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Like its fellow PBS series Ken Burns' Jazz, Broadway: The American Musical is an ambitious and absorbing exploration of a unique American art form that has always been best experienced in live performance. Hosted and narrated by Julie Andrews, the six-part, six-hour documentary traces the history of musical theater from its roots in vaudeville, operetta, and minstrel shows, to the dawn of what would become the modern American musical, Show Boat, and on through many changes that seemed to reflect those in American culture itself.Significant creators discussed include Florenz Ziegfeld, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, and David Merrick, and notable shows (Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Company, Cats, and recent hit Wicked, among others) are analyzed through performance clips and interviews with songwriters, stars, directors, producers, critics, and historians.

The series' most obvious weakness is its use of only brief excerpts of the performances--no song is heard in full. The sheer scope of the series no doubt played a part in that, as well as complicated rights issues, but the core problem is that musical theater has always been a live medium, rarely documented and even more rarely released to the general public.The documentary's producers make do with audio recordings, still photographs, and bits of footage, often in grainy black and white.Thankfully, they resist over-relying on feature-film musicals--which look much better and are sometimes excellent (but more often mediocre) translations--and when used such footage is clearly identified.That makes it all the more frustrating, however, that almost all of the other footage is not identified, because that is what fans are less familiar with and would be most interested in.The 1950s footage looks to be mostly from TV programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show; by the 1960s we have live footage from the Tony Awards (easily identifiable by the backdrops); and the newest shows might have been shot on stage.But early Ethel Merman and other random clips are mysteries, perhaps even to the producers themselves.

Because the series is designed to appeal to a general audience (again like Jazz), a lot of the information won't be new to diehard Broadway fans, but they should be especially pleased by the DVDs' bonus features, which include additional performances and about four more hours of interviews.Stephen Sondheim fans should be fascinated by footage of the composer-lyricist discussing "Someone in a Tree" at the piano, and then running through the song with original cast members of Pacific Overtures, as well as interviews of him talking about his own shows and songs (e.g., listing the songwriters he pastiched in Follies) and reminiscing about mentor Oscar Hammerstein II.Other bonus performances include vaudeville films from the Library of Congress, original-cast television performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "If I Loved You" (from Carousel, unfolding over 12 minutes) and "Some Enchanted Evening" (the reprise version from South Pacific), Rent's Jonathan Larson spoofing Sondheim, and two behind-the-scenes looks at Wicked. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

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When a show's pit band is the New York Philharmonic, youcan expect something special, and that's what this all-star Candide delivers. It is a concert performance, without scenery but withcostumes, makeup, a bit of dancing, and a lot of acting. Musically,it sounds like the best of all possible Candides. Besides an unusually talented cast, its strong points include thepacing and accentuation of Marin Alsop, one of the brightestindividuals in the younger generation of conductors; the polishedpresence of Thomas Allen, who doubles as the narrator and Dr.Pangloss, and the spirited participation of the brilliantWestminster Symphonic Choir.

Taught in childhood to believe they live in "the best of allpossible worlds," the young characters struggle to preserve theiroptimism through a harrowing sequence of war, famine,shipwreck, piracy, slavery, rape, and disease with a sparkle intheir eyes and a tune on their lips, until, with difficulty,they finally reach a sense of reality.

Candide spans the traditional division between operaand Broadway. The soloists, all headliners, are recruited fromboth worlds. Broadway is represented by Patti LuPone, whobecame a legend in Evita, and Tony award winner KristinChenoweth. Paul Groves and Stanford Olsen have distinguishedoperatic backgrounds. They all sing Leonard Bernstein's catchytunes and the show's clever lyrics with gorgeous voices, a lot ofacting skill and a witty, flippant response to Voltaire's cynical (or, rather, realistic) philosophy.--Joe McLellan ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Appalling !!!
I was so excited at hearing thata concert version of Candide was to be released on DVD. I saw a diferent concert production in London in February 2005 and it was outstanding. The one I watched today from New York is appalling beyond words. Kristin Chenoweth and Patti Lupone are dreadful. Glitter and be Gay is ruined by Kristin (SREECH) Chenoweth and Patti is vile as The Old Lady. I love Patti, but she ruined this. Why make the concert so pathetic? Too comic, the choir holding up placards!!!
Avoid this at all cost. Watch the video of the Barbican concert, if you have it and listen to the Scottish Opera version on CD. The worst DVD I have ever seen!

Outstanding version of Candide...one to keep and treasure
This is a splendid performance of Candide. But before you go any further, you should realise that this is a concert performance, not a full scale operatic staging of the work. That said, the singing is glorious and the acting, despite this being a concert performance is outstanding. It is driven to milk all the comic elements out of the play. It all works delightfully. It is so brimful of joie de vivre, it leaves you smiling and humming all day. I must disagree with a previous reviewer who said, Bernstein wouldn't be amused. This is precisely what he would have wanted to achieve.

Sir Thomas Allen is superb as Dr. Pangloss who doubles as the narrator of the concert. Paul Groves and Patti LuPone are both excellent. But the star of this Candide is surely the lovely Kristin Chenoweth as Cunegonde, who in addition to having a magnificient voice shows that she is a natural comedienne and actress. This recording of Candide immediately goes to the top of the list. Now, if only we could have Bernstein's own production of Candide recorded live at the Barbican Theatre in London. That recording under the Deutsche Grammophon label is yet to appear on DVD.

I should comment on the camerawork which received criticism from a previous reviewer. It is a mark of the electric quality of this bravura performance that most viewers don't even notice the almost amateurish shakiness of the camera. But the cameraman was decidedly shaky. At times I had the distinct impression he had stumbled or knocked over something. Maybe he was as enthralled as the audience was. Truth to tell it didn't detract one bit from my enjoyment of the show.

The DVD by Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen (anamorphic enhancement). Picture quality is very good, clear, sharp and with rich natural colors. It comes with 3 audio tracks, DTS 5.1, Dolby Surround 5.1 and Dolby Stereo. Excellent immersive sound. It would have been good if they had included an uncompressed PCM track as well but I suppose that's asking a bit much. All in all, an outstanding concert and one to be forever treasured.


Technical note: I noticed a strange problem with this particular DVD. It seems to play quite flawlessly on certain systems, yet throw up irritating problems on others. On one set-up I noticed numerous motion artifacts and lots of combing issues. I'm not quite sure why they should be there but I attibute it to faulty encoding. No other DVD exhibits these errors on this particular system. I believe what one of the previous reviewers complained about could be due to this. But the problem goes away when switching to an alternate system with a better deinterlacer / video processor.

Adequate for those who have never seen Candide before
Unfortunately the new DVD of "Candide" is the worst production I've ever seen. (I've seen five, in Los Angeles and New York.)Kristen Chenowith is the only bright spot and is a perfect Cunegonde, possibly the best since Barbara Cook originated the role.The woman can do no wrong. But the director, Lonny Price, should never be allowed to direct again.Over all, most of the other performances are ultra-hammy - Patti LuPone as the Old Lady - or miscast - the actor who plays Maximilian looks like a geek (the director had the "bright" idea to cast someone unattractive on the grounds that his excessive self-love would be somehow humorous. Hah-hah).The production is also filled with topical updates that wouldn't be funny in a TV sitcom, including one that refers to Donald Trump in "The Apprentice."In short, the production is frenetic -- it certainly moves along -- but is unabashedly devoid of any taste.But at least, it has the music and Ms Chenowith, a role she was born to play.(I sincerely hope she plays it again, but in a full production and with a competent director.) Other than that, I think Leonard Bernstein would not be amused.

Phenomenal Candide
I have been listening to Candide recordings since seeing the original in the 50'sThe Cunangonda role has belonged to Barbara Cook until now and she is at least tied by Kristen Chenoweth, who is unbelievable in this performance.So are Paul Groves, Patti LuPone and all the others.Sir Thomas Allen does a wonderful job as Dr. Pangloss and the Narrator.

So, perfect singing with a particularly stunning performance by Ms. Chenoweth (look out Ms. Cook and Ms. Masterson).Let's not forget conductor Marin Alsop who has been a favorite of mine for years.

I don't know what the person who said the DVD was bad was talking about.I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it to all as a must-have.

