and spend lots of money today on Deepdiscountdvd.com! Yikes!

JRand52, I hope that THE DEVIL'S PARTNER was good because I just purchased it! I will have a double feature of that film and THE SONG OF BERNADETT when my order arrives! LOL!

Posted by MBarnum @ 07/19/2003 04:38 PM PST

Good greif!

Don't tell we're gonna have to
read all posts with a mirror
now!

Posted by Sioçnarf @ 07/19/2003 04:39 PM PST

It's Bernadette!

or Ettedanreb for some!

Posted by Soubirou @ 07/19/2003 04:40 PM PST

No, Tom, not Adlig Rendar, but
me, the one and only...

Posted by Ylime Alletil @ 07/19/2003 04:41 PM PST

Would anybody else love to see Bernadette Peters as Mrs Lovett?

Hey, I am also loving Amour. Sh-K-Boom is a small NYC based label founded by Kurt (Sherie Renee Scott's hubby - hence the name of the label!

Posted by Jennifer @ 07/19/2003 04:51 PM PST

Well, bowl me over with a spaghetti noodle - yesterday, on a certain website chat board I read that Sam Mendes was to make a film of Sweeney Todd. It wasn't a question, it wasn't a maybe - a link was provided to the story in Variety, except you can't use the link unless you subscribe. I should have known better than to listen to anyone on that rather stupid board (yes, it's the same board that dissed our very own Donald Feltham). NOW we find out that Mr. Mendes is in EARLY talks about it, a screenwriter MIGHT be working on the script, and Dreamworks MAY make the movie at some point in history. I am so sick of this press agent crap - in any case, I take back the topic of the day, and I shan't be fooled by idiots again.

I also find it amusing that the owner of another site which links to many news stories, after a year and a half of never mentioning a certain record label is suddenly linking to any and every article that mentions their name. It is to laugh. Perhaps it has something to do with the banner ad at the bottom of our home page, oh, yes, perhaps it has something to do with that. The joke is, of course, all that gentleman had to ever do was ask and he might have had a banner ad first. But, we'll just go about our business and soon they will know because soon we will be the most popular site on all the Internet.

And I'm glad that Mr. and Mrs. Pogue are spending time with that nice youngster, Benjamin Kritzer.

Posted by bk @ 07/19/2003 05:07 PM PST

Hey, Ron P.!

Oops, sorry.! DR Ron P.!

Hope you were not thinking
about Sweeney Todd when
you were getting that haircut
this morning!!

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 05:13 PM PST

Well, some of my casting choices have been mentioned. I am in the Christine Baranski fan club. I saw her in DC w/BS Mitchell and would LOVE to see both of them do the film. If they just used her with Hugh Jackman, that would be OK too. Or, as DR Sigerson (and someone else I believe) and I both said a few weeks ago, Ms. Meryl Street would be a wonderful Mrs. Lovett. I also agree that Tracy Ullman could do it. I like Jay's suggestions for the other roles (KC, NPH, Alan Cummings, etc). As WEL mentioned earlier, I think that the lovely Ms. Lansbury could still do it. I saw her in the original and on the tour w/George Hearn and I would love to see her do it again. As much as I love Mr. Cariou, I do agree w/Matt. I think his voice wouldn't hold up anymore. Of course, this is the movie, and as they did so often in Hollywood, we could dub someone :-)

BTW, Night of the Hunter was on Turner last night. I missed it but my Anthony (who is on Long Island for some clown shows this weekend) watched it and fell in love with it.

Posted by Ben @ 07/19/2003 05:15 PM PST

I think Renee Z could possibly play the Lovett role. Do think that Streep or Baranski would both be good casting. Lots of mentions for Mr Jackman - Good voice and great presence.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 05:26 PM PST

Night of Tab Hunter?

is that a new show?

