Best Actor in a Musical tony- Page 4

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:07am

Eh. He was serviceable.

Curtain: But he had his head on his shoulders. The show was being pulled apart, and he was the one to put his foot down and say "Okay - enough. Who is the director? Who is the producer? Who is writing this thing? What is happening to our show?"

It's over and done with. I don't think that has ANYTHING to do with him winning the Tony for COMPANY. He was brilliant in TABOO.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:15am

Just like you don't win Tonys for having a nice ass, nor do you win Tonys for being amicable. Raul's performance in Taboo, from what I understand, was perfectly award-worthy and he had stiff competition in Cerveris. I saw his understudy play Philip.

Whether he was truly impossible to work with or if it's all a fabrication of the press under one event blown out of proportion, really doesn't matter at this point; if votes *are* going to swing because of Taboo, they're going to do so because people remember that performance. We know you think he's a jerk, a f*ck up, have some kind of grudge, whatever. To which I suppose you're entitled. That's separate from the art, yet whenever the awards are discussed, you consistently come up with things about his disposition as reasoning for award-worthiness. Two separate ballparks.

For the record, I'm with munk. He is a smart, smart actor and had very valid points during the whole mess -- temper or not, to which I assure you I am not naive, so this isn't some sort of blind support for all choices. But it's over and done with.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 01:15 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:26am

I was friendly with more than a few TABOO cast and crew members at the time, and none of them ever had anything negative to say about Raul's attitude. They all said he was the voice of reason, and that the entire ordeal was overblown and really quite small. He walked out of a rehearsal. It's happened before.

Raul WAS Tony worthy in TABOO ( and Emcee, I remember that day, outside of the Plymouth with you like it was yesterday) but I can see why Cerveris won - and I probably would have voted for him myself.

I'm not one to award people for past performances - but if I were a Tony voter - at this point, my vote would go to Raul. Granted, there's no competition at this point, but the man's performance is revelatory.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 01:26 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:29am

Heh, you're right, the weather was horrendous. I can't believe you remember that!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:31am

That was before you were even obsessed with him. I remember saying "Oh, it's too bad you're missing Raul - he's brilliant" and you were kind of just like "Yeah, that sucks..."

If only you knew!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: I love you.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:35am

I had like, just gotten the tTB CD, because everyone here was raving about his voice. So I was like "ok, this guy sounds interesting," and thought it wise to check him out. Then, of course, he took those two weeks off. I wasn't that upset because I knew ahead of time, but also because I hadn't the foggiest what I was missing. How things change.

And I love you.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 7:55am

I thought he was terrible in TABOO, besides his temperment, and I am sure it was a difficult time for all but I heard the opposite of what you heard.
Ah The theatre...
and luvthe... people do remember the past whether you want to believe it or not.

But i do agree, so far this season the award is his to loose, but there are still many performances to come.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:14am

I'm not saying people don't remember. Of course I don't believe that people just forget the past. Nobody erased it; why woudln't they? That's ridiculous. You consistently misread me and interpret what I'm saying in a way that allows you to talk to me like I'm nine. I'm saying it doesn't matter, because if Taboo is going to have anything to do with the votes, it'll likely be in the vein of "oh, he deserved to win for that," as opposed to "wow, he was such a bitch during rehearsals." Make sense?

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 11:14 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:19am

"2) I'm well aware that Pierce started doing Broadway back in the 80s. But while Pierce was in L.A. filming his TV show, Esparza was in New York building an inertia that has continued and led up to this peak, breakthrough performance."

"building an inertia"? WTF?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:23am

Thus far in the season, it's a more-than-safe bet to award Raul the Tony. Please note the first two words, "THUS FAR."

Raul received the best performance reviews this season, out of all the male actors who opened (and closed) on Broadway. His praise was nearly unanimous, making it safe to say that he's the front runner.

Few people question Christine Ebersole's shot at the award, why question Raul's? I didn't like COMPANY, but do admit that he's giving a brilliantly nuanced and emotional performance (that, having seen Chitty and Rocky Horror, I really didn't think he was capable of giving).

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:30am

Rath:

An inertia. A level of intertia. Refer back to your high school Physics text book if you need further explanation. It's not *that* technical.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 11:30 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:38am

Foster,
I think Rath was pointing out that one doesn't "build AN inertia", just builds inertia.