Bill

Better on DVD
As mentioned in other reviews, this production is fabulous! Even if you recorded it when it aired on PBS stations, consider buying the DVD. (no pledge breaks, no cuts!) Also, the DVD has DTS 5.1 and Dolby 5.1 surround audio tracks. With surround on, you feel you are sitting in the audience! The reason I gave it 4 stars, rather than 5-- one disappointment. There is no captioning option. Not even the closed-captions from the broadcast. Having the "libretto" displayed, made it more enjoyable. ... Read more

Reviews (175)

A Broadway Masterpeace
This DVD is the best Musical DVD I have ever gotten. INTO THE WOODS is such a great show and is great for the whole family to see. Bernadette Peters is amazing in this and so is the whole cast. It is the story of the Baker and his wife as they go into the woods to undo the witch's spell. Along the way they meet Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding hood, and are taught lesions that you will never get any ware else. The story makes you want to make you cry. It is such a moving show with songs like "No one is alone," a beautiful song sung by Ms. Peters, "Agony" a great duet, sung by the two princes who are trying to find Cinderella and Repunsul and sing about their difficulties and "You're Fault/Last Midnight," witch really makes you think about life and why you place the blame. This is a wonderfull peace of work and needs to be seen, by any story, Sondheim lover, or a person with a heart. Bye it NOW and get prepared to say WOW!

Amazing show!!!!
Into the Woods is definitely one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. There is not a single dull moment in this musical. Stephen Sondheim is pure genius. As for the Broadway cast of ITW, I absolutely LOVED them. Every single one of them gave outstanding performances. However, Bernadette Peters obviously stood out a great deal as the Witch, and I thought another actress who did well was the lovely Kim Crosby as Cinderella..She had a beautiful voice. But the shining star here was definitely Joanna Gleason, no question about it. Her stunning performance as the Baker's Wife could have you holding your stomach, laughing; or it could make you cry. Joanna Gleason is an amazing actress...Her acting is so simple, yet complicated at the same time..She's just incredible as the Baker's Wife. A show stopping number was her "Moments In the Woods," along with "Any Moment" sung by Robert Westenberg as the HiLaRiOuS Cinderella's Prince... Every time I watch this part it cracks me up. Also, the beautiful duet "No One is Alone" done by Kim Crosby as Cinderella and Chip Zien as the Baker brings tears to your eyes... And the opening number "Into the Woods" is not to be missed. Another fun song is "Your Fault," done in the second act which is very awesome...I've proceeded in memorizing this whole thing and I'm pretty proud of myself, lol. I have no clue how Sondheim wrote that. The finale, "Children Will Listen," is a amazing as well...A great closing for the show.

Into the Woods is simply amazing... I prefer the first act over the second, though...The first is funny, heartwarming, and hilarious as we follow the Baker and his Wife into the woods to find a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold to break the curse that is keeping them from having a child. The second act is a lot more deep and dark when the giant arrives and upsets the whole kingdom. It's sad but still very enjoyable. If you are thinking of buying this video, DO! I promise you WON'T regret it.

(btw, that ending phrase sounds SO corny but oh well, that's me.)

Into the woods to buy this movie!
I apologize for the poor quality of the joke in the title.

Anyhoo, I saw this musical in high school (let me rephrase: I saw this video in high school...oh wait, I forgot. I DID see the play in high school too. Weird. But the video came first, so...end of aside) and have loved it ever since. I am an optimistic person by nature and like the phrase "happily ever after." I don't understand why our cyncial society is so determined to sink that phrase in the cruel, unforgiving sea of reality (for more on this subject see Cervantes' soliloquoy in "Man of La Mancha"). It is, however, always a great relief to me when I see that "Non-happy ever after" type shows generally always prove themselves wrong. The ending to this musical is...not what you'd expect! Ha! Thought I was gonna spoil it, didn't ya? But just the same it is a happy one. If any ending can be called happy in the wake of horror and death, and I say sure. Sondheim's best work, in my book. Bernadette Peters is as wonderful as always as the Wicked Witch, and since the most recent revival had (Shudder!) Vanessa Williams in the role, this is the show for you. I reckon.

i wish, more than anything...
Cinderella, Little Red Ridding Hood, The Baker and his Wife, and Rapunzel-- all in one! The opening number "I wish" is when the Baker and his Wife, Cinderella, Little Red Ridding Hood and Jack sing what they want (to sell a cow, a child, to go to granny's house, to go to the festival) and everything and the Witch comes in and stirrs up trouble and due to her all your average day fairy tales turned upside-down and on their big fat magic butts!

Now of course, the Witch does something (duh)! she makes the Baker and his Wife in order to get a child to get a golden slipper (Cinderella) a cape as red as blood (Little Red Ridding Hood) a cow as white as milk (Jack) and hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel). Of course, they get all the things with a lot of obsticals. Duh, I mean come on people it's not like they're really going to get all those stuff easy cheesy in a 3 hour play. That's where they sing their other hit song "Into the Woods".

Anyhow, Jack killed the Giant and the wife has come back to find Jack and guess what-- you'll have to find out what happens. So ha! It's so good it's magical.

Starring Bernadette Peters (the Witch) Kim Crosby (Cinderella) Danelle Fernland (Little Red Ridding Hood) Pamela Winslow (Rapunzel) Ben Wright (Jack) Chip Zien (Baker) Joanna Gleason (the Baker's Wife) and of course the Narrator, who does do a lot-- (Tom Aldredge)

HOPE YOU ENJOY! (I saw the 2001 one, so I can't say which one's better) SEE YA! I GUESS YOU'LL BE ON YOUR JOURNEY!

Very Obsession Worthy
I love many broadway musicals and plays, but this one takes the cake. Everything about it is superb! This taping of the play is excellent, gives you the broadway stage experience while also giving excellent close ups and a little bit of film magic, together creating an ecellent buy! Well, well worth the price, just to see the superb Bernadette Peters! This is a must have addition to any DVD collection! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The 10th anniversary concert video of the international musicalsensation Les Misérables might be the best thing to appease fans until afull-fledged movie comes along.Or it might be even better, as feature filmsare often subject to extramusical casting considerations and this 1995 dreamcast is superb. Reprising their roles from the original London company are ColmWilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius), and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier). From Broadway come Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine), and MichaelMaguire (Enjolras); from a later London production comes Ruthie Henshall(Fantine); and from Australia comes Philip Quast (Javert).

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score vividly captures the passionof Victor Hugo's epic tale of pre-Revolutionary France, combining tear-jerkingballads ("I Dreamed a Dream," "Bring Him Home") and rousing anthems ("Do YouHear the People Sing"). The format of this concert is closer to that of adramatic cantata rather than a fully staged production; the singers stand attheir microphone stands with an orchestra and chorus behind them, but they dowear costumes and participate in some movement.At certain points such as theclimax of the barricade scene, the video switches to action from a stageproduction. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sounds great, and it can bethrilling when 200 choristers (dressed in logo T-shirts) rise to their feet fora full-company number such as "One Day More." Also, subtitles provide date andscene information and help move the story along.

The 147-minute video contains footage not seen when Les Mis was a PBSpledge-drive staple, most notably the encore in which a progression of 17 actorswho have played Valjean around the world share "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Each sings a line in his native language, a testament to the enduring power ofthis show to audiences everywhere. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (195)

Exceptional Performance, but with one flaw
This performance of Les Miserables is simply fantastic. The words are heartbreaking. I probably would have rated this 4.8 stars, but the pull-down wouldn't let me.

Javert is portrayed by Philip Quast, and just to see him act as Javert is worth the price of the movie.

Lea Salonga performs Eponine with a beautiful performance of "on my own" and "a little fall of rain".

Michael Ball is the perfect Marius, and his "Empty chairs" brings tears to my eyes.

Ruthie Henshall plays as Fantine, who has many moods, portrayed splendidly.

Adam Searles is Gavroche, the sly street urchin. I wonder why the "little people" song was cut so short... he was underused in the musical, but oh well...

Colm Wilkinson was perfect in every way as the convict from the chain gang, Valjean, who turns to good as the mayor, "Monsieur Madeleine". Javert, though, finds out and sends Valjean out of the city.

The thenardiers are hilarious, especially in "master of the house." they are great comic relief for this dark movie.

The only one i have critisizm for is Judy Kuhn playing Cossette. Her voice is not necessarily that pretty when she sings in this version. I've heard her sing in lower keys before,and she was much better-sounding in those movies, take Disney's Pocahontas, for example.

This movie is rated PG-13 for language, a TINY bit of crude humor, and strong sexual content. I would recommend this for ages 10 and up.

