Whedonesque : Comments on 11989 : Anthony Head to be in Sweeney Todd.

Good grief, I was already excited about this movie (Johhny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, plus my favourite musical of all time), and now ASH as well?!? This is too cool for words.

I hope he's going to play the Judge, he plays villains sooooo well.

The Least | December 08, 05:33 CET

This is also MY favorite musical of all time! I recommend it to all Buffy watchers... it's got a dark witty humor and the music's great. This is great news!!

Ronald_SF | December 08, 05:37 CET

Wow.. Just..Wow.

spikeylover | December 08, 05:58 CET

And Alan Rickman.

Actually The Least, Alan Rickman is going to play Judge Turpin.

I have no idea who Judge Turpin is, but the news was on The Leaky Cauldron.

[ edited by VeryVeryCrowded on 2006-12-08 04:36 ]

VeryVeryCrowded | December 08, 06:34 CET

*dies of pure squee*

Lunakitty | December 08, 06:51 CET

Sacha Baron Cohen is in this too, from what I hear.

delirium_haze | December 08, 07:00 CET

Can I ask of people in the know, is this truly an adaptation of the Sondheim musical, not original music and songs written especially for this cast? I haven't heard a whole lot about it, is why I'm asking (it is very exciting one way or the other, and especially needed good news today).

Tonya J | December 08, 07:04 CET

I love Sweeney Todd, but I feel like this adaptation could be a disaster...

Tonya J-- it's Sonheim's songs, not original music.

fortunateizzi | December 08, 07:39 CET

are you KIDDING ME! and i didn't think i could be any more excited about this movie!

yamsham | December 08, 08:04 CET

Ahh, well if Alan is going to play The Judge, then I'm betting that ASH will be playing the Beadle.

The Least | December 08, 08:11 CET

Depp, Rickman and ASH in a Tim Burton project? With a "meat" theme?

Wait, have I died? Is this Heaven?

Theora_Jones | December 08, 09:04 CET

This movie...I WANTS it, precious! This is the first I've heard of ANY of this. I am SO HAPPY! To the IMDB! AWAAAAY!

Seriously. This is gonna be the coolest movie since Serenity.

BrightShiner | December 08, 09:12 CET

I'm betting you're likely right, The Least, I don't see him being Pirelli, and he's too big to be Jonas Fogg. And the Beadle sings sweetly, as does ASH.

I love this musical, and I must confess to just a bit of trepidation at Burton tackling it, and with Johnny Depp, much as I like them both. Alan Rickman is an acting god, so no concerns on that score, and I always loves me some ASH, but... okay, I'll wait and see...

I saw this with Len Cariou & Angela Lansbury the month it opened in NY in the 70s. Up 'til then, I didn't know it was possible to still be that affected by musical theatre in this day and age, but when Sweeney hollered "At last my arm is complete again!" about a hundred people jumped about a foot out of their seats, including me.

Then I saw it again with Patti Lupone ~~chewing up the scenery, telegraphing and mugging~~ currently on Broadway, and was deeply disappointed.

*shivers* Huh. We'll see. There's always the album to listen to. But good for ASH.

QuoterGal | December 08, 09:12 CET

I was lucky enough to see it in L.A., I'm not sure what year - maybe several after its Broadway debut; Angela Lansbury and George Hearn playing Sweeney Todd. It was glorious.

[ edited by Tonya J on 2006-12-08 16:06 ]

Tonya J | December 08, 09:14 CET

QG, I remember reading when they cast Sasha Baron Cohen that he is playing a character named Pirelli, so good guess that that isn't ASH's role either. Yay Mr. Head! :-)

billz | December 08, 11:06 CET

Hi, QG!! And

Alan Rickman is an acting god

Oh, yes. I frequently genuflect in that direction.. Add to that an intense reverence for ASH and an ~~obsession with~~ adoration of JM, and my thespian altar is complete. A perfect triumvirate of heavenly goodness of the stagey variety. I'll be in my bunk. . . .

SangChaud | December 08, 13:23 CET

These are all talented people but do any of them besides ASH...you know...sing? I know Johnny Dep is a musician, but thought he was an instrumentalist.

I have not been following this so it is the first I have heard of the casting. Sondheim as written is not a walk in the park on the singing front or the acting front. Everybody mentioned has the acting part, but so did Peter O'toole and Sophia Loren. That does not mean they should have been cast in Man of La Mancha. Please someone tell me that these folks know what they are doing vocally...

(whimper)

Oh yeah, while distracted by the other casting concerns, I forgot to say "Yea ASH!" I would love to see him as the barber some time.

[ edited by newcj on 2006-12-08 16:32 ]

newcj | December 08, 18:31 CET

Alan Rickman is an acting god

Sat behind a guy once in a fish and chip restaurant in Whitby. He was talking about Shakespeare. It was only after I left that my then girlfriend told me that the guy was Alan Rickman.

Simon | December 08, 18:35 CET

Sat behind a guy once in a fish and chip restaurant in Whitby. He was talking about Shakespeare. It was only after I left that my then girlfriend told me that the guy was Alan Rickman.

Aaaaaaaaaah!! Whaps Simon on the head! ;)

Edit: I was reminded that Johnny Depp sang in CRYBABY.. :)

I am not sure about Rickman, although he seems like he'd probably be one of those good "talking singers". (You know, like Yul Brynner in KING AND I or Richard Harris in CAMELOT.)