Posted by François @ 07/19/2003 05:58 PM PST

Love some of those songs from that show: "Young Love", "There's No Fool Like A YOung Fool","I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time and "Ninety Nine Ways". Great musical.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/19/2003 06:33 PM PST

Hello my Kimlets and Hainsies, I'm at home for tonight from camp, enjoying real food and a real bed and TV and a phone and a computer, all of which are lacking in the dorms where I live. Camp is going fantastically, so well that I've decided to sign up for another week instead of going to the beach. Some may think I'm crazy, choosing to stay in a smelly dorm and singing for 7 hours a day, but I'm having the greatest time. The camp is full of talented people who love music with all of their hearts and souls, and appreciate everything musical. Even the counselors are musicials, each one had attended the camp when they were my age. There's a thing called Noon Music, where the campers can perform a song onstage before lunch. I sang once, and automatically, 50 people came up to me during lunch in the mess hall to tell me how great it was. One counselor even said I made her cry. That kind of feedback makes me so happy, because I know people are recognizing my talent, and feel comfortable enough to tell me! I'm learning a ton and enjoying it too. Our choir director, Deen E. Entsminger, is amazing, I've worked with him before. His energy and teaching style bring so much joy to the class, I couldn't say enough wonderful things about him. He arranges amazing choral music, you should check it out...

I am severely missing my computer, haineshisway.com in particular, but I'll be back next Sunday with more news. Email me with "warm fuzzies" to read when I come home, because two weeks is a lot of time away from people you know, online or not.

Oh, and anyone in/near Winchester VA should stop by Shenandoah University and see their production of Brigadoon, which is playing now. I saw it last Wednesday, and thoroughly enjoyed it, the actors are talented and the dancing and singing is terrific.

That was a very long post. Off to bed, I have a concert in the morning! *Those in Winchester, it's in the Armstrong Building of the University at 11-ish :)*

Posted by Sarah @ 07/19/2003 06:58 PM PST

Sarah--glad to see that music camp is going well for you!

Anna--how awesome for you that you are a Julliard student! You must be mega-talented. I went to a performing arts school too (AADA) but I did not respond well at all to the Meisner-based technique they taught, and so I wasn't invited back for the second year. It sucked a lot at the time, but I realize now that I was never meant to be a method actress, and if I do decide to act as a career, it will be mostly in musicals. I hope that wasn't too much information or anything. I'd love to hear about some of your Julliard experiences thus far!

Awesome suggestions, everyone, on the Sweeney movie. I would have to second Ben that Christine and Stokes would be my ideal Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney, but in all probability that won't happen. So here is my movie dream cast that actually has a chance of working out.

Sweeney--Johnny Depp (provided he can sing). If not, I would be perfectly happy with Kevin Kline.

Mrs. Lovett--I think Meryl Streep would actually be terrific--God knows she could handle the accent. Whoever suggested Dame Judi Dench--brilliant. She may be a bit too old for it, but I'd love to see her in the role. Maybe she could do the Beggar Woman?

Anthony--Hugh Jackman all the way!!

Johanna--Melissa Errico has a burgeoning screen career and she's gorgeous...why not her?

Tobias--can Tobey Maguire sing?

The Beedle--Christopher Walken--actually, come to think of it, he would be a good Sweeney too

Ok...I must have played Casting Director way too much as a child

Posted by Ayam @ 07/19/2003 07:25 PM PST

The link to a Playbill story on Mendes and ST can be reached by clicking on my name.

Let's work on the assumption that the story is right and everything follows through, including Hugh Jackman getting the lead. I personally think this would be a good thing, as he's got a lot of box office appeal right now, can sing, and is physically right for Sweeney. Jackman is about 35, I believe, but could easily play five or ten years older. This impacts on the ages of the other characters, particularly Mrs. Lovett and Lucy. Mrs. Lovett could be played a bit older than Sweeney, but not too much, I'd be wary of any actress more than five years older (or appearing to be such). Anthony, Johanna, and Tobias can be cast from the rather large pool of young actors and singers that are out there; the Beadle has no age attached, but has to have a good counter-tenor singing voice. Pirelli should be a little younger (but not by much) compared to Sweeney. For Turpin, older than Sweeney is a definate plus (discussing this over dinner last night, der Brucer suggested Kevin Spacey or Christopher Walken, but I don't know if their singing ranges are low enough).

