well i love his voice, like he's my favorite male singer of all time, but there's too much craziness and not enough pain in his face. johnny depp had that incredible balance of madness and anguish in this song. also, i much prefer a sultry mrs. lovett. her character has always been written to be sexually frustrated.
I really dislike the tone of their voice. The way they sing in the back of their throats. It's a little more of an operatic tone. I'm just not a fan. Well, at least I tried listening to the real version. I do prefer the movie version.
This man is a monster! Best "Epiphany" I have seen ever! I'm doing the role soon and I have certainly learned a thing or two about Sweeney from this clip. Thank you!
*shrug to all of the comments below* The thing that I love about Brian is that he brings something original to every character he takes on. DEFINITELY one of my top three favorite sweeneys.
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Wow, ummmm that was shit. He sounded awful, completely lost it and probably would have been better if he was standing in the wings with a tarp thrown over him
I think his acting is perfect for this piece. This is the moment where Sweeney absolutely loses it...Brian Stokes Mitchell does just that. There's no more subtly from this moment on in the show. That's the beauty of Sweeney's character arch. He goes from sad to disturbed to insane back to sad in the end, once he realizes what he's done. This interpretation and performance is brilliant.
I think his acting is perfect for this piece. This is the moment where Sweeney absolutely loses it...Brian Stokes Mitchell does just that. There's no more subtly from this moment on in the show. That's the beauty of Sweeney's character arch. He goes from sad to disturbed to insane back to sad in the end, once he realizes what he's done. This interpretation and performance is brilliant.
This is really good. I especially love Mr. Mitchell's physical acting here. Mr. Mitchell definitely brings out Sweeney's insanity, but he's still missing the grief toward Lucy's death and the that he'll " never hold ( his girl Johanna ) to ( he) again. Other than that Mitchell's performance was really good.
@Kittyonastring13 Compared to what ... or who? I guess my criticism of his performance is that I don't believe it, in fact I think it's cartoonish. The character choice - whether it was Mitchell's or this particular production's director - for Sweeney's physicality is flat (the idea that he would need to 'brace himself' is great, but Mitchell clings to it for the whole clip). I much prefer Hearn (even Johnny Depp) to this performance.
My name is Joseph P. Murray, and in response to some of the questions regarding Mr. Stokes' co-star here, her name is Jane Pesci-Townsend, an inspiring singer & teacher from the Washington DC Metro Area. She taught at the Catholic University of America's Music Theater Dept. Sadly, she recently passed away from cancer, but I wanted to send love & let folks know her contribution to this performance. We'll miss you Jane.
several times he speeds way too fast with too much work on the singing and not enough work on the acting but personally i blame the orchestra since ive had that happen when they go way the hell too fast and it messes with your groove overall though a better then average performance.
First off, let me start by saying that Brian gives a brilliant interpretation of Sweeney! For which I have never seen might I add... And as for those who thinks this is "too crazy" have you seen this show in its entirety? Brian plays this part the way he does because this is Sweeney's breaking point, this is where he loses his mind completely!
I have no problem with him being completely batshit in this scene. The show before this has Sweeney being a wronged, disturbed, man who wants revenge on Turpin but still has some level of decency. This is the number where he snaps and loses every ounce of his former self and becomes a bad man hell-bent on revenge.
I think this is AMAZING and i'm still shocked that it is Brian!! This musical theater. This is acting. His eyes are big so the person in the far back of the room can see him. To be honest i'm literally afraid right now lol and i'm supposed to be! He shows the true insanity of that character.
I agree, but it should be a little more a Jekyll v. Hyde sort of deal rather than all Jekyll or all Hyde. When you have both sides of him, it can really be a beautiful thing.
I allways thought that sweeny would look much more like him, he looks so lunatic. But he sings to slow and i don't realy like his why of playing. But i would have loved if all sweenys would look somethign like that, that you are afraid of him XD
I like Brian Stokes Mitchell, but I'm afraid this role doesn't really suit his style very well. But that's just my opinion. I'm just too used to hearing a higher voice sing this to remain impartial.
That last note, no matter who sings it is amazing, the music and the singing is always spectacular, Cariou, Hearn, and even Cerveris. But the two cast recordings don't include that last bar of music. It pisses me off.
