Best/Worst Performance at the Tony's?- Page 6

[jwonjy119]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 11:47am

I loved Xanadu's performance. I kind of want to get the OBCR now.

I wasn't really into Grease's performance, Cry-Baby's performance, or Passing Strange's performance.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 11:51am

Production questions:

When are the performances from the Musicals actually done? I've often wondered how the actors get into costume/hair/makeup, then perform, and then get back into their seats in their formal wear, hair and makeup.

And the "sets" have to be moved on and off - and who makes those modified sets for Radio City? How much does it cost a production to put on a spot on the Tony's?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 11:54am

BEST: In the heights! I was so thrilled to see the set there and it was so high energy and will definitely get people to the theatre.

WORST: Grease. That **** sounds like a horrible high school production. What a sad sad moment for musical theatre.

[Malaijah]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:05pm

I liked In The Heights best.

Rent's performance was missing a little something for me.

Xanadu definitely made me want to see it now. I always saw the topics here, but now i'll check it out.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:07pm

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 12:07 PM

[chris d]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:12pm

the only performances I didn't care for were Cry-Baby and Grease. also, the Catered Affair perf seemed a bit awkward.

my favorite was In The Heights.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:12pm

Favs: Gypsy and Sunday.

I liked all of them in one way or another, even Cry-Baby, which has more to do with the Choreography (poor Rob Ashford ) then anything else.

[achangeinme]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:17pm

Gypsy and Xanadu were definitely the best of the night. I watched the Tonys with my sister who enjoys seeing shows but isn't a huge theatre geek like me. After the Xanadu performance she turned to me and said, "we have to go see that!" I really think their performance WILL help them sell tickets, contrary to what other people have said previusly.

On the opposite end, she wanted me to change the channel during Passing Strange...

[iluvcioffiiluvtea23]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:18pm

I liked all of them as well, StageFan! And I agree, Rob Ashford should have won the Tony for Choreography.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:44pm

The Lion King vocals were painful. It was that way when I saw the tour, too. I'm starting to think that Rafiki purposefully sings badly, for some odd reason!

Agreed that Grease and the non-nominated musicals were the worst. I listened to A Catered Affair OBCR for the first time on Saturday and did not notice any problems with Faith Prince's voice, so I'm not quite sure what happened there. Unless it's easier for them to correct those problems on a recording. And I agree that Sierra's arm waving thing was super annoying.

I expected to hate Cry Baby's performance, but that was great dancing. So I was pretty thoroughly entertained. Though I'm sure that's the best number from the show.

I will listen to Sunday again, for sure.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 12:44 PM

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:47pm

best performance: Gyspy or Xanadu
worst: grease

[memphreblues]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:56pm

Xanadu was definitely my favourite. I didn't think their song choice was going to work, but it was fabulous. Everyone sounded great, especially Kerry, and there were a few adorable laughs.

ITH only confirmed my need to see this show! And my mom, who hates musicals and claims they creep her out (and was disappointed with everything she saw before she went to bed) LOVED ITH. She kept asking what the show was caled and raving about how well they did.

Actually, that's not true. She also got a kick out of Gypsy.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:00pm

BEST: Gypsy, Xanadu, and Sunday
All of the performers from these three shows were superb.

Worst: Grease
I felt embarrassed for them. All of it was an absolute trainwreck.

[IsolatingAge]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:23pm

Question for people who were there:

It seemed like a screen came down on stage right before A Catered Affair performed. Was that performance live? Was there anything on a screen?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:26pm

1. Gypsy - I mean, she's a force.
2. Sunday in the Park With George - I thought it was very moving.
3. Xanadu - Funny as all hell and they sounded amazing.
4. In the Heights - Awesome. Fun.
5. The Lion King - Don't like the show, but that number really does kick some rear.
6. Rent - Unpretentious and delicate.
7. South Pacific - Awkward with the transitions , but those voices...
8. Cry-Baby - James Snyder just is not good, but they betta dance.
9. Passing Strange - Came off as very pretentious.
10. Grease - Not the train wreck it could have been, but they all had pitch issues, and the choreography was brainless.
11. Young Frankenstein - Rushed.
12. The Little Mermaid - Painfully rushed. Who combines a song with its reprise? A shame, had they just left it alone without adding in the reprise, it probably would have been better.
13. A Catered Affair - Prince was off pitch, the song is dull, no one knows what she's singing about - this performance may even lower ticket sales.