I hope you find this review useful!

STUNNING
Absolutely stunning. If you are a Les Mis fanatic, you have not lived until you see this. Watching this ultimate "dream cast" is almost as good as watching the Broadway performance. Enough praise cannot be uttered for Colm Wilkinson - he is THE Jean Valjean, and can never be upstaged. The power & expression from this man is just unbelievable. When he is enraged, you are angry. When he is upset, you feel his pain. His "Bring Him Home" literally brought tears to my eyes. The duets between JVJ and Javert (Philip Quast) were also fantastic. Quast's best moment was in "Javert's Suicide" - utter desperation was exactly what was portrayed. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine) was magnificent, her voice is beautiful. Michael Ball (Marius) was absolutely wonderful, especially in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables". Michael Maguire (Enjolras) thoroughly impressed me by turning a smaller part into a strong and admirable role. The Thenardiers - hilarious, especialle Madame (Jenny Galloway). Young Cosette was adorable, but even moreso was Gavroche. The best part? The finale - 17 JVJ's from all over the world, led in by multicultural Gavroches, singing a line of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native tongues. The amount of talent in these 17 men is just indescribable - you have to hear it. Stunning, I tell you.

Absolutely Exquisite
This is absolutely amazing! I was a bit iffy about the lack of acting and set however all doubts went away within the first five minutes. Let's go through the characters and heap praise and a tiny bit of criticizm:

Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean): This preformance was magnificent! Colm Wilkinson does so well with the part of JVJ. "Bring Him Home" was breathtaking! He could've done with not sliding up to the high notes but then again those notes are extremely difficult. Great job!

Philip Quast (Javert): One word describes it all: Perfect. His voice, unlike Terrence Mann, whom some people claim to be the best, is clear and resonant. You can hear every syllable he utters with absoloute clarity. His rendidtion of "Stars" was beautiful and the look on his face at the end of the song encompasses all that Javert is. There is no other Javert but Philip Quast.

Ruthie Henshall (Fantine): I loved this! She is great! Frances Ruffele is shamed by Ruthie. She is a beautiful girl and has a very pretty voice.

Jenny Galloway (Mme. Thenardier): Hahaha! I was splitting my sides laughing! She is perfect, the way her voice sounds good and yet vile all in one soundwave. She could've sung a little lounder with the "I used to dream I would meet a prince..." and "there's not much there." but otherwise, good job.

Alun Armstrong (Thenardier): He is great! The only Thenardier that I've seen who could rival him is Nick Wyman. There's not much to be said but just watch and you'll see how perfect he is.

Lea Salonga (Eponine): Beautiful! Stunning! She is the one and only Eponine. All Cosette-lovers will be turning to Eponine's side after this performance. "On My Own" was fabulous!

Michael Ball (Marius): One again, great! No wonder this is the Dream Cast! "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was perfect: it fully portrayed Marius's grief at the time! If only they took this cast and taped the actual stage production with them.

Michael Maguire (Enjolras): Okay, maybe he was a little nasal with his voice and missed a few notes here and there, but how can this guy play this part badly? He LOOKS like Enjolras, he has the ATTITUDE of Enjolras, the DETERMINATION of Enjoras, and in a former life this guy probably WAS Enjolras!

Judy Kuhn (Cosette): She has a lovely voice, but I wasn't a fan of the whole "La Carlotta" aura about it. Cosette is a difficult character to like and to sing the part of well, and Judy did her best. Ah well.

Anthony Crivello (Grantaire): Come on. All he needed was a whiskey bottle and he would've been perfect.

My Miz!!!!!
If you have never seen Les Mis before, i must say that this is the performance to see first. The music is strong and moving, as are the vocals. And although its not actual theater acting, but in CONCERT, the actors very well portray the characters they are playing.
Highlights -- Colm Wilkinson -- He is on three of the four English recordings as Jean Valjean, and is in my opinion the best. Unfortunately, with his age, some of his high notes make me cringe. And his acting was not as great as it probably could have been, but he is WAY better than Garry Morris.
-- Ruthie Henshall -- She is pretty, has a lovely voice, acts the part of Fantine perfectly, and is quite simply the best Fantine I have heard by FAR.
-- Michael Maguire -- I LOVE this Enjolras! Yes, some notes are kinda high and painful to listen to, but he has the Enjy HEART!! Plus, he has nice eyes:-). However, I am warming towards Anthony Warlowe on the Complete Symphonic Recording. They're both MARVELOUS.
-- Adam Searles -- You just gotta love this Gavroche! His accent is perfect. Ok, so he could have put more fire and spunk in, but he is nonetheless my favorite Gavroche. And he is ADORABLE!! I only wish that he could have sung more of the characters parts, which, unfortunately were not in this production. If you want to hear those parts, listen to the CSR, on which the Gavroche also has more of the spunk that is desired.
-- Oh my gosh, I nearly forgot Philip Quast as Javert! Also on the CSR, this guy is AMAZING as the relentless inspector interested only in doing what is right. He is powerful, has the coolest voice and is just . . . GREAT. But, who else agrees with me that his makeup in the second act makes him look like a clown?
Now all you Salonga fans are going to be very disappointed in me, but i don't like her much as Eponine. Yes, she is powerful, and way better than Frances Ruffelle (OLC and OBC), but as I become more familiar with this character, I find that, indeed, she is quite bitter. And perhaps that's how the character was intended to be, but I don't like that interpretation. Call me weird, but I prefer Kaho Shimada on the CSR.
And Judy Kuhn as Cosette . . . she has a superb voice. I didn't like her very much when I first listened to her on here, but she has grown on me. Although Cosette herself is an irritating character, Kuhn makes her tons more tolerable.
And Michael Ball as Marius, well, I don't like the CHARACTER, but Ball brings so much feeling and power out of him . . . well, it *is* amazing.
The Thenardiers are the best I've heard -- Armstrong and Galloway are hilarious. and you'll love them.
Overall, this is an OUTSTANDING performance that will bring tears to your eyes every time you watch it. BUY IT, and you will NOT be disappointed! Take my word. Either that, or buy the soundtrack.
(let me also put in a good word for CATS the musical on VHS or DVD -- superb!!)
PS -- that bang during Castle on a Cloud -- that was a BALLOON popping.

The most breathtaking thing I've ever seen
I was not fortunate to get to see Les Miserables on Broadway; it closed before I had a chance, but my family has seen it and we own the soundtrack. The music is so beautiful and I could listen to it again and again-- so when I saw this at the movie store I decided to rent it and I am so glad I did! From start to finish, the entire thing gives me chills. Colm Wilkinson is simply extraordinary, there is no other word for him. His transition from his anguished lower register to his alert high notes are so memorable. He has incredible power.
Phillip Quast- Wow. Haunting, I suppose, is the best way to describe him. Although "Stars" is not one of my favorite songs, I was absolutely riveted to the screen watching him belt it out. His duets with Wilkinson were incredible, but possible the most chilling moment of the entire show was in "Javert's Suicide" when he hit the glory note at the end. It stayed in my mind for hours.
Michael Ball is nothing short of brilliant. He has an incredible voice with a pureness about it. Also enthralling was Lea Salonga as Eponine. I love the song "On my Own" and her version broke my heart because she sang it with such bitterness that melted into utter sadness. I'm not a huge Judy Kuhn fan, strictly because she seemed to go a little off pitch a few times. I give her full credit for her portrayal, because she was very focused and her duets with Michael Ball were lovely.
Michael Maguire is amazing. He took the role of Enjolras and ran away with it. The man never missed a note and was simply wonderful. "Do You Hear the People Sing?" sends shivers down my spine
Finally, Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway were HYSTERICAL! "Master of the House" is one of my favorite songs in the show-- completely disgusting and absolutely hilarious!
I recommend this to ANYONE-- it is so incredible! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The six-disc Stephen Sondheim DVD Collection is pure Broadway gold, encompassing three original Broadway cast performances and three all-star concerts celebrating the work of musical theater's most important composer over the last half of the 20th century. Into the Woods is Sondheim's most popular show, an amalgam of fractured fairy tales and what happens after "happily ever after."Bernadette Peters heads the cast, joined by Tony winner Joanna Gleason and Chip Zein.Sunday in the Park with George was Sondheim's immediately preceding work, also a collaboration with writer-director James Lapine and also starring Bernadette Peters.She plays Dot, the mistress of brilliant French pointillist painter Georges Seurat (Mandy Patinkin), in a powerful work about the nature of art and the artist that gains substantially when you can see the staging elements.The third Broadway cast performance is Passion, which was shot on stage though not before a live audience.It's a story of obsessive love in which the romance between Giorgio (Jere Shea) and Clara (Marin Mazzie) is disrupted by a strange woman named Signora Fosca (Tony winner Donna Murphy).