I can't say I really like his portrayal. George Hearn is by far my favorite Sweeney I have seen. I suppose that's a personal preference though. He is good, I'll give him that.
well in his defense... on stage there is a HUGE audience so u kinda do have to do too much.... that and its a musical so i forgive the said :overacting: They teach us to play to the back of the house so from the back at least they can see his eyes lol. right?
i think this was great! the way i see it is, this was the way interpreted sweeney i think a lot of people get wrapped up in what they've seen other performers do...and they make that the only way a show can be done. well then it wouldn't be live theatre, it'd be a movie. i love that he didn't try to be anybody else.
Brian Stokes Mitchell always sounds so good, it's just a shame that he overacts so badly that when you actually see him he looks like he's doing a silent movie all Lon Chaney style, it's just way too much. Sweeny is best when the actor finds his subtleties and makes a real fleshed out human not a caricature which is all I see here.
@upthedownstaircase79 I assume you base this opinion upon having seen Mitchell onstage more than once? Where, when and in which roles did you see him? How large was the theater and where within it were you sitting?
@upthedownstaircase79 I guess you could say that he was being a caricature but I mean think of the subject matter of this show, if you don't have that overacted sense of comedy and tragedy this show does have the potential to be God awful. and just because he's overacting doesn't mean he isn't acting. This performance is just as good as Johnny Depp's but if Depp took his performance to the stage, it would look stupid w/o screen editing and cinematography.
God damn, Brian Stokes Mitchell HAS done everything!!
Coalhouse Walker, Kiss Me Kate's Fred, Don Quixote, and NOW Sweeney Todd!
All I can say is BRAVO. It's so awesome how he can play so many multi-racial roles. I mean, he's an African-American actor, and he's played, what, three white roles and pulled them off marvelously? That's a true actor right there.
I think that his voice is a little too deep. Also, I think that he looks a liiitle TOO ANGRY when talking about how sad he is that he won't see his daughter. There might be soemone else I'm thinking of, someone with a black beard that looked SO ANGRY THAT IT WASNT GOOD. IS this him or someone else? Whatever.
For the majority of this run, it was Christine Baranski. The woman who sings at the beginning of this particular clip was her understudy, though, and I'm not sure who she was.
Not crazy about this. It just seems REALLY over-acted, and not in Hearn's way in which he pulled it off.
I prefer Len's version for the most believable one, he looks like he's LIVING in the part rather than just acting it. And Hearn's is the most powerful even though it's not as believable.
well i have to admit.. this guy is easily one of my favorite's vocally! HOLY CRAP he can sing... but... sadly enough, i think its safe to say he's over-acting sweeney todd a little bit. i mean.. sweeney's crazy..(obviously) but i dont think its that obvious that he's insane in the membrane
i think you'd have to be actually. he's got to be that crazy. its the lyrics in the song that make the acting so powerful. you cant over act this song. its supposed to be like this
i couldnt disagree more.. while the lyrics convey todd's sanity, this song is musically powerful enough without the stumbling all over himself and "crazy eyes". i just watched G. Hearn in the in concert version. "and HIS EYE was odd." not both of them.. i guess we just disagree on who sweeney todd really is. :/
It'd be interesting to see more clips of Mitchell in this part; I agree that if he was doing this sort of thing in scenes elsewhere, then yes that'd be too much. But for Epiphany, though, I think that's the one scene where "over-acting" (and I use the term loosely) is possible, even preferable. This is the song in which the man's mind completely cracks, after all.
Also, Sondheim has said that the key to this number is rapid, major shifts in tone and mood, which Mitchell certainly nails here.
What ever, she is a kick ass Mrs. Lovett. She was hired based on talent and last time I checked Sondheim didn't have a specific physical description on what Lovett should look like.
I believe there's more than one version of the end of the song, marked in the score as "long version" and "short version". The longer version goes straight on from the big major chord at the end to a quieter, tenser "false relation", so it's not an obvious place to clap, as it is here. It then goes into the "That's all very well" line from Mrs L. I love Brian Stokes Mitchell on the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, and it's great to see him do Sweeney. He went an octave up at one point!
he is a very odd villian i never could imagine that...i can imagine him as a hero. he is very wonderful in anything i just don't really like his posture it looks like it hurts his back
Terrific performance. Near equaling Hearn's performance which was legendary. Brian has unlimited talent and range. Depp was entertaining, but was not at all at this level, not even close.