Lucy ends up being the real tricky part to cast. On the one hand, any fantasy flashbacks to what she was like and how Sweeney remembers her have to be played to that age, late teens is what I'd say. On the other hand, she has to be believable as her older self (yet appropriately disguised through makeup) through the rest of the film. Like I say, this is a tricky part to cast.

Even trickier is how to address such things as "Epiphany," where on stage Sweeney breaks through the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly. If he were to address a chorus of observers (who in turn address the audience directly in the various permutations of the "Ballad of Sweeney Todd"), the song could work on film, and it is the keystone to the entire work.

The most important role, therefor, isn't that of who plays Sweeney, or any other character. The most important role will be who writes the screenplay and invents the ways to translate the stage script to what works on film. It was the inventiveness of the screenplay that made Chicago work on film, after all; that inventiveness will be a major factor in the success of any film musical from this point on.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 07/19/2003 07:38 PM PST

Call me crazy, but, I think that Shirley MacLaine should be tapped to be Mrs. Lovett!
BUT, what about ages? I was pondering this earlier. . .How old ARE THESE PEOPLE? Benjamin Barker has been in Australia for, what, fifteen years? Did he marry Lucy when he was a teenager? When he was in his twenties? Was he thirty-something? He had an apprentice, was Daniel (Pirelli) an adolescent apprentice ala Tobias? Nellie loved Benjamin unrequietedly, but what age was SHE went Benjamin went away?
Suppose we place the couple in their late forties? Nellie has been married once before, what has happened to her husband? Maybe the pairing should be in their fifties or, heaven help us, in their early sixties?!?!? At any rate, none of the characters excepting Tobias, Anthony and Johanna are youngsters!
How old, does anyone remember, was Johanna when her father was sent away? Is she now nineteen, or is she twenty-one?
Anyway, back to Shirley. . .let her do the role, and let her win another belated Oscar for it.
Sweeney, I'd go with Jerry Orbach. OR even Colm Wilkinson.
Anthony Hope, now, here I will go with Vin Diesel (just to rile people up) or Hugh Jackman.
Joanna, Johanna should be Renee Z.!
Our mid-fifties Beggar Woman - Joanna Lumley, Ingrid Pitt or Caroline Munro.
Paul Sorvino could bring some weight to Judge Turpin, Roger Moore or Sean Connery could give him a tough of class.
The Beadle, could be almost anyone with a strong screen presence. . .a great contemporary character actor.
I think someone mentioned Robin Williams earlier for Fogg, I'd actually use him as Pirelli.
Tobias - is there anyone other than Neil Patrick Harris? I don't think so. . .

Posted by td @ 07/19/2003 08:13 PM PST

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr S Woody White -- the casting will not be nearly so crucial to the film as the film itself. I personally find Ms. Zellweger very adorable and appealing, but did not particularly enjoy her actual performance in Chicago and I think she would be slightly horrific as Mrs. Lovett -- but despite her, I thought the movie was charming and inventive and exciting. Sweeney might be even more difficult to transfer to screen -- but I actually think the flashbacks might be very successful. Mendes in particular might have fun with those.

Oh, speculation is fun.

Ayam -- I know what you mean about not taking well to a technique. One of the nice things about Juilliard is that they don't really advocate any specific technique at all; they teach lots and lots of different things from lots and lots of different point of views and push you to develop your own unique process. I'm enjoying it quite a lot, and, while I'm faaaaaar from mega-talented (that's a promise) I hope some of the training is taking and helping me improve on what small foundation I have.

And no no no, heavens, no, I did not mean to insinuate that Ohio-ians are flat. Simply the terrain. And it is EXTREMELY flat. WOW.

Posted by Anna @ 07/19/2003 08:17 PM PST

Yes, they can do wonders with makeup nowadays, so Hugh Jackman COULD be made old enough for Sweeney, but at one point Mrs. Lovett comments on how awful Australia must have been on Sweeney to have changed him so badly. I just think it'd be easier to start out with an older star.

