Best/Worst Performance at the Tony's? — Page 3

From what I was able to catch...

Lion King was good as always, but same old performance from years past

RENT- Eh.. I've seen better. I wasn't incredibly moved. It seemed a little rushed and chop shoppy. (But I know they have limited time to perform) I don't think Jesse was there.. or maybe I missed him.

The Little Mermaid- Heh... I've seen better. It would have been cool to see "Under the Sea" instead of the 30 second version of "Part of Your World" and the Reprise. Sierra sounded nice though.

As much as I love Passing Strange, I honestly dont know why they thought having their entire performance being Stew screaming would be a good idea...Keys was just a bad idea, any other song would have been better.

I think Gypsy and Xanadu were the best performances (though I'm not sure "Don't Walk Away" really sells the fun and energy of the show too well)

-- "After seeing her on the Tonys tonight, I really want to go see her in Gypsy. Maybe this is the role I need to see her in. Maybe that role just suits her perfectly, but I really liked everything I saw and heard from her tonight."


BrianS-

As a big fan of Patti's performance in Gypsy (but not necessarily in other productions), it makes me really happy to hear that.

I think the performances at the Tonys are often awkward somehow, fall flat, or don't manage to represent what is actually going on in the respective show 8 times a week. I have to say that the performance from Gypsy tonight genuinely and positively reflected the wonderful work going on at the St. James (sidebar: I also thought Xanadu and In the Heights were just as successful). And I liked that we didn't just see Ms. LuPone's amazing work as Rose, but also a taste of the incredible performances of Ms. Benanti and Ms. Gaines.

Anyway, I hope you DO go see Gypsy and I really hope you love it as much as many of us have.

I enjoyed the dancing in Cry Baby (but have no desire to see the show); In The Heights, Xanadu and surprising to me, South Pacific.
Hated the vignettes for Mermaid, Young Frankenstein and Catered Affair.
Grease and Sunday were eh.
As for Gypsy, how did Evita get in there? To me, her Mama Rose wasn't Rose so much as it was Patti as Evita. And her acceptance speech just overemphasized Diva.

I liked Lion King and was vastly disappointed by the Rent fiasco.

But the best performances of the night were given by Whoopi.

My two favorites were Gypsy and Xanadu.

And I was pleasantly surprised by Passing Strange and Grease (really).

I thought Rent was alright. But my friends and I burst out laughing when they cut to that shot of Patti in the audience clapping along, but looking very dazed. Easily one of my favorite moments of the show.

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Yes! It's also great because I've been yammering on about ITH for weeks to my family, and now they finally got to see what all of the fuss was about.

Even my dad, who hates musical theatre, watched it and enjoyed it. He really liked Passing Strange because he's a huge rock fan (the only musical he likes is Jesus Christ Superstar, for instance).

The Tonys also made me want to give Sunday in the Park with George another try. I didn't like it the first time I listened, but that performance was gorgeous. Maybe I've matured more since then!

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Best: Sunday In the Park With George, Gypsy, South Pacific

OK: In the Heights (though they should have done the title song), Cry Baby, The Lion King, Rent

Worst: Xanadu, Young Frankenstein, A Catered Affair, Passing Strange, Grease

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Best: Xanadu

Worst: Gypsy, Passing Strange

Best Acceptance Speech: MArk Rylance

Best: Gypsy.

Worst: Xanadu, but only because it had the potential to be one of the most fun, funny and exciting performances of the night and they chose a static ballad that showcased none of the shows better qualities. They had a chance to show the world how funny and excellent the show is and they just chose not to.

thoughts:

1. In the Heights. Just a great number, everyone sounded good, Lin Manuel is so likable its insane, and Karen Olivo was hands down the most beautiful women on stage tonight- and she really carried that entire song while dancing! I thought they came off really well.

2. Patti LuPone knocked it out. Phenomenal. I am so excited to see Gypsy in a few weeks.

3. Sunday In The Park- an odd song choice but was beautiful. Haunting. Seeing as the show is closing this summer, and theyre not necessarily looking to sell tickets the way the others are... I thought they came off professional and clean and great.

4. South Pacific- as far as medleys go, that was pretty good.

5. RENT- i dont know why they slowed down the current cast, so LaVieBoheme was so awkward, but the new Mark sounded great, you could hear Tamyra riffing away and she sounded/looked great and I completely lost it when the entire theater went apesh*t over the original bway cast. Oh and GWEN STEWART IS A GODDESS. Seriously. She is STILL hitting that note, 12 years now! Beautiful. (where was jesse l martin and kristen lee kelly?)

6. Passing Strange- loved the first half, got bored by the second half.

7. Megan Mullaly = a brilliant performer stuck in a crappy show. I thought it was awkwardly staged/presented but she really blew away those vocals, didnt she?

8. Xanadu sounded great- Cheyenne Jackson is fantastic- but why give Kerry such a tiny bit part when shes the nominated actor? Horrendous song choice- They completely didnt come off as funny/original, it just seemd like a cheesy love song, a mistake considering they NEED to sell tickets! I am betting this (and the no-Tony situation) has the show closed by the end of summer.

9. Sierra Boggess can sing and sing well. But what a dull uninspired presentation. Basically just a reminder that Disney exists, and move along with the show. Shoulda done Under the Sea.

10. Cry Baby. Boring. Good choreography though.

11. Grease. Yawn.

12. Lion King- not only have we seen this 1000 times before but was it just me or did the lead actress sound really offkey and her voice was incredibly shaky and biazarre?

13. A Catered Affair. I'm sorry, I LOVE FAITH PRINCE but the song was unmemorable, she looked a little insane the way they staged it, and the entire thing- sandwhiched between recognizable Little Mermaid and big loud belty Megan Mullaly- came off really pathetic.

Best: Patti LuPone (Gypsy), the cast of Xanadu, I was pleasantly surprised by Megan Mullaly's long note....

Worst (or I didn't like): Lion King (I turned on the mute button), Passing Strange (a concert show disguising itself as a musical), In The Heights (prefer singing that is understandable)... was surprised by Faith Prince (even I sensed that something was not quite right in her performance).
I also forgot.... I really didn't like John Lithgow's little speech. Even if it was scripted for him, it came across as pompous and arrogant.

RC in Austin, Texas

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Updated On: 6/16/08 at 02:23 AM

Gypsy was weak. On the other hand, if you like shouting, it was so-so.

You're right. That must be why all of Radio City was on its feet as soon as the song ended. Because it was weak. That makes lots of sense.

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I agree with a lot of you, the RENT performance was a bit of a let down. I don't blame the performers, as they were barely even given an entire song to work with. I thought it was supposed to be a tribute, so I expected something longer; bigger chunks of more songs.