I love Brian Stokes Mitchell in fact one of my favorite Broadway singers but lets be honest this is not his role. He is better in other parts but not this since he has too big a voice and to much of a(well I can't explain it) but he just isn't meant for an angry sounding evil man. HAHA!!
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This is the worst interpretation I've ever heard, this guy can't raise the volume of his voice enough, he depicts Sweeney's rage good. And as the most Sweeney Todds, he interpretates the 'there's a hole...' section a little odd. I think Johnny Depp was the only to do this properly.
How the heck does he sound like Quilly? Quilly sounded very English and stuffy. And how can you possibly base this Lovett's performance based soley upon this short video, which she is hardly in at all?
my computer froze at the beginning (stupid thing!!!!) so i didnt really listen to much of it.
iv never heard this version of the play. it seems ok. i lyk the movie, too. movies and theatre and different things, tho. the sweeneys are different because on a movie you can have a quiet, eerie voice but on a stage you need to sing for an audience so you need to be louder.
my fave type is quiet and eerie, but id want to go and see sweeney todd in theatre.
Wow...I love Brian Stokes Mitchell SO much. Every role he plays is golden. And Jane Pesci-Townsend was my director in Les Mis last year <3 Such an honor to work with her!
The only thing i really don't like about the stage show is the MAJOR over-actin, but apart from that it's awesome, i wish they'd just tone it down a bit
@trophywife41024 Try watching the filmed version with George Hern & Angela Lansbury (the original Ms. Lovett).
ShowtuneSampler 1 month ago
well i love his voice, like he's my favorite male singer of all time, but there's too much craziness and not enough pain in his face. johnny depp had that incredible balance of madness and anguish in this song. also, i much prefer a sultry mrs. lovett. her character has always been written to be sexually frustrated.
trophywife41024 1 month ago
Amazing performance!
twalter1 2 months ago
is he black? cause if e is his facia expression is funny as heck xD
LilAdorkableBambi 3 months ago
I don't like it...
TotallyBlueBerry 3 months ago
Don Quixote as Sweeney Todd? I like this...
MasterAnemos 5 months ago
I want Helena bonham Carter.
LucasMidkiff 6 months ago
great version, how it should be!!!!!
BrotherJallan 6 months ago
I really dislike the tone of their voice. The way they sing in the back of their throats. It's a little more of an operatic tone. I'm just not a fan. Well, at least I tried listening to the real version. I do prefer the movie version.
Sw33tKatProductions 6 months ago
@Sw33tKatProductions I guess it's totally just a matter of different people having different tastes, but this was how it was written: operatically.
terryleehicksthe3rd 4 months ago
BSM! -3
And the way the camera sort of shakes just makes everything look more chaotic. XD
Avatarlover85 6 months ago
oh my god, its so different from the movie,,, but its good =)
Flarg42 7 months ago in playlist Sweeney Todd
very powerful performance!
LauraSeabrook 7 months ago
I like the more Depp personality because that is more human. The insane man is not the one that looks it.
zjfox43 7 months ago
This man is a monster! Best "Epiphany" I have seen ever! I'm doing the role soon and I have certainly learned a thing or two about Sweeney from this clip. Thank you!
guitarandvoice7 7 months ago
You must look at your life (look at your life) look at your life through Sweeney's eyes!
mrchuckmorris 8 months ago 4
HAHAHAHAHAHA! HE LOOKS LIKE A GOAT!
strawberrysmoothie6 8 months ago
woo! that was awesome!
Phantomlover1302 9 months ago
Is Johnny Depp the only one of them who doesn't cry WHILE SINGING ??
sekahkiller 9 months ago
wow he is really good! I love the way he did this song.
FleetStreetNightmare 10 months ago
where was this?
Fiyero06 11 months ago
George Hearn has got to be the best Sweeney :)
iemilyuvideo 11 months ago
Good performance. But Sweeney's teeth are too white.
inamonianim 11 months ago
*shrug to all of the comments below* The thing that I love about Brian is that he brings something original to every character he takes on. DEFINITELY one of my top three favorite sweeneys.
BroadwayKeepsMeGoing 11 months ago
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Wow, ummmm that was shit. He sounded awful, completely lost it and probably would have been better if he was standing in the wings with a tarp thrown over him
JokerSequeida1 1 year ago
great singer... keep with the good work!
Antauryum 1 year ago
Hm..when I saw this at the KC, it was Christine Boranksi playing Mrs Lovett..?