Sweeney Todd is generally considered Sondheim's best work, and it's well performed by Patti LuPone and George Hearn (reprising his role as the demonic barber almost 20 years after he played it opposite Angela Lansbury in a 1982 video recording).Follies in Concert was an attempt to right a wrong created by a truncated original cast recording, so it's ironic that roughly half the program is backstage material combined with only 47 minutes of concert footage.There are some brilliant moments, though, from such performers as Barbara Cook, Hearn, Patinkin, and Lee Remick.A Celebration at Carnegie Hall is another all-star cast performance of both Broadway stars and operatic voices peppered with comedy from Bill Irwin.Highlights include the ensemble numbers, Daisy Egan's "Broadway Baby," and Patrick Cassidy and Victor Garber's "The Ballad of Booth," which is about as close as you'll get to an original cast performance of Assassins.All in all, this invaluable set preserves and celebrates an important body of work that may never again be documented this well.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Whoo buddy! This collection may be pricey, but its worth it.
I couldn't decide whether I should round down or round up. This set is a great one. The only thing I would have asked for is some extra DVD that was only in this set to make it more than just a bargain for 6 DVDs.

As it is, the set is fantastic. However, to start: Follies in Concert isn't the best of DVDs. It has very little replay value for me, but it was really interesting on the first view. And chances are good if you are interested in this set as a whole, then you'll be interested in watching the rehearsal process which is what this DVD is. 3 stars for this disc alone.

The exciting inclusions on this set are the 3 original cast recordings.

Into the Woods was the first to be released on DVD and it shows. There are no extra features at all. It just plays when you pop it in, and you can access a chapter menu when the show ends (or by pressing menu on the remote). Johanna Gleason is gold. She is reason enough to watch this disc. But she's not the only one; the entire show is great fun. 4 ½ stars to this disc.

The gem of Sunday in the Park with George is Bernadette Peters. I wasn't too keen on her in Into the Woods, but she's phenomenal here. This show benefited from multiple viewings. The first time I saw it, I was confused. I still am. Just less so. Mandy Patinkin is good. And I really dig Mr. and Mrs., the southern Americans. Sure they are a bit of low comedy, but I like 'em. This DVD offers a commentary (whee!), which is exciting, if a little hard to hear. However, as reviewers of this specific DVD have mentioned, Patinkin dominates the conversation, and as Sondheim said (I think he said it, at least) it sounds a lot like a big back-patting meeting. But that's almost to be expected. It's fun to hear from these people who truly loved the work on which they commented. And they offer some fun insights to the show. 4 ¾ stars.

Passion gives us probably the most feature-packed DVD of the set. And it's jolly. The commentary is a lot better. I can hear it, and they don't have any silent moments (the silent moments on Sunday... made me antsy, for what it's worth). The bulk of the commentary seems to be about how the show didn't do too well, but it's still informative. Passion isn't my favorite show of the set, but it's a good production. I need to watch it some more times to solidify my reaction, but from the initial viewing, I wasn't so keen on Fosca. She seemed a bit too devious for me. I didn't sympathize with her nearly as much as I wanted to. 4 stars.

Sweeney is probably the brightest gem of this set. It is perhaps my favorite Sondheim musical, and it's the greatest production on video. I am not a member of the Patti LuPone fan club, but I thought she was a great Mrs. Lovett. She was good enough to not make me want Angela Lansbury. George Hearn is fantastic, as is the entire cast. Tim Nolan really creeps me out. And the massive orchestra is really great. You don't get to hear this music played my so many instruments that often, so it's super exciting when you do. This is one DVD that I really would like some commentary on. Ah well. It includes a small "Making of..." featurette. 5 stars.

The Sondheim at Carnegie DVD is another sparkly gem of this set. There are a couple of off moments, but overall, the concert is great, giving the owner of this set more exposure to more of Sondheim's canon. Most of the performances are really great. 5 stars.

Overall, the set is a great one. If you have a passing fondness for musical theatre, you probably shouldn't invest in this set (really, if you only have a passing fondness for musical theatre, you probably aren't reading this review). If you like musical theatre, you'll dig this set. If you like Sondheim, you'll wet yourself when it comes in the mail. Start pinching your pennies and get this collection.

5 stars seem not enough
Happy Christmas! Wow. Somebody loves me. What a spectaular gift. Each of these shows is a gem. The concert offers Madeline Kahn singing "Getting Married Today" (I just adored her). The Sondheim/Lapine shows are three of the masters best efforts - "Sunday in the Park," "Into the Woods" and "Passion." Great performances on each of these discs - Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Donna Murphy, Marin Mazzie, Glenn Close, Comedn and Green, Elaine Stritch and Barbara Cook - and many more. Anyone who loves the musical theatre would be thrilled and delighted to have this collection.

BROADWAY MAGIC from a BROADWAY LEGEND
Stephen Sondheim. A legend of the musical theater. A hero to many. A talent for the ages.

Any who have not already fallen in love with this man and his magnificent work are missing out on a cultural and musical splendor. Ever since his first work, writing the lyrics for "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," he has proven to the world that he is indeed the greatest Broadway composer/lyricist of the late 20th century, arguably of all-time.

These six works, though far from his complete works which also include, to name a few, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Company", "A Little Night Music" and the controversial "Assasians."

Let me first say that those who tend to loathe musical theater (may God bless your soul), will not find these DVD's very enjoyable. But to those whom condider themselves (begin humming tune from "Oliver!") musical-theater junkies, like me, will savor every moment.

"Into the Woods" presents many popular fairy tales, such as Little Red Ridinghood and Cinderella. Only... with very different, and sometimes dark, twists in them. The show is superb. A sure-fire hit ever since it opened on Broadway, it has become Sondheim's most-performed show. The original cast is incredible with Chip Zein, JoannaGleason and Bernadette Peters leading the way. Gleason and Peters are both so magnificent. Two great actresses performing in a show for the ages. Though both deserved the Best Actress Tony, the honour went to Gleason. "Into the Woods" is sure to become a favourite of yours.

"Sunday in the Park with George" is a harder sell than "Woods". It's plot is more dramatic and the songs are not as memorable. That said the show is still great, with Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters amazing performances. Though the show did not win the Best Musical Tony, it did win the Pulitzer Prize, rare for a musical. Not one of my favourites like "Into the Woods", but still great.

"Follies" was not an outrageously sucessful show when it first opened on Broadway. The book was not very well written, which weighed down Sondheim's MAGNIFICENT songs. This show includes some of his best work, clearly shown in this extermely sucessful concert version of "Follies". The songs are so great, but what most stands out are the mournful "Losing My Mind and the hopeful "Broadway Baby". Both are legendary songs that show why Sondheim is the legend he is today.

"Passion"-This portion of review currently unavailable.

"Sweeney Todd" is arguably, though not as popular as some of his other shows, Sondheim's masterpiece. It was a true landmark in musical theater. The score and the book blended so effortlessly, it was hard to tell when the book ended and the score began. It was more opera than traditional musical. This concert version shows its' greatness. It would have been magnificent if Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou, who originated the roles, had done it. However, George Hearn and Patti Lupone are wonderful as the title character and Mrs. Lovett. (In fact Hearn's Sweeney is thought by many to be the definitive interpretation of the character.) I have never been a big fan of Lupone's. She is unmistakenably gifted with that magnificent voice, however, and she sings this role beutifully. Kudos to Hearn to, who does the show well. The plot is intricate and would take very long to explain. Just take my word for it. If you like musical theater, you will love this concert of "Sweeney Todd"

The highlight of this collection, for me, is the "Celebration at Carnegie Hall". This star-studded event, including Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, the late Dorothy Loudon, Liza Minelli, Betty Buckely, Victor Garber and Glenn Close, is one for the ages. Triumphantly displaying the best of Sondheim's work. This is one of the most enjoyable shows I have ever seen. BROADWAY MAGIC!!! The stars beautifully perform the legendary songs of this magnificent man. A MUST HAVE for any collection.

