Can Kiss Me Kate Upset Oklahoma! for Best Revival Of A Musical?- Page 2

[bear88]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 12:08am

I didn't see Kiss Me, Kate and I know it has admirers, but the consensus view seems to be that it's a traditional, somewhat uninspired revival with a few tweaks to the book and some good choreography.

That doesn't mean it won't win the Tony, though. The revival "contest" feels like a referendum on the Oklahoma! revival. I liked it a lot, despite some experiments that I didn't think worked, but there are plenty of people who hated the show. If those people make up a majority of Tony voters, Kiss Me, Kate wins.

My hypothetical comparison, based on current revivals I've actually seen, would be Oklahoma! and My Fair Lady, which we saw on consecutive days last month. I know my family would be divided if we were Tony voters. We enjoyed both musicals. 

[jdrye222]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 12:16am

I personally found the choreography of KMK to be like a lowest common denominator form of choreography in which we make an amazing energetic ensemble of dancers do stupid **** that has nothing to do with the song in order to wow the crowd and get the choreographer a tony. And the complete mistrust of Porter’s lyrics (resulting in the impulse to physically indicate the joke of Tom Dick or Harry is like the lowest of the low in terms of creativity and grasp of material).

[Soaring29]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 5:59am

I have a feeling that it will win based off dislike for Oklahoma!

[Marlothom]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 8:12am

This one would be interesting, and perhaps the only suspense on Sunday.  I heard/read in a few places that the more familiar you are with the original Oklahoma! the more you would likely dislike this revival - certainly this was the case for me (having worked on 3 prior productions and disliking this revival).  I have to believe many Tony voters have a substantial amount of exposure with the original material.   That said, I have not seen Kiss Me Kate - I wonder if some older voters will compare it to the last revival and hold it to a higher standard.   

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 11:30am

Last time this show was up for Best Revival, they voted for an okay production of Into the Woods (in a two-nominee race). We could likely see a repeat.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 1:50pm

HeyMrMusic said: "Last time this show was up for Best Revival, they voted for an okay production of Into the Woods (in a two-nominee race). We could likely see a repeat."

I would point out that the last production of Oklahoma was a critical disappointment, so that doesn't say much.  While this one was divisive, most of the critics who actually know how to write thought it was revelatory.  

Ironically, I have hated every production of Oklahoma I have seen (3 or 4, plus the movie), and I am really looking forward to seeing this one (not until October), because the revisions sound to me like the type of changes that are required to make it (for me) tolerable).

In the end, who knows, but I think it will be a shame if a mediocre revival of a not-great-in-the-first-place-aside-from half-the-score show wins because it aspires to Summer Stock quality, albeit with a Tier 1 leading lady.  

Ironically, I must admit that I have always had mixed reactions to KMK; I generally enjoy the theatre story, and am hopelessly bored during the Shakespearean scenes.  So I am not a fan of either show in earlier incarnations (and of KMK in this one).

[rg7759]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 3:37pm

I wont humor This Thread. but the moral of it is if you want to see something great see Fiddler and not Kate.

If you want to see Corbin blue, see Kate.

Updated On: 6/5/19 at 03:37 PM