ShawnoftheDay 1 year ago
BRILLIANT.
moe4psu23 1 year ago 3
it sounds so good on him, but I'm not enjoying the scene
mskelseypeters 1 year ago
the ms. lovett...but BStokes.. OMG!!! I love it!
Puppies140 1 year ago
that ms. lovett is terrible..
Puppies140 1 year ago
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I think his acting is perfect for this piece. This is the moment where Sweeney absolutely loses it...Brian Stokes Mitchell does just that. There's no more subtly from this moment on in the show. That's the beauty of Sweeney's character arch. He goes from sad to disturbed to insane back to sad in the end, once he realizes what he's done. This interpretation and performance is brilliant.
moe4psu23 1 year ago
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I think his acting is perfect for this piece. This is the moment where Sweeney absolutely loses it...Brian Stokes Mitchell does just that. There's no more subtly from this moment on in the show. That's the beauty of Sweeney's character arch. He goes from sad to disturbed to insane back to sad in the end, once he realizes what he's done. This interpretation and performance is brilliant.
moe4psu23 1 year ago
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moe4psu23 1 year ago
why does ms lovett getting fatter as i look through these plays?
jolliapplegirl 1 year ago
This is really good. I especially love Mr. Mitchell's physical acting here. Mr. Mitchell definitely brings out Sweeney's insanity, but he's still missing the grief toward Lucy's death and the that he'll " never hold ( his girl Johanna ) to ( he) again. Other than that Mitchell's performance was really good.
jedilord88 1 year ago
I'm sorry to say this is the worst interpretation of this song - this character - I've ever seen.
fossegoat 1 year ago
@fossegoat
This is actually a more accurate interpretation of the character though.
Kittyonastring13 1 year ago
@Kittyonastring13 Compared to what ... or who? I guess my criticism of his performance is that I don't believe it, in fact I think it's cartoonish. The character choice - whether it was Mitchell's or this particular production's director - for Sweeney's physicality is flat (the idea that he would need to 'brace himself' is great, but Mitchell clings to it for the whole clip). I much prefer Hearn (even Johnny Depp) to this performance.
fossegoat 1 year ago
Quite simply astounding! Well well done. An inspiration.
markhmcleod64 1 year ago 2
I love how he looks insane while he's singing! He's amazing!
MrDarkGenis 1 year ago 2
Amazing i wish it was still going bring the show into london i would,love,to see this BRIAN STOKES OMG amazing voice perfect for this role
Phantomgoast 1 year ago
I adore how you can see him totally snap
Takaithefox620 1 year ago 2
That dude sounds like the neighbor from the Honeymooners... and yet I DID like it.
moocher2121 1 year ago
Hello:
My name is Joseph P. Murray, and in response to some of the questions regarding Mr. Stokes' co-star here, her name is Jane Pesci-Townsend, an inspiring singer & teacher from the Washington DC Metro Area. She taught at the Catholic University of America's Music Theater Dept. Sadly, she recently passed away from cancer, but I wanted to send love & let folks know her contribution to this performance. We'll miss you Jane.
JPM
CUA '07
pmurraymusic 1 year ago 20
cool set!
Melensko 1 year ago
This is amazing! He really catches Sweeney's insanity.
MKTrny 1 year ago 2
several times he speeds way too fast with too much work on the singing and not enough work on the acting but personally i blame the orchestra since ive had that happen when they go way the hell too fast and it messes with your groove overall though a better then average performance.
fsolaruslux 1 year ago
always count on BSM to put his all into a performance...Brilliant as always. He scared me but his voice as always enthralled me.
CrazyGood88 1 year ago
the movie did not justice to this show... this is a great performance
metalheadrock 1 year ago
This actor is just fantastic
thrasherwartooth 1 year ago
First off, let me start by saying that Brian gives a brilliant interpretation of Sweeney! For which I have never seen might I add... And as for those who thinks this is "too crazy" have you seen this show in its entirety? Brian plays this part the way he does because this is Sweeney's breaking point, this is where he loses his mind completely!
