Dunnagan vs. Morton for Tony?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:29pm

(NO REAL SPOILERS) I hope these two wonderful performances don't cancel each other out in the race. Both Deanna and Amy are extraordinary in AUGUST: OSAGE. If the play's arc belongs to Morton -- and it really does end up Barbara's play, in a way -- the evening's centerpice is the Dunnagan Violet. It's been pointed out in articles and threads that Morton actually has more stage time. And the play's journey certainly does intertwine the two characters like DNA. I would probably come down on the side of Dunnagan, because Violet is the most memorable stage mother since Beatrice in THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN IN THE MOON MARIGOLDS. I take nothing away from Letts creation. yet when you read Violet on the page, she is merely interesting, and compelling; the humor and wicked, lacerating delivery by Dunnagan make her smallest digs and put-downs distinctive and witty.

Updated On: 5/14/08 at 06:29 PM

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:33pm

To me, although it felt like Dunnagan had more stage time, I think Morton was truly the highlight. It must be hard to play (semi?)normal next to all those ****ed up people onstage.

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:36pm

I thought the whole cast was fabulous, but Morton stole the show for me. I'm really hoping that she takes the Tony home.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:38pm

Morton was RIDICULOUSLY good. The act two finale, especially her final line, left me with chills.

Maybe a tie?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:46pm

I side with Dunagan for the Tony. Her Violet is a much more technically proficient piece of acting. With the cadence of her steps, the in and out of lucidity, the slurring, the rages, the extremes from acting like mother to child to monster-it was stunning. She was probably the most vulnerable actor on that stage. Some of her choices were very bold. Like a previous poster said, on the page Violet reads more flat. It is what Dunagan brings to the role that makes it memorable. My vote goes to her.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:49pm

That is very true Betty.

On page, I can almost envision the lines coming from something out of Long Day's Journey Into Night (although less obscene) and yet we know they are NOT the same.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:54pm

My previous post was not meant to take anything away from the amazing performance of Amy Morton. If I could give them both Tonys I would. I just was more impacted by the visceral nature of Deanna's performance. As a social worker who has worked with dual diagnosis clients, Deanna's spot-on portrayal of an alcoholic, pill-popping woman in great emotional and physical pain gave me chills.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 9:09pm

Morton should get the Tony just for the end of the second act. Just.. I can't even describe it.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 9:13pm

If I had to choose just one I would give it to Morton. Both are fantastic but I liked her performance just a little bit more.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 9:17pm

I vote for a tie. But either is great. I hope this show wins as many Tonys as possible.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 9:59pm

If I had to pick, I'd go with Dunnagan. Morton was stunning and beatiful, but Dunnagan gave me chills, she crawled deep under my skin and stayed there for days.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 10:18pm

Personally, I felt that while both were marvelous beyond compare, Dunnagan had the showier role.

The fact that Morton resonated as much with me as she did opposite such a tremendous cast AND opposite a powerhouse as prevalent as Dunnagan, however, is what would give her my vote.

As others have said, her line at the end of the second act is the true highlight of the show.

Updated On: 5/14/08 at 10:18 PM

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 10:40pm

I also support a tie, but I side with Dunagan.

She really stole the show for me. I thought Morton was good, but didn't think her role had as much to do as Dunagan's did.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 10:52pm

Morton's line at the end of act 2 is enough for me to give her the Tony. I still get chills thinking about it.

However, I'd gladly support a tie, as both women were brilliant.

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 11:43pm

Torn....

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 11:53pm

A tie would be ideal. These two women are the finest actors I have ever seen, both stage and on screen. However, if I had to choose, my vote goes to Deanna Dunagan. The entire second act..was beyond describable.

"That is the truth!"

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 12:01am

I've seen the play twice and the first time I saw Dunnagan's understudy. I completely thought her understudy stole the show and I barely even rememered Morton. The second time I went, I was lucky enough to see Dunnagan and Morton owned the stage. I actually remember Morton's closing line in Act II only because of my second viewing. A tie is extremely unlikely, even though it wouldn't upset me, so I'm hoping Morton will take it. They really better not cancel eachother out.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 1:12am

"The fact that Morton resonated as much with me as she did opposite such a tremendous cast AND opposite a powerhouse as prevalent as Dunnagan, however, is what would give her my vote."

That I think is one of the factors that completely makes me feel so strongly about a win for Morton. I went in going off of hearing the name "Deanna Dunnagan" and was expecting a tour de force. Of course, that is exactly what I got, but for Morton to stand against that and make such an equally strong impression left me giving her the most credit. But as others have said in this thread, Dunnagan is completely giving us a legendary performance so in a perfect world, I feel as if both should get it. It's going to be SO unpredictable in the actresses category this year. But one thing is certain: Rondi Reed all the way!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 10:53am

What Dunnagan does, so remarkably, is capture the pathos and pain with great nuance while also provide us with so many occasions to explode with laughter. To nail the humor so effortlessly really is a technical feat; to do so while revealing the woman's soft underbelly (and spine of steel, too) is a double achievement. Morton's journey shapes the play, and she brings it vividly to life; Dunnagan's characterization is the stuff of theatrical legends.

At the end, we all discussed who could come close -- Ellen Burstyn, maybe. I had a wild card idea -- Burstyn's old co-star from ALICE doesn't... Diane Ladd. A great actress. Then, bring in Laura Dern to play the Morton role. Real mom-daughter chem.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:04am

I think the play can run for a long time and once Dunagan and Morton leave, I think producers will be looking for "names" to take the parts, since many audience members would be disappointed not to see the Tony nominated/possibly winning cast members. By names, I mean, actresses who can do the role-not stunt casting. I agree with Auggie that Burstyn or Ladd would be great as Violet. Annette Bening would be a great replacement for Morton. Actually Frances McDormand would probably be a good replacement as well for Morton. Marsha Mason would be a great replacement for Rondi Reed.

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:05am

I'd love to see a Sizwe Banzi type tie.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 12:19pm

If I had to chose, my pick would be Dunnagan. But, Eve Best really deserves the award out of all the nominated actresses.

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 12:26pm

Eve would win in any other year and may benefit from a vote split.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 12:30pm

Well, I'll be praying.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 12:53pm

Well, Eve would win any other year but August will take a ton of awards. I think there could be a tie and I hope there is. However, if there was only one to pick, Deanna Dunnagan would get my vote. She just moved me beyond words and I thought her performance was incredible. (Amy Morton was very strong as well, Dunnagan's performance just stuck with me.)