Biggest Tony Upset for Acting Awards of all time? — Page 4

Martin over Martin
McKechnie (sp) over Verdon
Holliday over Andrews
Greg Jbara overlooked last season for DRS
Rachel York overlooked in 1996 for the otherwise awful Victor-Victoria

Too many to list.

But one is DEFINITELY Donna McKechnie winning over Verdon and Rivera. But the bigger upset was winning over Verdon. It was Verdon's farewell to Broadway, and Fosse created the show for one reason, and one reason only - for Gwen. She gave a smashing farewell performance. She should've won.

I second Christian Borle being overlooked... i thought he was THE standout of the original cast in Spamalot...

also, unfortunately i was not able to see Irwin in Virginia Woolf, however, having seen O'Byrne in Doubt i was VERY surprised that he didn't win... i couldn't debate the acting merits (i loved his performance but again didn't get to see Irwin), but the "buzz" surrounding Doubt was so much stronger at this point than the almost neutral reaction to Woolf.... I thought O'Byrne was clearly the front runner for this award

Regarding Mary Martin v Ethel Merman (1960), no, I did not see either performance. But, from reading everything I have over the years, Merman's performance was universally regarded as the finest in her long, distinguished career. While Martin's Maria received positive reviews, she was considered by some to be too old for the part (46) and, in listening to the OBC, her voice has lost most of the youthful freshness so clearly evident in South Pacific. Listening to the two albums side by side, Merman is in full command of the score while Martin seems to be straining for notes, particularly in 'An Ordinary Couple'.

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