BroadwayKeepsMeGoing 1 year ago
That guys eyes are fucking scary
LegoGear 1 year ago
0:50 I'm pretty sure he crosses his eyes LOL.
meshumekha 1 year ago
I have no problem with him being completely batshit in this scene. The show before this has Sweeney being a wronged, disturbed, man who wants revenge on Turpin but still has some level of decency. This is the number where he snaps and loses every ounce of his former self and becomes a bad man hell-bent on revenge.
frams12 1 year ago 23
you can feel his lose of sanity
Selana 1 year ago
I wish he could have performed this with Patti Lupone cause she as well showed the TRUE insanity of Mrs Lovett. This is soooooo good ugh
fossilkid4life 2 years ago
I think this is AMAZING and i'm still shocked that it is Brian!! This musical theater. This is acting. His eyes are big so the person in the far back of the room can see him. To be honest i'm literally afraid right now lol and i'm supposed to be! He shows the true insanity of that character.
fossilkid4life 2 years ago
RIVETING!
meshumekha 2 years ago
He was like a puppet on ice...the drug: He hardly moves and he over reacts for no reason!
2010Wilde 2 years ago
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2010Wilde 2 years ago
Personally I love his playing of it. Sweeney always struck me as a crazy ass mofo.
DynastiAces 2 years ago 2
Vocally the best man for the role but he looks far too crazy.
roccoh21 2 years ago
too crazy...for a serial killer?
ShawnoftheDay 2 years ago 2
I think he's too crazy for a serial killer too because...
would you let him shave you? no.
sweeney need people to trust their throats to him
arturopotter 2 years ago
I agree, but it should be a little more a Jekyll v. Hyde sort of deal rather than all Jekyll or all Hyde. When you have both sides of him, it can really be a beautiful thing.
meshumekha 2 years ago
@roccoh21 agreed. these less trained singers can't handle the difficult brilliance of the exact notes mr sondheim wrote.
iiiset 2 years ago
I allways thought that sweeny would look much more like him, he looks so lunatic. But he sings to slow and i don't realy like his why of playing. But i would have loved if all sweenys would look somethign like that, that you are afraid of him XD
ClipOriss 2 years ago 3
George Hearn!! Put on a clinic with this piece.. Everything else pales..
pluper222 2 years ago
I like Brian Stokes Mitchell, but I'm afraid this role doesn't really suit his style very well. But that's just my opinion. I'm just too used to hearing a higher voice sing this to remain impartial.
marrond 2 years ago 3
I like BSM in everything, except this.
pluper222 2 years ago
Right On! This was hooorrrriiiifffffiiic! Not Brian at his magnificent best. But, I still love him as an artist.
lovemusicsomuch2 2 years ago
The woman he is singing with is the director of a show im in!!
i love them
lolcatsrcool 2 years ago
He's hobbling around like Fred Sanford.("Coming to get you, Elizabeth!") Normally I like BSM's voice, but George Hearn enunciates better.
gahanwilson 2 years ago 3
@gahanwilson "I'm coming to join you honey!!!" but you are right in your observation.
pluper222 1 year ago
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the most overrated "musical" ever.
HoHeave 2 years ago
i like his evil little eyes...although the recording sucked it was still really good i like his voice a lot too.
westsidepride69 2 years ago
That last note, no matter who sings it is amazing, the music and the singing is always spectacular, Cariou, Hearn, and even Cerveris. But the two cast recordings don't include that last bar of music. It pisses me off.
WWEQAF 2 years ago
he is probably the worst sweeney todd i have seen he doesnt have the true agression that this song shows
themoviemadnessguy 2 years ago
he suckes
ronniecuby 2 years ago
i love this, really shows the twisted, mad side of todd.
Jamie4137 2 years ago
He also was Don Quihote I believe.
I think that this was taken too slowly.
It should have been faster.
I also likes Hearns sweeney better but Micthell is brilliant and I commend him nonetheless
1037pm 2 years ago
I can't say I really like his portrayal. George Hearn is by far my favorite Sweeney I have seen. I suppose that's a personal preference though. He is good, I'll give him that.
elfking217 2 years ago 2
My favorite is Len Cariou but I like both George and Brian Stokes Mitchell :)
WarCraftPwns 2 years ago
well in his defense... on stage there is a HUGE audience so u kinda do have to do too much.... that and its a musical so i forgive the said :overacting: They teach us to play to the back of the house so from the back at least they can see his eyes lol. right?
taliiuh 2 years ago
i think this was great! the way i see it is, this was the way interpreted sweeney i think a lot of people get wrapped up in what they've seen other performers do...and they make that the only way a show can be done. well then it wouldn't be live theatre, it'd be a movie. i love that he didn't try to be anybody else.
whocares4294 2 years ago 3
gut wrenchingly bad. bad bad bad. get him a pair of sunglasses already.
henrysvg 2 years ago
Brian Stokes Mitchell always sounds so good, it's just a shame that he overacts so badly that when you actually see him he looks like he's doing a silent movie all Lon Chaney style, it's just way too much. Sweeny is best when the actor finds his subtleties and makes a real fleshed out human not a caricature which is all I see here.
upthedownstaircase79 2 years ago 3
True. I agree totally.