I love Raul, but I think (admittedly based on nothing) that Curtains is going to have a huge sentimental pull due to Ebb's passing. It's also garnered raves in it's previous incarnations.
I suspect Pierce will get swept up in the wave of accolades.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:40am

In all honesty, I will cry if Esparza doesn't win. Not because he's cute or nice or volunteers to help kittens and orphans during his days. His performance as Bobby, which I've seen twice now, is heartbreaking, funny, deep, all the things a performer should be rewarded for. I think this is his time.

[teka21]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 8:36pm

"Foster,
I think Rath was pointing out that one doesn't "build AN inertia", just builds inertia."

Actually, one builds momentum. I think that's what was meant.

[MrWayne]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:24pm

Raul Esparza
David Hyde-Pierce
Michael Cerveris
Steve Kazee
Jonathon Groff

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:40pm

^Those were my exact predictions.

[MrWayne]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:46pm

Seems to me to make the most sense. Alot has been said about Gavin Lee but I think that the buzz on his performance has just fizzled of late and if Pierce, Cerveris, and Kazee's performances are well received then I think that will seal it. The win is another thing all together and having not seen those three yet i'm not willing to take any chances. I still think it's a wide open race. Contrary to popular opinion.
Updated On: 2/17/07 at 10:46 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:15pm

Raul Esparza
David Hyde Pierce
Gavin Lee
Michael Cerveris
Martin Short

Spoilers: Groff, Kazee, D'Arcy James.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:21pm

I don't think Martin Short will get a nod. Steve Kazee seems a pretty solid choice; Starbuck is a big, showy, old-timey role, the kind that Tony voters love.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:23pm

I think Martin Short's history on Broadway and pseudo-celebrity status as well as his role in a show that is all about him (a la Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life) will most likely give him a nomination. If it were up to me, I'd give his slot to D'Arcy James whom I thought was fascinating to watch in a show admittedly written and staged around the female star, he definitely kept the show with as much balance as the material allowed him which was no easy fete.

[MrWayne]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:24pm

Good point AC. It seems like there is some forgetting about the roles being played and only thinking about the "names" playing them.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:25pm

Don't count out Hadley Fraser.

[MrWayne]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:28pm

Regardless of what happens...there are a ton of credible choices for Actor and Actress this year! Not to mention all the other categories!!! Should be a good year at the Tonys.


Updated On: 2/17/07 at 11:28 PM

[Faigs]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:44pm

"In all honesty, I will cry if Esparza doesn't win."

Umm... I don't really have much to contribute to this thread, but I read through it and have to say something about whoever said that above. Honestly, do you care that much about whether Raul wins or not? I mean, sure, it's great to see the actor you think deserves the Tony win it, but is it really that big of a deal? Saying that you'll cry is a little over-the-top, don't you think. True, he may be amazing in the show, but it's just an award. How can you take it so seriously - I just watch the Tony's for the performances, and whoever wins, wins.

I don't know, I just think that people are getting pretty heated about Raul winning and it's not that big of a deal. You wouldn't like him more or less if he won, so what's the difference. Yeah, it'd be great to watch him recite an acceptance speech, but in the end, it really is just an award.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 12:04am

Um, are you unfamiliar with figures of speech? I hesitate to speak for SG, but I know she isn't crazy, so I suspect she'll be disappointed but perfectly fine.

That said, is it really so ridiculous to want a performance (any performance, really -- this isn't exclusively about my opinion of Esparza's Bobby) that's impacted you to get the recognition you feel it deserves? As for Raúl, I don't think people are so "heated" about him just because it's in some objectivity a very, very good performance, but because they've been greatly impacted by it. I mean, it's fine if you just watch the performances and don't care who wins, but is it really all that fair to tell other people that they're out of their heads for wanting some certain outcome? You seem not only to have a problem with literal crying, since you failed to see the figurative speech, but with any investment whatsoever. By that logic, I might as well tell you you're pathetic and heartless if you haven't chosen a favorite then, no? And nor is that fair.

Yes, I support him and yes, I want him to win because I think he deserves it. Yes, I will be very, very disappointed if he doesn't. But I can in all honesty say that having spent seventy percent of my life going to the theater on a regular basis, no performance has ever moved me the way this one has. And that's why. It's not a matter of not liking him if he loses, or something. That's stupid. But when you feel that way about a performance, as a good number of well-balanced people do, I don't think it's ridiculous at all to care if a performer wins. Maybe it comes from seeking opinion validation, I don't know. Saying you'll slit your wrists or whatever is a little bit nuts, but just giving a sh*t? Where would we be if everyone just sort of tossed them off as "just awards"? We wouldn't have Tonys at all.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 12:04 AM