For Real Questions From My NY Trip Last Week

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:57am

I finally got to NYC last week, saw The Crucible, Shuffle Along, Hamilton, She Loves Me, Waitress, and Long Day's Journey.  Doubt I have ever had a trip in which I loved every single production, but this was it.  Based on reading posts all year, I have several serious questions:

1.  Why do most posters think Leslie Odom deserves the Best ActorTony over Lin Manuel Miranda?  I thought Odom was excellent, but I though Miranda gave a performance for the history books.  The scenes following the death of his son were devastating and his monologue after being shot was better than the CD.  I was in tears, and it was his performance as much as his word and music that got to me.  (I thouhtDaveed Diggs was also incredible...I will remember Miranda's and his performance most of all).

2.  Why do so many people think Laura Benanti is so great in she Loves Me?  I thought she was beautiful, charming, sang gorgeously, but I thought her line readings were wooden.  Personally, I thought it was Zackery Levi's night.

3.  Why so much hate for The Crucible?  I thought it was a great revival, and that the lighting and background music were positively mesmerizing, adding greatly to the overall performance.  I thought Ben Whishaw was terrific as John Procter, and really should have received a Tony nomination...although I admit that I did not see all the nominees, I fell it is a shame he was not cited.  The first 30 seconds will stay wig me forever...just an incredible foreboding of things to come.

4.  I can only assume the Tony nominations thought that Audra had enough nominations for now.  She was incredible, certainly better IMO that Benanti and Soo, and on par with Mueller. I did not se Cusack.

Updated On: 5/30/16 at 11:57 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:58am

Jarethan said: "2.  Why do ISO many people ink Laura Benanti"

What?

[schubox]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:01pm

Jarethan said: "

1.  Why do most posters think Leslie Odom deserves the Best ActorTony over Lin Manuel Miranda?  I thought Odom was excellent, but I though Miranda gave a performance for the history books.  The scenes following the death of his son were devastating and his monologue after being shot was better than the CD.  I was in tears, and it was his performance as much as his word and music that got to me

"

I totally agree with this. Before I saw I thought LMM would just be okay based on what I'd read on here. He totally blew me away. He was so intense and I was completely swept up in his performance. Leslie was fantastic too, but Lin and Daveed's performances are what stuck with me the most

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:11pm

Jarethan said: "I finally got to NYC last week, saw The Crucible, Shuffle Along, Hamilton, She Loves Me, Waitress, and Long Day's Journey.  Doubt I have ever had a trip in which I loved every single production, but this was it.  Based on reading posts all year, I have several serious questions:

1.  Why do most posters think Leslie Odom deserves the Best ActorTony over Lin Manuel Miranda?  I thought Odom was excellent, but I though Miranda gave a performance for the history books.  The scenes following the death of his son were devastating and his monologue after being shot was better than the CD.  I was in tears, and it was his performance as much as his word and music that got to me.
 

 

"

Because Odom has the best songs (including the only true show stopper), he makes you sympathize with the "villain" - I wish they had a #teamBurr shirt bc he makes me feel like Hamilton had it coming lol, his character is more layered and lastly, Odom is acting while Miranda is more "performing". I will say that he has improved in the last year but Odom has been on point from the beginning. He (followed closely by Diggs) are who I would be so bummed if they were out when I've gone. IMO, Hamilton isn't as fleshed out as Burr. I understand why Burr is who he is but outside of political ambitions, I don't leave feeling like I know Hamilton like I know Burr. Furthermore, when Odom and Miranda are on stage, my eye goes to Odom. Go back and rewatch the Grammy performance, even his movements have power in a way Miranda's don't. 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:28pm

Jarethan said: "1.  Why do most posters think Leslie Odom deserves the Best ActorTony over Lin Manuel Miranda?  I thought Odom was excellent, but I though Miranda gave a performance for the history books.  The scenes following the death of his son were devastating and his monologue after being shot was better than the CD.  I was in tears, and it was his performance as much as his word and music that got to me.  (I thouhtDaveed Diggs was also incredible...I will remember Miranda's and his performance most of all)."

I agree with you that some people disparage Lin's performance a little too easily. I think this is most likely because he isn't a strong singer, but he is a very competent actor and you're right, he excels at showing emotion and bringing out that emotion in audiences. However, I think Leslie had the more difficult job of playing a character like Burr and making him sympathetic and convincing. This is the character that ends the show killing the protagonist. The fact that audiences leave Hamilton having a degree of sympathy for Burr is a testament to Leslie's performance, as well as Lin's writing. Leslie's performance is more subtle but I do think it is better. His acting is at its best during Wait For It and the end of The World Was Wide Enough when it's just him on the stage speaking to the audience. I absolutely think he deserves the Tony.

"4.  I can only assume the Tony nominations thought that Audra had enough nominations for now.  She was incredible, certainly better IMO that Benanti and Soo, and on par with Mueller. I did not se Cusack."

Simply put, this was the most difficult acting category to get a nomination. The fact that 6-time Tony winner Audra didn't get a nomination shows the strength of the performances of the actresses that did. I haven't seen She Loves Me yet but I think the rest of the actresses absolutely deserved their spots there, with Soo and Erivo being especially moving to me.