The only bad thing about this collection is that it doesn't include two things: the DVD showing the recording of Sondheim's "company"- a fascinating documentary and the movie of Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" starring Zero Mostel. Both great fun. Other than that, this collection is flawless!

Buy it, and dive in to the magical world of Sondheim. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Joseph certainly isn't revolutionary musical theater, but if you view it as a kids' show, it's a silly good time (though there are poignantmoments too). Parents should note, however, that this production might warranta little discretion due to one suggestive scene and some risquécostumes. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (265)

Lloyd Webber missed the boat...
Visually, the film was very good. I would have liked it to be filmed in front of a live audience, seeing that much of the energy comes from the audience. There was something missing without the live excitement. Osmond was the natural choice for Joseph. He has a strong presence and amazing voice. He looks pretty good too. Maria Friedman was a HUGE letdown. Don't get me wrong. I've seen her do other things and she's an amazing performer, but is simply wrong for the role of the Narrator, visually and vocally. Back in '97, I was living in London and I was told that Linzi Hateley (originated the role of the Narrator in the London revival, was Olivier nominated, and played it for the entire run) was going in for a screen test. I have no idea as to why she wasn't cast. She's beautiful, extremely talented, and deserved to have her performance of the Narrator archived for the world to see. Another good choice would have been Donny Osmond's original right-hand Narrator, Janet Metz. She would have been a joy to watch. Also, Kelli Rabke would have been good. I also heard that pop singer Tina Arena was originally cast as the Narrator for the film. I don't know why she backed out or was replaced. She would have been better than Maria Friedman. As I said before, the film production was well done, but since the Narrator sings practically 75% of the show, the casting of Friedman virtually ruined it for me. She is best put in shows like Sondheim's Passion, and more dramatic, operatic/broadway roles. I love her, just not in "Joseph."

Technicolor Dream Video.
Since enough reveiws have been written concerning the costumes, sets, and presentation. I thought I'd concentrate on the perfomers first and then add my bit on the others if space permits. Players:

Maria Friedman (Narrator): I thought she did a very good job! I loved her voice and how she sang the words. Her expressions were quite nice and everyone who has seen this video with me agrees that she seems to be having a GREAT time!

Donny Osmond (Joseph): Great voice, great interpretation and great transistion from Dreamer Joseph to Leader of Egypt Joseph. If you pay attention Joseph is so much more mature at the end of the story. Osmond almost seems born to play the role!

Sir Richard Attenborough (Jacob): Brought grace and dignity to the role. This is how I pictured Jacob! When I first heard he was going to be in Joseph I figured maybe they meant somebody else. I'm glad they didn't. The interaction between Attenborough and Osmond is top notched! You can feel the love between Jacob and Joseph at the end of the show.

Ian McNeice (Potiphar): He has the right millionairish look about him. I liked his performace up until 'Joseph I'll see you'll rot in. . .'. I just didn't like his interpretation as much as say, the Canadian Potiphar.

Joan Collins (Mrs. Potiphar): Excellent choice for the role, bringing star power behind it. I love how she reacts to Joseph's refusal. You can tell THIS is a woman who's used to getting who she wants! And her look of indifferentness as Joseph is carried away is just so fitting to the character. It's like 'Take him away if you want. I'll just find me a new toy.'

Robert Torti (Pharaoh): Best 'King' I've heard, and he is absolutely hilarious!

Christopher Biggins (Baker): He was ok. Didn't care much for his vocal presentation. However, his physical presentation was top notch! Love that faint!

Alex Jennings (Butler): Best Butler I've seen! His performance in the role was perfect! Too bad he was only on for such a short time.

Nicolas Colicos (Reuban, One More Angel soloist): I loved his vocal prsentation of OMA better on the London recording, but his physical presentation is a treat. Also his reprise is quite comical as you can see poor Reuban is making it up as he goes along! I should add that his intro in Jacob and Sons is a treat! It's lively, comical and just plain. . . FUN!

Jeff Blumenkrantz (Simeon, Those Canaan Days soloist): I loved his performance! Not just in Canaan days but throughout the entire show. His performance in TCD is memorable and near perfection. Haven't seen a better TCD soloist yet!

Gerry McIntyre (Judah, Benjamin Calypso soloist): Absolutely hilarious job! He had me laughing all throughout BC. The funniest part by far is his 'Benjamin is an INNOCENT MAN!' Never have I heard it that way! I was rolling on the couch! My only gripe with him is I still have no idea what the heck he's doing in Grovel Grovel lol!

Amanda Courtney-Davies (Apache Dancer, [and, I believe Reuban's wife]): I'm fairly certain she was also Reuban's wife. If not, well then take this next reveiw to whoever was. Was so very funny in OMA. Sometime during OMA watch her the whole time (particularly when Reuban says 'To wrestle with. . . a goat!') Another high point in her performance was in TCD when Zebulun drops her (intended). Though minor characters, her performance with them both was worth mentioning.

Michael Small (Zebulun): A great dancer! I felt his number in TCD days was worth a mention. And check out his jumps at the start of the OMA hoedown!

Other mentions: Martin Callaghan(Asher), Patrick Clancy (Issachar), Peter Challis (Gad). Though they didn't receive much camera time, keep an eye on them in the background of most numbers, you'll definately get a laugh! I only wish space allowed me room to comment on all the brothers!

LOVED IT!
My daughters (6&7) love "Joseph" as do I. The music is great and it's a great way to introduce musical theater to the younger audience. One caution though. Joan Collins' outfit is a little suggestive as is the scene where she begins to take off Josephs clothes. But for little ones, I think its totally over their heads and goes by really fast. I wouldn't let that hold you back from letting them experince this dvd. Donny Osmond is a fabulous Joseph. Our family would love to see him do this on broadway again.

Imperfect, but still terrific fun!
Donny Osmond, it would seem, was born to play this part. Both vocally and in the acting department, he raises the bar for every other Joseph out there. He captures the character's naivete and simultaneous intelligence pitch-perfect, his dazzling smile embodies the character's undying optimism, and his lovely clear tenor is perfectly suited to the singing role. I personally did like the Narrator quite a lot. She's quite funny, and her voice is very pretty. It's true that she's not belting the high notes very strongly - her vocal stylisms are more operatic than the average Broadway soprano, but I think it makes her interpretation unique and adds a quiet intensity that is normally not found in the role.

There are some flaws. For example, I found the Mrs. Potiphar scene unnecessarily graphic. Though Ms. Collins looks gorgeous for her age, and acts the part with irascible charm, her costume is largely a flesh-colored leotard with a few strategic bunches of purple sequins. It looks as though she's nude and wearing pasties. The entire instrumental sequence of that scene, which in the stage version is usually just an over-the-top "seduction" scene, is replaced here with a simulated orgy. I always cover my 6yo's eyes during that part. ;) I also agree with the other reviewers who said that the Baker and the Butler were really lifeless and sang terribly, and Jacob was expressionless throughout. His version of "distraught grief" was to stand there slightly slack jawed. Really pretty boring.

But these will not deter anyone from thoroughly enjoying this video again and again, and there are many aspects of the production that will forever set the standard. The eleven brothers were priceless, and all had very good chemistry with each other, the Narrator and Joseph. They also all clearly had incredible voices. The costumes were spectacular and colorful, the musical arrangement is the best I've ever heard in this show, and the pacing is compelling and consistent. The Pharaoh slays me every time - his comedic timing and appropriately overdramatic expressions coupled with his gorgeous baritone are just sublime perfection for the role. And Donny will make you grin right back at him.

In short, it's a very, very strong production that surpasses every stage version I've ever seen, and it is extremely faithful to the spirit of Webber's vision.

Great visually, severely lacking musically
If I could somehow take my CD of Joseph and line it up with this video, I would love this video. Joseph is excellent, but everyone else is only so-so. Scratch that. Everyone else is pretty bad.

Visually, this was fun to watch. There's one good part in "Joseph's Coat" where the brothers (I think it's the brothers...) grab the bottom of the coat and twirl it around so the bottom half forms a color wheel of sorts. The kids running up on stage is creative, but a bit cheesy. The sets are fantastic, but clearly are designed to keep the movie grounded in its Broadway musical roots.

Also, it's difficult to explain in text, but the kids in the audience look dispairingly cheesy. They have these fake smiles plastered on their faces and generally look dumb. It would not surprise me to find that the kids choir was originally from a Broadway cast and thus accustomed to overaccentuating any sort of movement.

