I've always admired McDonald but didn't really feel the full brunt of her talent until 110. As much as I'd admired her in supporting roles, and valiant efforts to carry the un-carriable MARIE CHRISTINE, this was the first time I've seen her acting ability hold an evening together with breathtaking precision. You remember this Lizzie because of the way the role has been rethought and interpreted, and how fully she embraces every corner of this woman. It's a performance that would as easily serve a RAINMAKER revivial -- to my thinking, her vocals are the icing here.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/04
I think even if McDonald gets across-the-board rave reviews, the Tony will still go to Ebersole. Her performance has been one of the most talked about performances on Broadway, and the type of reviews Eversole got were once in a lifetime sort of reviews. Also, if McDonald does get incredible raves, she'll be the second leading actress to get it this season who isn't Ebersole. As much as people don't like it, Kristin Chenoweth had over-the-top rave reviews from almost every printed publication for The Apple Tree. I know most people will say Audra's performance in 110 would be considered superior to Chenoweth's, but Chenoweth's love letters didn't put a dent to Ebersole's campaign.
<< As for saying "think she'd have been better off staying an opera singer, personally; a pretty voice with little acting skills, IMO".
>>
Have you seen "110" ? Trust me, she is FAR from just a "pretty voice" !!
SticktoPriest- I see what you're getting at, but I don't think that the Pippin/Little Night Music is at all a good comparison. Pippin's got a very nice score, but pretty much every song in ALNM trumps Pippin in one way or another. The way I look at it, Martin winning for Sound of Music would be like Audra winning for 110. Both give/gave what was/is probably a spectacular performance, but not ones that will go in history.
IMO, Martin's two legendary performances are for Leave it to Me and Peter Pan. Sound of Music she was probably wonderful in, but come on! I think of that we look at the situation now as more "Oh, it was Mary Martin who won, so it's fine" as opposed to "Oh, it was Mary Martin in The Sound of Music: completely justified."
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/27/05
"And topped later on when "Ragtime" didnt win Best Musical."
You mean, as opposed to the brilliantly theatrical, mythologically coherent, critically successful, and popular THE LION KING (ten years + and running?) THAT Ragtime?
Joseph Campbell
Hawaii, USA
I've seen The Lion King, and Ragtime deserved Best Musical. Other than the Opening, Taymor's direction, and the movie songs, the show is crap.
<< You mean, as opposed to the brilliantly theatrical, mythologically coherent, critically successful, and popular THE LION KING (ten years + and running?) THAT Ragtime?
>>
Cant tell if you are being sarcastic or not, but I didnt realize that the Tony Award was a popularity contest.
I am an AVID Disney fan.. trust me. I have worked for the company, and we are AP holders, so I am not anti-Disney... but, "LK" is not in the same league as "Ragtime"-
Not even close !!!
Audra blew me away in 110. I would place her performance ahead of Murphy's, whose performance in my opinion was too uneven to believe that her performances in Act I and Act II were portrayals of the same person. Audra gives a gorgeous, fully rounded performance in 110 from beginning to end. But Ebersole still comes out on top for me. Audra's performance is an incredible display of her every talent, not to mention that Roundabout has given her a gorgeous production to work with. Chenoweth, in my opinion, was given a raw deal. The APPLE TREE production had cheap written all over it. 110 is being given a grand scale, fully realized production.
The leading ladies of this season are just astounding, and all awards aside, I think that we should all just sit back and enjoy the talent that is beaming through Broadway this season. We're very lucky to have such diverse, versatile performers on Broadway right now, so buy yourselves some tickets, and go take it all in! Brava to the multi-talented women of this season.
Amen to that.
I thought Audra's performance WAS, in fact, life altering and worthy of all the praise she's receiving. I don't happen to care which one of the three ladies wins and really, no one outside of the elite and small theater world does, but in my opinion, Audra's performance is far superior in a season of tremendous turns by Murphy, Ebersol, McDonald. I hate this term but in this case the other two names will, in fact, be slot fillers.
Broadway Star Joined: 8/12/06
I don't think I've seen it mentioned on the board so I'll ask. I'm coming to NYC in July, the last week the show is running actually and was thinking of going to see 110 just to see Audra live. Does she do matinees? Was leaning most heavily towards seeing it the matinee on Sunday July 15th.
Since that's the final performance, my guess is she'll be doing it if at all possible. I'd thought I'd go see it on my birthday, but it's closing 5 days too early. So I guess I'll just do my present to me 5 days early and see it again then.
Broadway Star Joined: 8/12/06
Didn't realize that was the last performance, thought it was just the day the discount code ended. Guess I'll definitely buy tickets for that show then.
Yeah...I hadn't realized it closed that early until I went by yesterday to see about the 20th.
I'm going by there after school today and buying my ticket for the 15th.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/04
FosterChild, I think you might be the first person to call Ebersole a slot-filler for Grey Gardens.
VIET, I think "the other two names" FosterChild was referring were the other two ladies to be nominated alongside those 3 women.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/04
Ah.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
"<< You mean, as opposed to the brilliantly theatrical, mythologically coherent, critically successful, and popular THE LION KING (ten years + and running?) THAT Ragtime?
>>
Cant tell if you are being sarcastic or not, but I didnt realize that the Tony Award was a popularity contest.
I am an AVID Disney fan.. trust me. I have worked for the company, and we are AP holders, so I am not anti-Disney... but, "LK" is not in the same league as "Ragtime"-
Not even close !!!"
Don't listen to TheEnchantedHunter. He's even gone as far as to diss Sondheim.
Trust me, if it's anything that's considered an important work of theatre, TheEnchantedHunter feels the need to diss it.
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