Sweeney Todd fans: Do you prefer Toby played by a kid or a grown-up?

Question

In the play Sweeney Todd, the character of Toby is usually played by man in his twenties or thirties. However, the Tim Burton film of the musical had a fifteen-year-old boy as Toby.

Which do you think works better?

♥M♥

Answer 1

a kid definitly the voice fits the part better and altogather it is more believable and helps you feel mor for the character

-ABTS

mine?

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Answer 2

I believe the ideal age for the role would be from 17 - early 20's. That just seems more realistic for the character. I liked it when Neil Pattrick Harris played him. Although he seemed older for the role he was excellent! Greatest performance of Sweeny Todd ever! Love Patti in it.

Answer 3

the kid did look 9--but i think i prefer the boy because it makes that character so much more tragic.

Answer 4

I liked the boy a lot. It added to the whole disfunctional family image of Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett, and Toby. Also, the child inspires trust and an element of hope and innocence that a weird adult doesn't.  

Answer 5

The boy

Answer 6

Personally I think it works pretty good both ways, Toby is obviously supposed to be in his teens so a person in their twenties is usually cast, but for the movie Toby appeared younger like 12 or 13, I think tho that it sort of ads to Mrs. Lovettes charachter if he's a young teen like 12 or thirteen cuz it makes her seem more sympathetic towards him (it does the same for the audience I think) when Sweeney tells her to send him up to be killed and when she locks him in the cellar.

Answer 7

I haven't seen the version with the man, but thinking about it, a boy seems like the better choice. That boy really did not look fifteen, he looked like ten.  

Answer 8

He should be older maybe late teens because Toby is supposed to fall in love with Lovett. Not in a motherly way either.

At least, that's how Sondheim wanted it, I believe.

Answer 9

that kid was 15??? seriously? he looked about 9...

i think a kid might work better, but i've never seen it acted out with an adult.