[junglered]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:29pm

Best: Xanadu. I also thought Gypsy, SITPWG, and South Pacific had strong performances.

Worst: Passing Strange (WTF?) This performance didn't make me want to rush out and buy a ticket at all). Faith Prince's performance from A Catered Affair was painful - bless her heart.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:31pm

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 01:31 PM

[ashers2u]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:35pm

My favorite was Xanadu!! Close behind it were Cry Baby, Young Frankenstein, Gypsy and South Pacific.

Worst was Passing Strange. I have no desire to see that show now. Also, i'm sick of "Part of Your World" as well and thought it was boring, although I liked Sierra a lot in the actual show. I wasn't thrilled they opened the Tonys with Lion King either because I can't stand that show, but to be fair it was a good performance.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:37pm

So many people were having pitch problems last night, I was baffled. I was wondering if they were having problems hearing the orchestra.

Someone posted on another thread that the orchestra was to the side, and that it was in fact difficult for the performers to hear, depending on where they were.

That said: LuPone was astounding, and I thought the "Grease" number was jaw-droppingly bad--not least (but not only) because of the aforementioned pitch issue. (To my ear, at least.)

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:57pm

I was blown away by Mrs. LuPone last night!!! She was the best performance of the night by far IMO. The worst was Megan Malully(sp). She was screaching the entire song...

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 4:37pm

Mauriposa, You're right, Wilson Jermaine Heredia. So sorry. I saw the show back in 1996 with Wilson cruz as Angel..so I always remember that cast. My apologies to WJH.

I forgot to mention the obvious but Cheyenne is freakin delicious.. did you see those legs?? my god! lol

oh and Lion King was Awful.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 4:40pm

Best: Gypsy, Passing Strange
Worst: Little Mermaid, Lion King, Grease

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 4:59pm

Overall, I came out of the performances not understanding a lot of opinions about the new shows.

SITPWG was pretty blah, just a ballad, not much else.

In the Heights really didn't impress me as much as I expected. It was there, over-choreographed, mumbled singing,

Grease was actually pretty decent, great energy, I don't understand a lot of the unbridled hate surrounding it.

Passing Strange was......um.....well, I'm still not sure what to make of it. I'm just going to say "bad" for now.

Gypsy was the only performance that made me understand what everyone on this board it talking about, Patti rocked it.

Cry-Baby wasn't great, but wasn't a steaming pile of crap as people like to make it seem. Awesome choreography.

A Catered Affair reall just sucked. There wasn't anything good about it. A crap performance of a unmemorable, boring song.

[dinglehopper89]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 6:40pm

Just for the record, I haven't seen any of the shows at this years Tony's other than The Little Mermaid (HUGE TLM movie fan...so i HAD to lol) and Rent.

BEST -made me want to buy tix to the show- Performances:
1. Xanadu (ended up buying the soundtrack)
2. Gypsy
3. In The Heights

WORST
1. A Catered Affair
2. Passing Strange (i highly agree with the mix of Light My Candle and Spring Awakening dancing comments)

COMMENTS:
1. The Little Mermaid: why do they make her sing POYW at every single performance??...I'd like to hear If Only or Beyond My Wildest Dreams for once. And the way they put it together was extremely odd as well
2. The Lion King: Rafiki was uhh...oy vey...
3. Rent: That performance was really short and not as great as they made it sound like it would be. The best part was the solo in Seasons of Love. I think I'll see it again before it closes.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 7:00pm

I LOVED Gypsy, ITH, and SITPWG... Cry Baby, Grease and Xanadu really did nothing for me...