The Narrator is really not very good. I can't explain why, but it just doesn't work.

Potiphar is fairly good, but he spends so much time speaking his lines instead of singing them that you hear very little of what sounded to be an excellent voice.

Jacob is weak. Even if the character is an old man, the part deserves to be a fairly strong singer.

The first "Poor, Poor Joseph" (when he was tossed into the pit) was visually very amusing. Very funny, but the Narrator singing it was still not great.

Donny Osmond is really the only character that seems to grasp that the movie should be presented as a movie, not an overly articulated and video-taped Broadway musical.

(Please understand that I'm mentally playing through the video as I write this)

"Go, Go, Go Joseph" was presented as an interesting disco party. I'm not sure of the original intentions, but that scene was enjoyable. The Butler and the Baker however were again let-downs.

The French accents in "Those Canaan Days," although affected by all of the brothers and Jacob, were not very good. There was a lot of non-French accent creeping in.

This video is no substitute for seeing it live. I've seen it live twice by both a touring company and a local theater and both were far superior to this video. If you want to listen to the music, I suggest the 1992 Canadian Cast Recording, which also contains Donny Osmond as Joseph. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Stephen Sondheim's Victorian horror thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is generally considered his greatest work, macabre but darkly humorous with a viscerally powerful score that has found a home both on Broadway and in opera houses.George Hearn (who replaced Len Cariou of the original Broadway cast) plays the title character, a wronged man whose lust for revenge drives him to murder (an 18th-century legend who has been traced to a real-life barber), and Angela Lansbury plays his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett, who finds a practical business use for Todd's victims.This combination of horror and humor is echoed in Sondheim's score: brooding menace ("The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "My Friend"), achingly beautiful ballads ("Johanna," "Not While I'm Around"), clever puns ("A Little Priest"), coloratura arias ("Green Finch and Linnet Bird"), and intricate choral and ensemble numbers.

Continuing a fortuitous tradition of capturing the Sondheim legacy on video recordings, this performance was filmed before a live audience in Los Angeles during the 1982 national tour. Almost 20 years later, Hearn returned to the role opposite Patti LuPone in an acclaimed concert production. But Sweeney Todd is an especially compelling experience in this 1982 version, complete with the clever staging tricks (e.g., the barber's chair) and as close to the original cast as we're likely to see.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd
I was in the audience the night this was videotaped in Los Angeles and I was again in the audience in San Francisco some 20(?)years later when Patti LuPone & George Hearn performed it in concert & it was taped for PBS. Both performances were outstanding & I would be hard pressed to choose one over the other. I think I like the older George Hearn & his stamina is amazing. LuPone's Mrs. Lovett is evil & plotting from the start. Lansbury's is more loveable & never gets quite as evil as LuPone's.I have heard the show was written for Angela Lansbury & Len Cariou but then Ms Lupone was just getting her career started. Who knows what Sondheim was thinking?? I loved both. The original Cast Album includes songs that were never performed on Broadway or were shortened("The Contest" & "Parlor Songs" are examples) before the run opened. Someone (I don't know if it was Sondheim or someone else) decided the show ran too long but at least they recorded them for posterity! They had a wonderful actor playing Judge Turpin in SF & his song "Johanna" was reinserted for that production. (...)

Hearn and Lansbury in the "Sweeney Todd" touring company
I have been watching this 1982 production of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" for almost twenty years on videotape, so releasing it on DVD would be greatly appreciated. The cast features three of the original stars of the 1979 Broadway production: Angela Lansbury in her Tony Award winning role as Mrs. Lovett, Edmund Lyndeck as Judge Turpin, and Ken Jennings as Tobias Ragg. Well, you can also add to this list Cris Groenendaal and Betsy Joslyn, who play the young lovers Anthony Hope and Johanna, since they were members of the original company. Len Cariou had been replaced in the title role by George Hearn, who was still two years away from winning the Tony Award for his performance in "La Cage aux Folles." On Broadway Hearn played opposite Dorothy Louden before teaming up with Lansbury for the show's touring company and eventually this Showtime production of the musical.

Stephen Sondheim has said that if people insist on putting "Sweeney Todd" into a category it would be black comic operetta, which is as good a way as any of defining its uniqueness. If you are going to have a barber who slits the throats of his customer team up with a woman who bakes the corpses into meat pies, then black comedy would be the way to go. But what makes "Sweeney Todd" so marvelous is that it mixes the dark comedy with chilling horror. For the most part the comedy is carried by Lansbury's Mrs. Lovett, starting with "The Worst Pies in Lond," while Hearn's Todd provides the chills, beginning with the hauntingly beautiful "My Friends," sung to his razors. Of course, it is "A Little Priest" that brings these two elements together, but while it is no doubt the show's signature piece it is not the supreme dramatic moment. That comes right before that glorious end to Act I when Hearn signs "Epiphany," which for me remains the song I would most like to be able to do on Broadway, although I can forget about matching Hearn's tour-de-force performance.

When you consider that the last three songs of Act I are "Pretty Women," "Epiphany," and "A Little Priest," it is difficult to imagine a show having a stronger ending before Intermission. There is a sense in which Act II does not measure up, but that is become the bloody climax to "Sweeney Todd" rests more on action than songs. I can still remember watching it for the first time, in live performance fortunately, and thinking that they were reaching the point where things were going too far and the tragedy was about to become too complete. The only real complaint about this video production is that unlike the original cast album or what you are subjected to in live performance, the steam whistle that accompanies each slash across a victim's throat does not make your nervous system explode.

AT LONG LAST!!!! Sweeney's Back Where He Belongs!
"Sweeney Todd" has been out of print for many, many years. Video copies went for enormous sums, and I had to settle for an aging video copy I recorded when the show was first aired on television 22 years ago. I understood that there were some copyright issues that stopped the show from being re-released, which have apparently been resolved.

Although I usually curse Warner Brothers for having the worst track record of any major studio for not releasing their extensive library of films to DVD, today I applaud them for giving us back this wonderful show with its delightful performances on DVD. Not only can we relish Angela Lansbury in her Tony-winning role as Mrs. Lovett, but we get the extra bonus of seeing George Hearn as Sweeney, to my mind the best Sweeney I've ever seen (and I've seen two others as well -- Len Cariou, who originated the role on Broadway and was probably the sexiest Sweeney (making Lovett's attraction for him perfectly understandable), but without Hearn's depth and a bit too American (or rather, Canadian), and Denis Quilley, who performed the role in London. Although Quilley's acting and singing talents were a match for Hearn's, he was physically not exactly right.

As for the Mrs. Lovetts I've seen, the West End production's Sheila Hancock will always be my favorite for her ability to capture all the comedic aspects of the role (as Angela Lansbury does too) while still managing to plumb the pure evil depths and total amorality of the character. Ms. Hancock had the ability to make the theatre-goer laugh his head off one moment, and then to send chills down his spine the next. But who could not love Angela as well? And aside from Ms. Lansbury, one gets a chance to see several others from the original Broadway cast reprise their roles for this production, including the wonderfully sinister, powerfully voiced Edmund Lyndeck as Judge Turpin and Ken Jennings as Tobias. (Toby is not an easy role to cast, since one has to practically be a castrato to sing it.)

I was also fortunate enough to see the original Broadway production before the cuts were made -- the shortening of the barber competition (a wise decision), the elimination of the self-flagellation scene in which Judge Turpin, brandishing a whip, is seen in a black robe, his buttocks exposed (this should never have been cut but was probably considered too outragious for the out-of-town tourists to handle), and the removal of the Tower of Bray number (which, again, was a wonderful pastiche and very funny, as it added to rather than detracted from the suspense, and hopefully will one day be re-evaluated and restored to future productions). But at least, the missing numbers are all on the cast album for admirers of the show to enjoy.

The role of Anthony was replaced in this production by Cris Groenendaal (who was in the chorus in the original), and who has a stronger voice than Victor Garber, who originated the role, but Garber is a stronger actor, as can be surmised from his long and successful career, both in musicals and non-musicals. I also enjoyed Betsy Joslyn as Johanna, which is a silly and comedic role which she milks for all its worth, and yet still remains a chip off the old block. It's Johanna, after all, who grabs the revolver from Anthony to shoot Mr. Fogg in cold blood.

