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Post by alece10 on Aug 4, 2023 16:13:07 GMT
Some tracks from the John Grobin and Annaleigh Ashford version of Sweeney Todd have been released and wondered what people thought of it.
I'm always glad of a new recording of Sweeney so glad it's being released.
Josh Grobin sounds in fine form but I'm not too sure about Annaleigh Ashford. Probably better to see live I'm sure.
The problem is that we have 2 iconic recordings of Sweeney with Angela Lansbury and Julia Mackinzie and to a lesser extent Imelda Staunton so it's difficult to compare this.
I think the problem I have is with her accent. It's kind of allover the place. One minute it's kind of Cockley, then a bit of TOWIE and even a bit of the sister in Stef Let's Flats (Cypriot).
But at least its not as bad as Patti who sounded more Irish than English and half a dozen other accents thrown in for good measure.
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 4, 2023 19:29:17 GMT
I’ve seen the show and I love AA but her accent in the show is a real problem. It’s just diabolical.
She also just plays every moment for laughs. That’s it.
Josh Groban sings wonderfully but there is zero menace. The whole production is very weak IMO.
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Aug 4, 2023 20:02:52 GMT
On the tracks they've previewed so far, Ashford sounds like a non-native speaker who learned the role phonetically from another non-native speaker who recorded Mrs. Lovett's lines with pebbles in her mouth. It is possibly the most incompetent English accent ever recorded - yes, surpassing her own (dreadful) performance on the (unlistenable, because of the bad accents) Kinky Boots OBC. Some of the sounds she makes ("splarshing") don't occur in any territory anywhere in the world where people speak English. In terms of competence, she makes Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins sound like Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady.
And the strange thing is, her accent is clearly the result of a series of very careful choices. She worked at it. And it is utterly, dazzlingly, jaw-droppingly awful.
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374 posts
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Post by theatrenerd on Aug 4, 2023 20:35:07 GMT
Just announced the full album will be released digitally on September 8
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628 posts
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Post by jek on Aug 4, 2023 21:33:22 GMT
I am Stepney born and bred and no-one would mistake my accent for anything other than cockney. I have just listened to Ashford's version of 'By The Sea' and it is the best laugh I have had in some time! What on earth is that accent? It's even worse than Lin Manuel Miranda's attempt in Mary Poppins. It's a shame because the orchestra sounds very good indeed.
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Post by adamkinsey on Aug 5, 2023 9:44:33 GMT
Sweeney is one of the few shows that has been recorded a few times but where I only have the one cast recording. I'll happily (usually) watch other productions but I only want to listen to Len and Angie.
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307 posts
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Post by jm25 on Aug 5, 2023 13:40:11 GMT
I enjoyed the production when I saw it but Annaleigh’s accent was up there with the worst I’ve ever heard. To the extent that it badly distracted from her otherwise lovely voice.
I’ll probably listen to the recording because of how much I love Sweeney but I’ll really have to brace myself for hearing that accent again!
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Post by Mr Snow on Aug 9, 2023 7:43:51 GMT
I can't say why it is.... but... I don't much care for Sweeney,
Phew, I've been working upto saying this here for some time and that's a real weight off me.
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Post by shownut on Aug 9, 2023 15:41:30 GMT
On the tracks they've previewed so far, Ashford sounds like a non-native speaker who learned the role phonetically from another non-native speaker who recorded Mrs. Lovett's lines with pebbles in her mouth. It is possibly the most incompetent English accent ever recorded - yes, surpassing her own (dreadful) performance on the (unlistenable, because of the bad accents) Kinky Boots OBC. Some of the sounds she makes ("splarshing") don't occur in any territory anywhere in the world where people speak English. In terms of competence, she makes Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins sound like Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady. And the strange thing is, her accent is clearly the result of a series of very careful choices. She worked at it. And it is utterly, dazzlingly, jaw-droppingly awful. I agree, It is nearly as cringy as the American/Southern accents on ALW's WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND and a few of the actors on the Donmar recording of PARADE, especially the guy playing Britt Craig....takes an amazing piece and reduces it to rubble. |
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Post by toomasj on Aug 9, 2023 15:44:28 GMT
I gave this a listen last night. Gobsmackingly bad accent!
I might get stick for this, but I never found Dame Angela’s accent even remotely passable. Lansbury’s English accent was always dodgy (Gaslight springs to mind) but you there was flashes which worked, plus of course her undeniable charm and presence.
Ashford is head in hands bad. I am not offended, and find it very amusing to listen to, but I don’t think I’d be happy paying $300 on Broadway to suffer through that.
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Post by toomasj on Aug 9, 2023 15:44:58 GMT
I can't say why it is.... but... I don't much care for Sweeney, Phew, I've been working upto saying this here for some time and that's a real weight off me. This is a safe space to share your feelings!  |
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 9, 2023 17:17:24 GMT
I can't say why it is.... but... I don't much care for Sweeney, Phew, I've been working upto saying this here for some time and that's a real weight off me. Is not liking Sweeney Todd considered a controversial opinon? Personally I think it is an utterly vile piece in terms of plot and I would never go and see it. There are some good songs but I will only ever hear them in concert. |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 9, 2023 17:28:28 GMT
I gave this a listen last night. Gobsmackingly bad accent! I might get stick for this, but I never found Dame Angela’s accent even remotely passable. Lansbury’s English accent was always dodgy (Gaslight springs to mind) but you there was flashes which worked, plus of course her undeniable charm and presence. Ashford is head in hands bad. I am not offended, and find it very amusing to listen to, but I don’t think I’d be happy paying $300 on Broadway to suffer through that. Angela Lansbury was English so she wasn't putting on an accent. And go wash your mouth out for saying it was "dodgy". 😀 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2023 20:42:34 GMT
I can't say why it is.... but... I don't much care for Sweeney, Phew, I've been working upto saying this here for some time and that's a real weight off me. Is not liking Sweeney Todd considered a controversial opinon? Personally I think it is an utterly vile piece in terms of plot and I would never go and see it. There are some good songs but I will only ever hear them in concert. Many consider it to be Sondheim's greatest masterpiece, so I can see why some might be nervous speaking out against it, particularly among Sondheim fans. If the subject matter doesn't work for you, the incredible craft of the book, music and lyrics, and typical staging don't make up for it. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 9, 2023 21:27:11 GMT
Many consider it to be Sondheim's greatest masterpiece, so I can see why some might be nervous speaking out against it, particularly among Sondheim fans. If the subject matter doesn't work for you, the incredible craft of the book, music and lyrics, and typical staging don't make up for it. Even if it had the greatest music, lyrics & staging ever known to mankind that still could not make a musical involving cannibalism anything other than abhorrent for me. |
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Post by nick on Aug 11, 2023 4:07:28 GMT
Angela Lansbury was English so she wasn't putting on an accent. And go wash your mouth out for saying it was "dodgy". 😀 Eh? Isn’t she putting on a cockerney accent rather than her usual English accent? And it does sound not quite right. |
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Post by apubleed on Aug 11, 2023 5:45:54 GMT
Exactly of course she is putting on an accent - Lansbury did not speak like that in real life.
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Aug 12, 2023 20:30:32 GMT
Angela Lansbury was English so she wasn't putting on an accent. And go wash your mouth out for saying it was "dodgy". 😀 Eh? Isn’t she putting on a cockerney accent rather than her usual English accent? And it does sound not quite right. Lansbury's accent on the Sweeney Todd cast recording sounds like what it is: deliberately exaggerated music-hall cockney. |
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