August: Osage County- Violet vs. Barbara

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/23/10 at 10:00pm

I recently saw the touring production of August: Osage County, which was superb. Estelle Parsons as Violet and Shannon Cochran as Barbara were both unbelievably good. Now, I know that the original Violet and Barbara were nominated for the same Tony, and Dunagan eventually won. However, when I saw the show, I couldn't help but think that if I were choosing a winner for the award, I would've picked Barbara. I felt that though, in a lot of ways, the role of Violet is showier, I was ultimately most moved by Cochran's performance as Barbara. For anyone who saw the original production, I'm very curious to know if anyone felt the same way I did. Was Dunagan's performance that much better than Morton's (or, for that matter, Parsons's)?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 4/23/10 at 10:04pm

I personally wanted Morton to win..badly.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 12:08am

I always assumed it was because Violet (and especially her portrayal) gets all the funny/memorable lines. You walk out going "wow, that amy morton is an emotional power house, but dang that mother is funny and a great actress."

But I also was dying for Amy Morton to win. Badly.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 12:09am

Well, it was sorta pre-ordained, the way Monique getting an Oscar was. Award-givers LOVE the monsters.

[MEMPHIS10]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 12:38am

This was an obsession with me...
They should have tied the two and awarded both....
The chemistry was what made the performances
so great.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 1:28am

Amy Morton vs. Deana Dunagan - Morton (an emotional powerhouse role/performance we haven't seen since VIRGINIA WOOLF?; Dunagan was exceptional and totally made Morton's Barbara who she was, but she was ultimately upstaged by more stage time, thus more sympathy and character development)

Amy Morton vs. Estelle Parsons - Parsons (a beautifully layered and heartbreaking, yet terrifying and funny performance)

Johanna Day vs. Estelle Parsons - Parsons (Day just didn't have the chops we all thought she would; too weak and vulnerable for Estelle's icy, yet scalding Violet)

Amy Morton vs. Phylicia Rashad - Rashad (she brought something completely different to a second-replacement role and actually stood her own against the brick sh*thouse that is Amy Morton's Barbara)

Shannon Cochran vs. Estelle Parsons - Parsons again (no one stands a chance against Estelle Weston... err... Violet Parsons... umm... whatever! She just makes the show her own as if she had the role built for her)

^^ Those are just my opinions. Totally expecting major disagreements.
Updated On: 4/24/10 at 01:28 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 1:40am

I only saw Rashad and Morton. I felt like it was Morton/Barbara's show right until Rashad's final moments, and boy it sure ended as Rashad's show.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 11:50am

For me it's not so much as to "who the show belongs to" as much as it was about the fact that Amy Morton gave what might be the best performance I've seen on stage, at least in a play. I don't think I'll ever forget how I fell at the end of Act II after hearing Amy Morton's "I'm running things now," it's one of my most cherished memories.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 10:49pm

I might have to sneak up and see the Lincoln Center tape of Amy Morton because when I saw it with Estelle Parsons and Joanna Day....the show belonged to Estelle Parsons. No doubt. I was actually surprised when I realized that the play is much more about Barbara.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 11:08pm

I was pulling for Morton also. That act two closer just stunned me. The tour started here in Denver and I went opening night. Parsons was much better at that point. I wrote a short review and was able to get a few questions answered by Amy Warren and the Production Supervisor, Jane Grey. They were so busy they weren't doing a lot of press so I had to submit my questions and use whatever I got back. here is the link to the article if you are interested in reading it:

https://denver.broadwayworld.com/article/The_Weston_Family_Takes_a_Road_Trip_August_Osage_County_on_Tour_20090804

Updated On: 4/25/10 at 11:08 PM

[MEMPHIS10]

Posted: 4/25/10 at 12:58am

What we should be judging really, is how did the entire cast present the
typical family in the addiction web.
Amy Morton was the classic "hero Child"
The role of Ivy was the "Mascot role.
and the role of Karen was the "lost child"....
The role of Violet was the actual person in crisis, the mother and father (deceased), what you get from his opening monologue the state
of their affairs..and you know there are huge problems.
Having said that, they all play a significant role in playing together the definitive dysfunctional family.
That is very hard to do and they excelled at it...it could have been laughably over the top, or too understated...
I like Estelle the least, because i think she was trying to hog the show and make everybody laugh, and whatnot.
Deanna & Phylicia, dug deeper and Deanna was not tipping her hand the way Estelle did...
Phylicia, on the other hand, was subtle and more "@#$%^& up" in appearence...because you see in the that type of family dynamic, there is constant blame and "shush!!! she is in the other room" she will hear us" type thing, when the addicted person, usually knows EVERYTHING and is the "Slick" one...
Amy Morton and Deanna Duganan portrayed this dynamic the best...
Barbara stays as she wants to take over the father role when she realizes to her horror, she is becoming her mother...
I come from that back round and in my family setting I am Violet...so believe ...i loved this play....it was psycho-drama at its best.....
Who was best? Who cares...it moves you and makes you feel...
Who could ask for more...

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 4/25/10 at 4:33am

I always felt it was the showy role of Violet vs. the less showy role of Barbara, who is also the anchor of most of the show. I really wanted Amy Morton to win- for her end of act 2 line delivery alone. But the more flashy role often tends to overshadow the stronger backbone of the show, so I was fairly certain Deana (who gave a wonderful performance as well) would take it. But count me among the people who were completely pulling for Morton.