Ryuzaki40 2 years ago
@upthedownstaircase79 I assume you base this opinion upon having seen Mitchell onstage more than once? Where, when and in which roles did you see him? How large was the theater and where within it were you sitting?
stevevandien 1 year ago
@upthedownstaircase79 I guess you could say that he was being a caricature but I mean think of the subject matter of this show, if you don't have that overacted sense of comedy and tragedy this show does have the potential to be God awful. and just because he's overacting doesn't mean he isn't acting. This performance is just as good as Johnny Depp's but if Depp took his performance to the stage, it would look stupid w/o screen editing and cinematography.
piepiepie00092 1 year ago
God damn, Brian Stokes Mitchell HAS done everything!!
Coalhouse Walker, Kiss Me Kate's Fred, Don Quixote, and NOW Sweeney Todd!
All I can say is BRAVO. It's so awesome how he can play so many multi-racial roles. I mean, he's an African-American actor, and he's played, what, three white roles and pulled them off marvelously? That's a true actor right there.
PhantomDawg594 2 years ago
I feel that to an extent theatre is embracing colorblind casting (unless it is integral to the script, say "The Color Purple").
Doliath 2 years ago
I think that his voice is a little too deep. Also, I think that he looks a liiitle TOO ANGRY when talking about how sad he is that he won't see his daughter. There might be soemone else I'm thinking of, someone with a black beard that looked SO ANGRY THAT IT WASNT GOOD. IS this him or someone else? Whatever.
Ryuzaki40 2 years ago
don't forget Javert in les mis!
first and only time i've been able to see him perform live and his voice was perfection.
whoknowscouldbe 2 years ago
He's also played Officer Javert from Les Miz, and was absolutely astounding!!
Eponine94 2 years ago
This guy and George Hearn are my second favorite Sweeney's by my favorite will always be the original Len Cariou
WarCraftPwns 2 years ago
TOO TOO over the top. guh.
henrysvg 2 years ago
TOO TOO over the top. guh.
henrysvg 2 years ago
this is fabulous. brian stokes mitchell is a god
MylifeIsShows 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
terrible
pancini7 2 years ago
Who played as Mrs, Lovett?
Soundscream99 2 years ago
For the majority of this run, it was Christine Baranski. The woman who sings at the beginning of this particular clip was her understudy, though, and I'm not sure who she was.
sunrisesunset51 2 years ago
@Soundscream99 Jane Pesci Townsend
She has directed shows I was in. Truly amazing.
dcmags1 1 year ago
This is WAAAAY to over the top.
JSanzLesMis421 2 years ago
Duh. It's a stage production. If you were in the audience it wouldn't seem over the top.
mithol 2 years ago 2
besides the original and johny, this would have to b my fav sweeney
jakewr1996 2 years ago 2
Not crazy about this. It just seems REALLY over-acted, and not in Hearn's way in which he pulled it off.
I prefer Len's version for the most believable one, he looks like he's LIVING in the part rather than just acting it. And Hearn's is the most powerful even though it's not as believable.
AtLastOnTheGround 2 years ago 3
^^ this is now my favorite video 1:37 XD
icesword553344 2 years ago
hahahh old bitch
pottergoth14 2 years ago
well i have to admit.. this guy is easily one of my favorite's vocally! HOLY CRAP he can sing... but... sadly enough, i think its safe to say he's over-acting sweeney todd a little bit. i mean.. sweeney's crazy..(obviously) but i dont think its that obvious that he's insane in the membrane
ecnarret11 2 years ago 3
i think you'd have to be actually. he's got to be that crazy. its the lyrics in the song that make the acting so powerful. you cant over act this song. its supposed to be like this
faggyboy2 2 years ago
i couldnt disagree more.. while the lyrics convey todd's sanity, this song is musically powerful enough without the stumbling all over himself and "crazy eyes". i just watched G. Hearn in the in concert version. "and HIS EYE was odd." not both of them.. i guess we just disagree on who sweeney todd really is. :/
ecnarret11 2 years ago
but the show is considered a melodrama! The actor can easily get away with playing over the top. : )
bradleydurio 2 years ago
It'd be interesting to see more clips of Mitchell in this part; I agree that if he was doing this sort of thing in scenes elsewhere, then yes that'd be too much. But for Epiphany, though, I think that's the one scene where "over-acting" (and I use the term loosely) is possible, even preferable. This is the song in which the man's mind completely cracks, after all.