And you're going to have to have movie names to sell the film, so as wonderful as Christine Baranski is, I'm not sure she's a big enough name on movie marquees. (Don't get me wrong; I LOVE her, but that's why my picks were Hopkins and Streep. They do have some name recognition on movie marquees. I'm not sure Anthony Hopkins can sing, but he could certainly play the malevolence of it.) Kathy Bates would be a great idea for Lucy.

Posted by Matt H. @ 07/19/2003 08:20 PM PST

Another factor to consider, besides age, is vocal range. Fortunately, Sweeney himself is a baritone, I believe, which makes the role easier to cast. Lovett is not written for a "singer" as much as an actress who can sing; it doesn't require the talents of Beverly Sills (although she would have been a hoot in the role). When we get to the other roles, things get rougher. Turpin requires someone who can hit bass notes. Johanna requires an accomplished soprano, as does the Beadle...oh, he's referred to as a counter-tenor, isn't he! But seriously, the Beadle had better be able to hit those high notes CORRECTLY or he won't be believable as a threat to Lovett and Todd. There's a lot of menace in that emasculated sound. (Kenny Rogers, perhaps?)

As I mentioned earlier, der Brucer and I were talking about this very project over dinner last night. We decided one very good device to use would be a chorus, who would address the audience directly. They could be played as the voices in Sweeney's head, particularly during "Epiphany" and "The Letter," with the point driven home when Lovett witnesses him addressing the chorus during "Epiphany" but sees no one there herself. Spooky, but effective.

Of course, I'm the sort who would love to see the "ghosts" of the projected flavors conjured up in the yard, each one arriving (and filling up the dining tables) as they are invoked during "Little Priest." It would be a cinch to do, in this age of digital effects, and would make for a great fade into "Got That's Good" as real people fill the tables in the daylight.

Speculation like this is so much fun!

Posted by S. Woody White @ 07/19/2003 10:48 PM PST

The song says he left a year old kid, and he's been gone for 14 years, I think (?).

Posted by Laura @ 07/19/2003 10:50 PM PST

DR MBarnum - well the best thing about THE DEVIL'S PARTNER is how young and handsome Mr Ed Nelson is. He is very nice looking.

Mr Richard Crane - in 1962 - does not fare so well, however he does spend a lot of the film with his face covered in bandages. Not as covered as he was in THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE, and not as professionally covered either. A lot of the time he wears on his face what looks like Dr Scholl's foot pads.

Not without interest, but not worth giving up something else for.

Posted by 25dnarJ @ 07/19/2003 10:51 PM PST

Wasn't Bessie Danker from Australia?

Posted by Christine Penmark @ 07/19/2003 10:53 PM PST

TI POTS

Posted by noR mailluP @ 07/19/2003 11:09 PM PST

POTS TI

ease-Play, op-Stay is-thay ackward-bay iting-wray.

's-Ita aking-may e-may ick-say.

Posted by ackward-Bay @ 07/19/2003 11:12 PM PST

it-Shay....I meant "'s-It-ay"

Posted by Moi @ 07/19/2003 11:13 PM PST

Good morning!

I'm back home in Richmond! YEAH!!!

-Again, I'll see how much other "stuff" I need to catch up on over the next few days - but I did notice that I have four pounds of butter and two pounds of cream cheese in the fridge... So... Again, no promises... well, no promises for this weekend, but you never know... Maybe I'll do one of my "traditional" late night baking binges! *One good sign is that after being away for a week and a half, my pile of mail was actually on the small side.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 07/19/2003 11:44 PM PST

"It's morning, it's morning,
we danced the whole night through.
It's morning, good morning to you.
(and you, and you, and you.)

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/20/2003 08:46 AM PST

AHA !! First post of the day (the real day)..
actually of tomorrow, which is already now...even though the page is yesterday..

It's perfectly OK....I know what I mean.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/20/2003 08:48 AM PST

Anna, were you spelling your name backwards or not?

Posted by Kerry @ 07/20/2003 09:17 AM PST