Finally, before receiving the DVD, I was fearful that I might be looking at something with faded color bleeds and poor video quality simply transferred to a different media. But I am happy to report that the show has held up well, both visually and audibly. In fact, in this L.A. production, the only thing I missed from the Broadway production (other than the cut numbers) was that in the original theatre, Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett make their final appearance rising through a hole in the floor from an elevator beneath the stage, as if coming back from hell for a brief encore. Now THAT was an entrance!

Great Show, Lousy Recording
I first saw Sweeney Todd on Broadway over 20 years ago, and was thrilled to be given the chance to revisit it now on DVD. If you love the dark comedy/thriller genre and are prepared to find cannibalism amusing at times, this one is for you. (Decades after seeing it I still announce to my family on the rare occasion that I make shepherd's pie that we're having "Shepherd's pie peppered with actual shepherd on top!") The music is FANTASTIC and creepy and Angela Lansbury is absolutely in top form. The problem is this; The recording was made as a low quality, live recording for PBS TV over twenty years ago. As a result, you will see the colors are less vivd than they should be, the picture quality is a little shabby and the show sounds like a flat, worn out tape recording. Still, this is a great performance of a Broadway classic.

Its that amazing!
Sweeney Todd is an absolute masterpiece. It basically puts every other show in the last 30 years to shame with its glorious music, supurb book and amazing characters. After owning the old VHS of this pruduction, it was so nice having a DVD of it. Even though the production was getting sort of old at the point this was shot, and you can tell that Angela is sort of tired of playing Mrs. Lovett. Its still a thrill to have this preserved. The cast is AMAZING. Even though Angela seems bored, she is still wonderful and electrifies the stage with her presence and talent. Its no wonder she won a Tony for basically every major Broadway Show she ever did. Hearn is ofcourse, AMAZING. His acting isn't as good as Cariou's, and I find Cariou scarier, but his singing is just sooooo good, and even though his characterization isn't my favorite, he gives his Sweeney a lot of dimensions, making you see that Sweeney Todd was once a good man and isn't just an insane mad man, even though I prefer that.

The supporting cast is wonderful. I know everyone hates the Johanna, Betsy Joslyn, and even though I must admit her performance is a bit odd and her voice seems to be struggling, I love it. SHe makes Johanna into a complete nut and is completely insane, adding something even creepier about her character and her relationship with the Judge. I mean, hello, she has been molested by the judge her entire life and is kept inside ALL the time. I find it a bt ridiculous when Johanna is played all pretty and nieve. Does ne1 REALLY think Johanna would be so sweet after years of confinement? The Anthony's voice is VERY good and sing all his songs very well, even though his hair is a bit ridiculous. The Judge is great, and SOOOO creepy, and so is the Beedle. THe Tobias is very good, even though he's not as cute and endearing as he was when the show first came out, but he does it very well. Its just such an amazing show and I love it and everyone should buy this and the CD! Its sooooooo good! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This Pirates of Penzance is primarily a historical document, part of the Broadway Theater Archive television series.It presents, with some inevitable, tiny technical shortcomings, a live 1980 performance in CentralPark, not the 1983 movie of the same name that also starred Linda Ronstadt and KevinKline. Those who remember that film, which had the benefit of retakes and editing,a lavish production budget, and the spaciousness of a Hollywood studio, may find thisvideo less polished. On its own terms, it is nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable.

Advantages of this live performance include a sense of spontaneity, and the feeling ofbeing part of a theatrical audience that is visibly and audibly having a very good time.The (reduced and partly electronic) orchestra is also visible; scenery is minimal; theonstage pirate boat, excellent for a live production, is no match for what a movie canoffer. The voices are uneven, and some of them evoke Broadway more than London.But the performance is well styled, lively, and energetic. Gilbert and Sullivan's witty sparklecomes through clearly. --Joe McLellan ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Routledge Finally Captured
Finally we have a permanent record of Patricia Routledge's definite performance as Ruth in "The Pirates of Penzance." Whatever the DVD lacks in technical perfection is more than made up by a level of enthusiasm of the cast and audience, all of whom are having the time of their lives. If you've only heard Estelle Parsons on the LP or CD or seen Angela Lansbury in the fil version, you must buy this DVD to revel in Patricia Routledge. If you only know her from "Keeping Up Appearances," you're in for a treat. As for Kevin Kline, George Rose and Rex Smith -- their performances are dazzling and fresh. This is Broadway -- and Gilbert and Sullivan -- at its spontaneous best.

Most excellent performance
An orphan Fredric is hours away from being 21 years old. Soon his indentured to pirates (due to a misunderstanding) will end and he can then hunt the pirates down. In addition Fredric has just discovered what young women look like and had fallen for Mabel, daughter of the Major general. All of this is about to change.

I have always enjoyed the variations of "The Pirates of Penzance". Among my favorite is this Broadway theater archive from 1980. It was recorded at the New York Shakespeare Festival. The cover of my copy of the DVD looks like the standard cover of the series which is also the one on the VHS. It is distributed by Kultur.

You need to know that this film has all the strengths and weaknesses of a stage production vs. the Movie. The sound sometimes comes and goes and you have to listen closely to understand much of the singing. It helps to know what you are watching in advance. On the positive side I have always appreciated the minimal scenery of the stage and marvel at how so many can do so much with so little. This is an excellent film for those living in a culturally deprived area and to hold others until they can see the real thing again.

Just so you know this is not a movie. So many of the players push the envelope with their variation on the Gilbert & Sullivan theme and music. Speaking of music the stage surrounds the orchestra so you can watch them and occasionally the audience. Linda Ronstadt as Mabel has a surprisingly high voice at first and I assume is on purpose soon she settles down and you would thing that the play was made just for her. Kevin Kline adds the over the top energy needed to keep this fast passed play going. When all is said and done you will be exhausted from listening and laughing.

Visual quality
It is valuable to have a record of a notable Broadway production, but you should be aware that this record is barely adequate. The audio is a satisfactory record of the event and while the visuals enable one to appreciate the staging they do little to show the skill and energy that was a feature of the show.

The major faults are in two departments. The first is in the clumsy camerawork and TV direction that misframes action and misses bits of important "business". Here a minor complaint is the visible camerman peering out of a hole in the set which adds a distraction that his viewpoint of the back of the cast does nothing to justify. Secondly the visual quality is terrible. Only in close up are facial features resolved, everthing further away is a blur of TV defects. The extensive ghosting suggests a recording of poor quality TV reception, even though the credits suggest a direct videotape recording was made.
However if you can cope with a visual quality that is similar to home TV reception in a remote valley poorly placed in relation to the broadcast transmitter, then go for it! Be aware that this DVD is not a patch on the 1983 film version with the same cast.

Fun, Fun ----But Horrible Video Quality
The official description of the Delacorte DVD admits to "tiny" technical shortcomings. Tiny, what a lie! This DVD has probably the worst video quality of any commercial DVD ever made; it's fuzzy and so washed out that it's nearly colorless. It looks like it was recorded with security cameras.

Nevertheless, nevertheless, it's fun to watch. It is a live
recording of a great stage production sung and acted by a great cast. This is the cast that did excerpts from the show on Saturday Night Live. The biggest surprise to me in the DVD was to see a younger (age 51) Patricia Routledge of Keeping up Appearances who could really could move and sing.

Be very careful.....
If you expect the movie, then don't get this. This is the stage show three years earlier and suffers from extremely poor technical quality, looks like original are fro U-Matic (not far off VHS) and has poor sound (Quality and balance, sometimes wows).