Also, Sondheim has said that the key to this number is rapid, major shifts in tone and mood, which Mitchell certainly nails here.
DarthGuybrush7 2 years ago
Oh God, I WISH I saw this!! Incredible!
HollyJL13 2 years ago
Stokes=Life. lol plain n simple.
TheLuckyOneee 2 years ago 2
I have no words to describe this.
augmentedheart 2 years ago
you can see how distressed he is! Bravo!
RainkitandGlitter 3 years ago
ive got chills. oh my god.
his belting is so strong.
faggyboy2 3 years ago
Brilliant,Mad! you can play sweney todd in so many ways
DaRkCrAsh03 3 years ago
Holy crap, Brian! I can see ALL of your teeth!
LOL, great work!
ryaneffingbrock 3 years ago 3
Was that the understudy Mrs. Lovett?
I could have sworn Christine Barinski was the Mrs. Lovett at the Kennedy center production.
oohcool 3 years ago
wats the difference between the broadway production and the kennedy center production of sweeney todd?
theatresofty 3 years ago
I love George Hearn's one, but JD's one was really good, better than this un
mafiamann666 3 years ago
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Thats a fat mrs lovett and a black sweeney todd he sucks at singing
jliverstone 3 years ago
What makes you say that?
lakme 3 years ago
u are a fucking idiot
GtrPlyr1990 3 years ago
@jliverstone huh... he sucks so bad he was selected to sing at the Kennedy Center in DC. Huh, funny how that works?!
WCHCOR 1 year ago
He reminds me of Ratigan from The Great Mouse Detective...
not that that's a bad thing, this is the best live performance I've seen.
keytoaheart 3 years ago
was that Hugh Panaro as Antony cuz i think he was in this show
fanofphantom13 3 years ago
Yup, he was in the Kennedy Center production with Brian Stokes Mitchell.
lakme 3 years ago
bloody hell thats was mad mad and bloody brilliant lol i liked it and all other versions who ever sing it,this was just the absolutely crazed version
DaRkCrAsh03 3 years ago
that is a fat mrs.lovett
animerulez262 3 years ago
What ever, she is a kick ass Mrs. Lovett. She was hired based on talent and last time I checked Sondheim didn't have a specific physical description on what Lovett should look like.
almostfamous719 3 years ago
can you please post the fina scene if you have it? it would mean a lot! =)
theatresofty 3 years ago
I can never understand why in the US this is always met with showstopping applause, and in the UK in total eerie silence?
Sondheimsbitch 3 years ago
I believe there's more than one version of the end of the song, marked in the score as "long version" and "short version". The longer version goes straight on from the big major chord at the end to a quieter, tenser "false relation", so it's not an obvious place to clap, as it is here. It then goes into the "That's all very well" line from Mrs L. I love Brian Stokes Mitchell on the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, and it's great to see him do Sweeney. He went an octave up at one point!
Schnorbs 3 years ago
Do you have a video of "A Little Priest" from this production?
shmoogle14 3 years ago
I do, but I am completely busy lately and I still owe people some other scenes, so we'll see. :D Sorry
lakme 3 years ago
@lakme do you have the constest? if you do, please upload it :D
pilsburydoughboy555 1 year ago
he is a very odd villian i never could imagine that...i can imagine him as a hero. he is very wonderful in anything i just don't really like his posture it looks like it hurts his back
jmacjr101 3 years ago
this guy has an awesome voice! did awesome job with this
imsweeneytodd 3 years ago
Terrific performance. Near equaling Hearn's performance which was legendary. Brian has unlimited talent and range. Depp was entertaining, but was not at all at this level, not even close.
mikeg888 3 years ago
George Hearn and Johnny Depp are better
stickmanpictures01 3 years ago
How you dare to mention Johnny Depp in one sentence with the divine George Hearn?!
NessaCosette 3 years ago 10
He kind of reminds me of the Frankenstein monster.