[ edited by spikeylover on 2006-12-08 17:03 ]

spikeylover | December 08, 18:56 CET

Sondheim is very, very difficult music for vocalists (I know). I'm betting most of the actors will lip-synch, except ASH. Don't know if Cohen can sign (EDIT _ YEAH SIGN Tonya, he's doing it in sign language)... er, I mean SING or not -- Pirelli's music isn't exactly easy either.

[ edited by Tonya J on 2006-12-08 19:05 ]

Tonya J | December 08, 20:07 CET

As I understand it, the casting of Sacha Baron Cohen was a rumor. The most that I've seen was "talks". I don't know that we've had confimation from Tim Burton or Cohen yet.

Znachki | December 08, 20:24 CET

ohh.. My college did this a few years ago and I have loved it ever since. I can't wait. Really people, patience is not my virtue here.

Lovella | December 08, 20:43 CET

This is very exciting news. I suspect that I'm either going to love or hate this movie, but I'll give it a go either way.

Except now I have "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" in my head, and for that, SOMEONE MUST DIE.

Jet Wolf | December 08, 21:11 CET

It's pretty apropos that Sweeney is being talked about at this juncture. On Monday, he could be the model for some righteous venting ... ETS (edited to say):

On second thought, what I had quoted might be in very bad taste, so I'm taking it out.

Those of you who know Sondheim can picture Sweeney singing, though.

[ edited by Tonya J on 2006-12-08 19:22 ]

Tonya J | December 08, 21:13 CET

I am a huge Sweeney fan and I have been in the show twice. I'm tickled at the thought of ASH being in the show. But I'm stumped regarding what role. He is too old for 'Antony Hope' and 'Tobias.' He doesn't have the sadistic bass voice for "Judge Turpin." According to IMDb, Cohen is slotted to play Pirelli. He might make a "Beadle Bamford" - but the Beadle is always a rotund slothful kind of character in my imagination. He might also make a good "Fogg", head of the asylum in which the Judge locks Johanna.

I hope that there isn't too much voice substitution. Part of the spine-creeping darkness of this show is hearing it ooze out of the actor's own voices.

Zannadoo | December 08, 22:26 CET

newcj: "Everybody mentioned has the acting part, but so did Peter O'toole and Sophia Loren. That does not mean they should have been cast in Man of La Mancha."

No, indeed. Nor should Mr. O'Toole have been forced to croon "Where Did My Childhood Go?" in the 60s musical remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

spikeylover: "I am not sure about Rickman, although he seems like he'd probably be one of those good 'talking singers'. (You know, like Yul Brynner in KING AND I or Richard Harris in CAMELOT.)

Or Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. But not like Peter O'Toole in the musical remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips, croaking out "Where Did My Childhood Go?" in the 60s musical remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

Eeek. I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about that song, performed by a man who I esteem in almost every other performance. Except this song. Which haunts me... Listen to it sometime, but don't say I didn't warn you.

QuoterGal | December 09, 00:56 CET

Hmmm, and not one mention of Clint Eastwood "singing" I talk to the Trees from Paint Your Wagon.

Tonya J | December 09, 01:05 CET

Oh, god. *starts trembling* Oh, Tonya J, how cruel. How could you?

*beads of sweat break out on brow*

I had buried that horrible memory, and you just activated it again.

I'm going to go lie down for a bit, or maybe walk over to the Wesleyan thread, which features both Joss and Joan Leslie, and maybe that winning combination will make me forget what you just said.

*breathes* Think about Stage Door Canteen, think about Stage Door Canteen, breathe...

*suddenly remembers Bette Davis doing “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old” and pales visibly*

*just as suddenly remembers Bette performing “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy” as Baby Jane, and passes out altogether...*

QuoterGal | December 09, 01:32 CET

How could I? How could I not?! I'm sorry to have upset your stomach, my dear. I actually have a fond place in my heart for people who have to sing, who really can't, as some function of a role they're playing (and mind you, this is not the same torture at all that I'm put through when it's American Idol audition time. Then I usually have to hit the mute button and/or collapse on the floor in a heap of helpless tears and derision coursing through my body).

Best non-singer, singing performance I can think of right now: Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies. Actually, Clint Eastwood did much better when he also played a C&W singer - shoot, was that Cadillac Man? Can't remember right now.

Tonya J | December 09, 01:44 CET

I though Nick Brendon was adorable in OMWF. Clearly not a singer, but so game, and always at one with his character, and it worked extremely well.

ETA: D'oh!

[ edited by QuoterGal on 2006-12-09 00:15 ]

QuoterGal | December 09, 02:04 CET

Quite true! He did wonderfully well in that. I was thinking along the lines of the big stars we were talking about.

Tonya J | December 09, 02:06 CET

Reckon you're thinking of 'Honkytonk Man', Tonya J not a complete success but one of Eastwood's early 'I am not just a tough guy' pictures which has some real moments in it ('Cadillac Man' was a Robin Williams film IIRC).

(in a similar vein Lee Marvin in the aforementioned 'Paint Your Wagon' was pretty bad in 'Wandering Star' but to me it still kinda worked)

Saje | December 09, 02:49 CET

December 08 2006