 

Updated On: 5/30/16 at 12:28 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:35pm

the answer to all your questions is simple - because everyone has their own taste and opinions.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:36pm

To answer #2 and #4, you skipped seeing THE COLOR PURPLE (unless you had already seen the show in London), so missed Erivo's Celie, which I believe is hands down the greatest female musical performance of this season or many seasons. I think the support for Benanti where you still find it is as much for her past performances on Bway as for her present one, which I also found lacking warmth and vulnerability.

#3: Glad you got so much out of THE CRUCIBLE, a production I absolutely abhorred (Ben Whishaw's fine performance notwithstanding). I'd actually single out the lighting for one of the chief reasons I hated watching the stage, particularly that God-awful orange sodium-vapor source hung above the rest of the lighting grid to send unintended shadows of the fixtures across the entire set for much of the second act. I've rarely paid so much for such an amateur physical production as this one.

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:45pm

Another trick (even though the award should be based on the nominated performance) is to think of other roles and if you think Odom or Miranda could nail it. I don't see LMM excelling at Shakespeare or POTO or Chekhov, et al... I think Odom could because I think he's the better and more versatile actor. LMM doesn't suck or anything close to it but Odom is a revelation ala Erivo. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:59pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "To answer #2 and #4, you skipped seeing THE COLOR PURPLE (unless you had already seen the show in London), so missed Erivo's Celie, which I believe is hands down the greatest female musical performance of this season or many seasons. I think the support for Benanti where you still find it is as much for her past performances on Bway as for her present one, which I also found lacking warmth and vulnerability.

#3: Glad you got so much out of THE CRUCIBLE, a production I absolutely abhorred (Ben Whishaw's fine performance notwithstanding). I'd actually single out the lighting for one of the chief reasons I hated watching the stage, particularly that God-awful orange sodium-vapor source hung above the rest of the lighting grid to send unintended shadows of the fixtures across the entire set for much of the second act. I've rarely paid so much for such an amateur physical production as this one.

 

I had seen The Color Purple, and did not mention Erivo because I took it as a given that her performance was in a different league.  Sorry for the confusion.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:15pm

I think to understand what Miranda is leaving on the table you have to see Muñoz.

To add to the list of things you can't see Miranda doing, I'd add being cast as Hamilton if he had not written it. 

He may be the greatest active writer in musical theatre (and perhaps the greatest unified writer of all time), but he is not its greatest actor any more than Sondheim would have been. 

[wonkit]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:26pm

FOUR real questions, no?

Or do you mean these are serious questions (for real)?

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 2:08pm

I can only assume the Tony nominations thought that Audra had enough nominations for now.  She was incredible, certainly better IMO that Benanti and Soo, and on par with Mueller. I did not se Cusack.

 

I have to disagree. Seeing Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along was my first time ever seeing her live, and I was slightly disappointed. I can definitely see why she was not nominated. The other nominees that I saw (all except Soo), were giving far superior performances iMO.

Updated On: 5/30/16 at 02:08 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 3:00pm

Personally, I love BOTH of Lin-Manuel and Leslie Odom Jr's performances so much that I really wish they didn't have to choose one to win the award. Here we have two amazing performers who are creating standards for their respective roles for years to come. I am hooked on Alexander from his first moment, while Leslie slowly reels us in to the show. I noticed he starts the first monologue slowly, and then crescendos into the rest of the song. Both ways allow the audiences to take emotional journeys with these characters through their character dynamics and their moments of staticism. I really can't choose. I could also not really agree that I would vastly choose Leslie over Lin or Lin over Leslie for that matter. Let's just encompass ourselves in their performances and respect both for what they do every night.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 6:27pm

I think Miranda is great, but for me Odom makes the villain heartbreaking. Same reason I loved Terrance Mann in Les Mis, but it's like if Javert killed Valjean at the end and you somehow feel sorry for Javert. It's just a heartbreaking performance that resonated with me. But I think Miranda is fabulous as well. 

I loved Benanti in She Loves Me. To me she reminds me of an old time star. Plus I just thought she was really likeable and funny. But I loved Levi as well. Great cast all around for me. 

I really enjoyed the Crucible too. I wasn't even expecting to because I didn't like View from the Bridge. But I liked this far more which seems to be the opposite of the popular opinion.

 

FINALLY seeing Shuffle Along next week after having to reschedule TWICE so I'm so excited for that. The only thing with respect to that race is I'm sooooo glad Carmen Cusack was nominated. I'd love to see her win but I'm betting on Erivo (who was also fabulous). 

[SueBee06]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 7:22pm

I have to disagree. Seeing Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along was my first time ever seeing her live, and I was slightly disappointed. I can definitely see why she was not nominated. The other nominees that I saw (all except Soo), were giving far superior performances iMO.

 

"

I've seen Audra multiple times and I was also disappointed although I don't know if the fault lies with her or with the show. I do think the reason she didn't get a nomination is that she has been so spectacular in other shows before. The nominators all know what she can do and this wasn't her best. In a less competitive year, sure, she would have been nominated, but not this year. 