LoudAustralian 3 years ago
"PUTTING ON THE RITZ!"
LoudAustralian 3 years ago
"I'm alive at last! And I'm FULL OF JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYY!" That was just phenomenal!
sdrhead 3 years ago
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borisko17sc 3 years ago
Okay, so, about Brian Stokes Mitchell ... I adore him. Holy crap, this is amazing. I'm basically speechless.
sunrisesunset51 3 years ago
Whoa! That dude's an awesome singer and actor!
quixxxilver 3 years ago
Oh my God. Another good thing that came from the move being made- You posting this clip!
I love Brian Stokes Mitchell to death, but I was until now unaware of the fact that he had played Sweeney! WOW! I love this. Thanks for posting!
Stardust1789 3 years ago
the video is great... but i dont like the women singing... like in an opera:D
was144 3 years ago
I love Brian Stokes Mitchell in fact one of my favorite Broadway singers but lets be honest this is not his role. He is better in other parts but not this since he has too big a voice and to much of a(well I can't explain it) but he just isn't meant for an angry sounding evil man. HAHA!!
arodoet126 3 years ago
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This is the worst interpretation I've ever heard, this guy can't raise the volume of his voice enough, he depicts Sweeney's rage good. And as the most Sweeney Todds, he interpretates the 'there's a hole...' section a little odd. I think Johnny Depp was the only to do this properly.
RickvanVeldhuizen 3 years ago
ur a fuckin idiot..
ryangrregory 3 years ago
Jees, 't was just my opinion, someone who has a different opinion than you, is not an idiot, just somebody with another opinion. :p
RickvanVeldhuizen 3 years ago
no... you're pretty much an idiot.
Pianoman011 3 years ago
:p -- I may be... xD
RickvanVeldhuizen 3 years ago
Are you kidding? Johnny Depp is horrible! He's the worst Sweeney in my opinion.
paklack 3 years ago 2
It's a great performance, but George Hearn's Sweeney is my all-time favorite.
ksnygirl 3 years ago 2
too crazy too soon but good
musicalfool 3 years ago
I think it sounds much better than in the film althoug this Sweeny looks a bit crazy (I don't mean that bad. It's only my two pennies worth)
19WuaFFel93 3 years ago
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im not liking the Mrs Lovett ...sorry
he sweeney sounds abit like Dennis Quilly the orig London cast sweeney in 198
BloodBrothersFan 3 years ago
How the heck does he sound like Quilly? Quilly sounded very English and stuffy. And how can you possibly base this Lovett's performance based soley upon this short video, which she is hardly in at all?
SweeneyHyde 3 years ago 2
i love him but honestly in man of lamancha hes so kind but here i can not imagine him as the villian very good but geexers
jmacjr101 3 years ago
who is Mrs. Lovett?
ActorSinger51 3 years ago
Jane Pesci-Townsend
lakme 3 years ago
my computer froze at the beginning (stupid thing!!!!) so i didnt really listen to much of it.
iv never heard this version of the play. it seems ok. i lyk the movie, too. movies and theatre and different things, tho. the sweeneys are different because on a movie you can have a quiet, eerie voice but on a stage you need to sing for an audience so you need to be louder.
my fave type is quiet and eerie, but id want to go and see sweeney todd in theatre.
psychowelshperson27 3 years ago
I think I might like this Sweeney better than George Hearn's...
BlueflameShinigami 3 years ago
Please post more of Jane Pesci Townsend as Ms. Lovett
mgardin 3 years ago
Personally, my favorite Sweeney is Johnny Depp, but my second is DEFINATLEY Brain ^^
ShadowSora94 3 years ago
Mitchell is normally fantastic, but he plays a terrible Sweeney.
clownrus 3 years ago 2
Wow...I love Brian Stokes Mitchell SO much. Every role he plays is golden. And Jane Pesci-Townsend was my director in Les Mis last year <3 Such an honor to work with her!
Aoichou08 3 years ago
The only thing i really don't like about the stage show is the MAJOR over-actin, but apart from that it's awesome, i wish they'd just tone it down a bit
jeffreesson 3 years ago
yeah, i agree
cman139000 3 years ago
Does it not jst make you cringe sometimes? lol
jeffreesson 3 years ago
Well in it's defense the show is set up in Melodrama set to music. So If melodrama isn't your thing the stage version never really works.
Phd12741 3 years ago