Poor direction and camerawork Additionally meant I was unable to fully enjoy. Though, it was fun to see "Hyacinth Bucket - Bouquet" (Patricia Routledge) perform! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The follow-up to the original Broadway's Lost Treasures delivers more of the same--historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards--but is a step up in terms of sheer entertainment value.The first volume included only performances before 1987, and while they had bigger stars (Yul Brynner, Robert Preston), some of them were lip-synced and considerably less polished than their feature-film equivalents. Broadway's Lost Treasures II features newer performances that are almost indistinguishable from an actual show, including scenes from splashy, high-energy revivals such as Anything Goes (Patti LuPone and company performing the title tune) and Guys and Dolls (the fabulous "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat"), and new shows such as Grand Hotel (Michael Jeter and Brent Barrett in a gloriously exuberant "Take a Glass Together"), Les Miserables ("One Day More"), La Cage aux Folles (George Hearn solo and with a chorus line in drag in"I Am What I Am"), and Jelly's Last Jam (Gregory Hines tapping "That's How You Jazz"). There are classic performances too, including Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur's 1987 reunion of "Bosom Buddies" (Mame), Richard Kiley's "The Impossible Dream" (Man of La Mancha), Jerry Orbach's "All I Care About" (Chicago), and (in the DVD's bonus content) Katharine Hepburn in a 15-minute part-dramatic, part-musical scene from Coco. Fans were disappointed when performances from Dreamgirls and A Chorus Line were pulled from the first program due to rights issues, and those still aren't included here, but one can always hope they might appear in a volume 3.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (220)

You'll watch it over and over again
This is the best video I've ever bought. Never have I watched the same video repeatedly - so much so that I bought an extra copy in case the first one wears out. I am a big fan of musicals, and this performance did not let me down (unlike the Cameron MacKintosh tribute video). The way this video flowed was really nice - an excellent production! Tina Arena's opening song - WOW! Donny Osmond did a wonderful job. Antonio Banderas and Elaine Page with the Evita songs - excellent! Antonio is perfect for the role of Che - the video of 'Evita' was also incredible - who knew Madonna could act that well? I was disappointed with the Starlight Express piece - full costume would have been perfect and I thought there were better songs they could have used (maybe the medley would have been a good choice). The Requiem wasn't bad. Nice cello playing by Julian also - thought he would have dressed up for his brother's birthday party :). Michael Ball was PERFECT! All his songs were incredible. Wow, what a rendition of Vaults of Heaven. Incredible Gethsamane! The Phantom pieces were okay - Michael Crawford really should have been there. Bonnie Tyler's rendition of Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts was great! All of the songs from Whistle on Down the Wind were incredible on this video - soooo much better than the original soundtrack! Boyzone did a better version of No Matter What here than on their own album. Glen Close was spectacular on Sunset Blvd's songs! The dancers and the orchestra were also fabulous! Buy this! If you have liked any of Webber's work, you must have this video. When will it ever get on DVD? Or a CD soundtrack?

A Night Of A Thousand Stars!
Just as the box (and the song) says, this is truly a night of a thousand stars. The video contains... Whistle Down The Wind ~ Tina Arena; Joseph Fanfare ~ the Orchestra; Any Dream Will Do & Close Every Door ~ Donny Osmond; Variations On A Theme By Paganini ~ Julian Lloyd Webber; Requiem For Evita ~ National Youth Choir; Oh What A Circus & High Flying Adored ~ Antonio Banderas; Don't Cry For Me Argentina ~ Elaine Paige; Light At The End Of The Tunnel ~ Ray Shell; Hosana (from Jesus Christ Superstar) ~ National Youth Choir; Hosana (from Requiem) ~ Dennis O'Neill; Pie Jesu ~ Sarah Brightman & Ben De'Ath; Jesus Christ Superstar ~ Marcus Lovett; Gethsemane ~ Michael Ball; Phantom Overture ~ the Orchestra; Phantom Of The Opera ~ Sarah Brightman & Antonio Banderas; All I Ask Of You ~ Sarah Brightman & Michael Ball; Music Of The Night ~ Sarah Brightman; Tire Tracks And Broken Hearts ~ Bonnie Tyler; No Matter What ~ Boyzone; Vaults Of Heaven ~ Michael Ball; Car Chase On Sunset Boulevard ~ the Orchestra; Once Upon A Time ~ Glenn Close & Marcus Lovett; With One Look & As If We Never Said Goodbye ~ Glenn Close; Love Changes Everything ~ Michael Ball & the Cast; Memory ~ Elaine Paige; The Heart Is Slow To Learn ~ Kiri Te Kanawa; Happy Birthday ~ the Cast; Whistle Down The Wind ~ Lottie Mayor & Andrew Lloyd Webber, and The Jellicle Ball ~ the Orchestra. You absolutely can't go wrong with this video. There is something for everyone, and you'll find yourself watching it repeatedly. The performances by Antonio Banderas, Sarah Brightman, Michael Ball, Glenn Close, Boyzone & Bonnie Tyler are all definitely highlights, but there isn't a disappointing performance in the entire 2 hour+ show.

Lavish
I consider Lloyd Webber the British heir to Richard Rodgers, and this is what Sondheim would have done if he could have. (In fact Lloyd Webber at 50 even looks like Rodgers.) But I shut the thing off when a church choir-type started singing "The keys to the vault of heaven." Was this thing a retrospective of the composer or a religious revival? It was absolutely sodden with Christianity, nauseously so. Like almost every last song! I hung in there for over an hour and a half because there were some things I very much wanted to see and hear (as a rule, I love Lloyd Webber's music very much, sans the rock), but at this point I'd had enough. Sarah Brightman was absolutely beautiful and natural, what a charming open smile and such a wonderful voice. I loved what she did, and applauded all by myself in my living room at the end of her duet "All I Ask of You," though I dislike that show very much. I thought the fellow who sang Che (right name, spelling?) near the start was worlds better than Mandy Patinkin (whom I'd always loved before he went on to bigger and more pretentious things), also he had the right accent and was prettier. In fact, he was beautiful, as were several of the young men. I learned from reading some of the other reviews that this was an international cast (all unknown to me, ignorant, insular, xenophobic American that I am), all quite famous, and that Lloyd Webber is loved the world over. I can well understand why he is so much loved. However (I have CDs of all his shows that I know of, he may have written more since I stopped buying musicals), it seems to me that his wonderful talent (genius?) diminished as he grew older, his inspiration, gift for melody deserted him. I highly recommend this DVD for anyone who likes rock music (I do not) and who doesn't mind feeling they're in a 21st Century church. I'm sorry I had to stop it.

FABULOUS........JUST GREAT AND ENTERTAINING!!
I am fortunate enough to see most of the Andrew Lloyd Weber productions on NYC's Broadway, I saw Whistle Down The Wind on the London Stage a few years ago. But, I have to hand it to TINA ARENA, I never heard of her, but came back on Amazon and purchased 4 of her CDs,I thought her rendition of the title song was just fabulous, what a voice, what emotions were generated from her voice. I played that segment over and over again......I was hoping that they made a CD of the whole show. All the performers were just GREAT!! I loved watching Glenn Close get into character for her TONY AWARD performance of Ms. Desmond, I was standing up in my living room giving her an ovation too, she was just wonderful to see again. I was surprised of the musical talents of Antonio Banderas too. But, just to listen and watch the major performers, Sarah, Elaine, and Bonny (were you ever on Bway??) once again made this DVD well worth the price.........and that Michael Ball guy, never heard of him, but, I went out and got his performance dvd at the Royal Albert Hall too..he was sensational, what a voice.......everyone was just awesome......I loved the DVD, the music and the performers, and I applaud Andrew for his music and memories..........come back to NYC with another winner.........

Whistle down with Tina!!!
The first time I watched this Andrew Lloyd Webber special is that I have been very impressed with the cast. All the big names from Europe down to America is present with the likes of Glen Close to Antonio Banderas! big and a shiny production I must say. The opening number titled "Whistle Down The Wind" was honourably given to the gorgeous and ever so talented Tina Arena! She gave a powerhouse performance all looking sultry and sexy in a gray figure hugging lacy gown. She gave a strong performance and the crowd was obviously delighted with her interpretation! The vocals and the emotion are so evident. Encore for Tina Arena!!! Other internationals include Boyzone, Michael Ball, and Bonnie Tyler and gave justifying performances as well. But the highlight ofcourse would be Tina's rendition of "Whistle Down The Wind". Great move for Monsieur Webber to have Tina open the show! very impressive! Go get the video NOW! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Stephen Sondheim's landmark 1984 musical Sunday in the Park with George is a fictional representation of maverick French Impressionist painter Georges Seurat's efforts to create his masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte. Seurat, played by Mandy Patinkin, is obsessed with his work, to the frustration of his mistress, Dot (Bernadette Peters). Along the way, we meet many other characters--whoever happens to be in the park that Sunday--who eventually become part of the canvas.

Act 2 fast-forwards 100 years. Patinkin now plays Seurat's great-grandson, George, himself a frustrated artist. In the score's best-known song, "Putting It Together," George (and Sondheim himself) explains the hazards of trying to create art while also confronting the reality of having to pay for it. In a search for inspiration, George travels with