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 8:10pm

HogansHero said: "
To add to the list of things you can't see Miranda doing, I'd add being cast as Hamilton if he had not written it. 
 

"

I mean you can say the same thing abut half the actors in it considering Lin cast his friends in a lot of the roles. 

Anyway when I saw it I thought Lin was amazing. I think his performance is underrated because he's no the best singer but even when I saw it I thought his singing sounded better than it did on the cast recording. I want Leslie to win though. or Danny since lin will win other awards

I think the only reason Audra wasn't nominated is because she already has 6 Tonys. I haven't' seen the show yet though.

I think the direction on the Crucible was what people hated.

[BroadwayPeasent]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 8:10pm

I did not think Aaron Burr was a villian. I thought he was really jealous of Hamilton and wanted his success. He had his motives and did not really understand Hamilton

[FlySkyHigh]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 8:19pm

4.  I can only assume the Tony nominations thought that Audra had enough nominations for now.  She was incredible, certainly better IMO that Benanti and Soo, and on par with Mueller. I did not se Cusack."

I agree. I can't speak to Jessie, Laura, or Carmen's performances but I was able to see Cynthia, Audra, and Phillipa this past weekend. Soo did a fine job and her voice was very nice. But apart from a few riveting dramatic scenes (such as Burn and Who lives, who dies...), it felt like she was just going through the motions. Maybe it was an off night. On the other hand, Audra was amazing!! No matter how much I listen to her music, there is nothing like hearing her live.  IMO, the fact that she isn't playing the usually dramatic down and out character is making people think her work is less substantial and/or less accomplished. I personally liked seeing the flirty more comedic side of her. It further shows that her talent is limitless. And the chemistry she had with Brandon Victor Dixon was palpable. Anyways, this is my long winded way of saying that there is no way Soo should have been nominated over McDonald. I think the combination of Audra's previous success and Phillipa being part of the Hamilton hype is what shifted the balance in Soo's favor. Without her nomination, they don't break the record. At the end of the day, I suppose it doesn't really matter though. Because if Cynthia doesn't walk away with that Tony, something is seriously wrong with the world.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 9:29pm

I would actually agree with you about Benanti in She Loves Me. She bored me. The only performance in her category that I've yet to see is (probable winner) Erivo, but I would say that she and Philippa Soo are the two weak links in the bunch. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 9:47pm

Hellob said: "Another trick (even though the award should be based on the nominated performance) is to think of other roles and if you think Odom or Miranda could nail it. I don't see LMM excelling at Shakespeare or POTO or Chekhov, et al... I think Odom could because I think he's the better and more versatile actor. LMM doesn't suck or anything close to it but Odom is a revelation ala Erivo. "

Why the hell would Lin-Manuel Miranda appear in Phantom of the Opera. And why should that have anything to do with him winning a Tony for his performance in Hamilton?

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:05pm

^^^ it's a way to gauge an actor's range. The op thought LMM was a better actor but he's not an actor who can take on many roles like Odom could. I was pretty clear in my original explanation. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:38pm

The Tony Award is for BEST PERFORMANCE. Not best prospect of artistic range and versatility. To be clear, Hellob, I am in Odom's camp as well. I just strongly disagree with your logic.

Updated On: 5/30/16 at 11:38 PM

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:57am

BroadwayConcierge said: "The Tony Award is for BEST PERFORMANCE. Not best prospect of artistic range and versatility. To be clear, Hellob, I am in Odom's camp as well. I just strongly disagree with your logic.

 

"

My logic had nothing to do with the future, I was simply pointing out that Odom is a better actor than Miranda. That's why he should win over him. Anyway, I'm over the topic Burr >Hamilton the end 

[TFMH18]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 1:03am

"I've seen Audra multiple times and I was also disappointed although I don't know if the fault lies with her or with the show. I do think the reason she didn't get a nomination is that she has been so spectacular in other shows before. The nominators all know what she can do and this wasn't her best. In a less competitive year, sure, she would have been nominated, but not this year"

This is it for me. Imagine if Audra had usurped that last spot from Carmen Cusack, for example, who is giving a breakout performance that is what I would argue once in a lifetime. Audra would only have made the cut in this competitive year due to the stature of her name, and I think the nominating committee got this category one hundred percent right. Also, for the record, I agree with Benanti's performance just falling a bit flat. She left me cold while Cusack and Cynthia Erivo and Jessie Mueller filled me with such tangible warmth. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 6:52am

The crucible one: having seen other nominees of best performance given by an actor in a play, I totally agree with the nominators' decision. Ben is giving an amazing performance, but the competition is too strong this year in almost every category. He didn't wow me as much as Mark Strong in A View from the Bridge, or originate a role that grabs your attention immediately, or reprise a role but also add something to it. To me, Ben is certainly talented but in Crucible he is doing a good job and that's it. You would expect a nominee to do more than that in a season like this. As for the show, the music and lighting, while impressive, seem to be telling the audience what it should feel. The play Arthur Miller wrote is competent enough without the frills that assume the audience to be dumb and not able to understand the play without "guidance."

Updated On: 5/31/16 at 06:52 AM