Fun home or an American in Paris? — Page 3

When it comes to original score, how would you all say Bullets Over Broadway got left out in the cold for what was supposedly that same reason? Critics of the show made it sound like it shouldn't be considered because it wasn't original music either.

Yet some shows have not only been nominated but won the Tony without being completely "original."

As to the question of which show should win? So hard to tell! They are all so different.

I see Fun Home as brilliant, with an original score and a message that is provocative and compelling.

An American in Paris is just plain beautiful. And enchanting. Personally I feel that the staging and the dance are the high points. The acting and singing by the leads was good, but it was other elements of the show that stood out more than anything.

The Visit….there was something haunting, and original, and mesmerizing about it. If it won (which I don't think it will, but stranger things have happened), I wouldn't be disappointed.

Something Rotten. I really loved it. I know it has its critics, but it was original, even if it did have some familiar components to it. The Bard is overshadowing these two brothers who try to outdo him….by setting a play to music. And then begins to foreshadow a bunch of well-known, contemporary musicals in the process. I thought it was fun.

Personally I won't be upset over any of them winning. I saw them all and thought they all had their special qualities which made them deserving.

It's just too difficult to choose, because one can find a way to support any of them for the win.

"I hope Tony voters are able to set aside any lesbianphobia..."

And their Francophobia (An American in Paris), their Swissphobia (The Visit), and their Anglophobia (Something Rotten) as well.

Fun Home for book, score and director. AAIP for the win.

Fun Home.

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 04:30 AM

Finally saw the last of the nominated musicals Fun Home

Of the 4, I hope Rotten wins than followed by Tommy Tune's Favorite The Visit. AAIP left me cold. I enjoyed it but I cannot help but comparing it to the film. Only 4 numbers from the movies survive. Classic numbers like Nice Work, By Strauss & Our Love Is Here To Stay are gone replaced by inferior numbers. One classic number (I Got Rhythm)is diminished as the kids in the movie are gone. The actors playing the Kelly & Caron roles are adequate but do not make you forget Kelly/Caron. The choreography deserves a Tony but I still think it was a tad overrated

Now on to Fun Home. Glad I saw it to round out seeing all the nominees. Having said that do not see why all the hoopla. Did I enjoy it? Not as much as the other 3 . There are a few standout songs & the performances are all good but it simply did not do it for my wife & I. I know brickbats will be hurled at me but I said my piece. If it got to you more than it did us great.

Thanks for the kind words

Watch out now as your defense of my opinion may get some older board members to put you in their crosshairs if you get my meaning.

I can see where you're coming from, Roxy.

I saw all of them myself. And I'd be happy if any of them won really.

I thought AAIP was beautiful, and the leads were quite good. But in a pleasant serviceable way. But maybe not Tony winning. I know many might disagree with me on that.

Their dancing was obviously outstanding. If they win, this will be what they'll be most recognized for IMO. These two are talented enough they should be around for a while. They deserve to be. But for this year's Tony, I might look at the other nominees more closely.

For musical? They are all so different, it's hard to say. Again, they all have their strong qualities and are deserving. I certainly won't be saying, 'Are you serious?' when the winner is announced.

I do know that I felt a little disconnected from AAIP. Couldn't totally put my finger on it.

I'm perfectly fine if a story strays a bit from the original, and this did…spoilers ahead….

The Oscar Levant character, also being in love with Lise. I didn't get how that was really necessary. It really wasn't developed all that much either from what I could tell. Having Henri and Jerry the two contenders was enough, IMO.

And as far as the references that have been mentioned on various boards here about Henri's mother questioning if he likes the fairer sex. And then he does and says things throughout that lead you to wonder yourself. I didn't sense a real tension between he and Lise….until the end. And even that didn't come off as very strong.

But then again, it's all in the interpretation. Some might have seen it more than I did.

Definitely the movie was in there….but overall, a slightly different feel. Especially with differences in music too.

I liked it though, and if it wins, I'll be happy for all involved.

"Thanks for the kind words
Watch out now as your defense of my opinion may get some older board members to put you in their crosshairs if you get my meaning."

Plenty of people have voiced criticism of Fun Home without being attacked, and I doubt you will be either. There's nothing wrong with not liking a show.

Of the two I remember being singled out, one went on a crusade to try to convince us that the show was abusive to children, and the other kept posting repetitive but unexplained negativity despite never actually seeing the show.

"There are a few standout songs & the performances are all good but it simply did not do it for my wife & I."

A large group of devoted fans who feel passionately about a show? If there's one thing that turns Roxy completely off before seeing a second of a show's performance, it's that. Give him a flop with a teeny number of supporters who do not see or are willing to completely overlook what's wrong with it and he is all in. He is one of the rare ducks who can see what a success the show should be and lament the injustice that it is not. When that show closes, as all shows must, Roxy will exclaim that he USED to care about things like that, but he no longer does. He is not invested any more.

This is not a brickbat. This is the well established pattern.

Updated On: 5/23/15 at 12:01 PM

Nobody craps on anybody for not liking a show.

Most people would rather have a good discussion that goes a bit deeper than four or five canned phrases repeatedly used over the years. "My wife & I did not care for it," "It didn't get to us," "We had no interest in seeing it," "We do not get the hoopla," et al.

The interesting discussion would have substance. It would separate the "hoopla" from the actual piece of work and look at both but not hold the one against the other. Once you managed to do that, you could ask yourself: Why didn't you like a show? If the answer doesn't come to you, it would be interesting to explore why you think you might have had a negative reaction.

I do know that gay themes make some old conservative audience members very uncomfortable. Again, that's just how it is. Would love to know WHY they make them uncomfortable.

There are a few standout songs & the performances are all good

Geez, that does sound terrible.

I didn't love either show. Neither did I hate them.

But the overrated Fun Home is a hell of a lot better than the vastly overrated An American in Paris.

I greatly preferred all three of this year's nominated revivals to the two front running best muscial nominees. On the Town is the best of the three.

(it goes without saying, of course, but this is my own opinion)

Updated On: 5/23/15 at 01:16 PM

Enjoyed Vegas and Last Ship more than AAIP and Fun

I am at Mamma Mia matinee (I have seen it a couple times but not on Broadway) and it is so much fun!!! My kind of show! No interest in seeing FH or AAIP this visit but I am looking forward to Something Rotten tonite! I know off topic but it is an expression of my disinterest to the topic lol lol

^Thanks for asking. Well I've found out I don't like dancing I was bored at OTT and left at intermission. And read AAIP was much of the same. With FH I just couldn't get into the cast recording it was so meh for me (I know that's a minority opinion) So I'll just wait for these shows to go on tour I pay $30 per show for my 5 show season tix in Iowa (and great seats too!) That way if I have buyer's remorse it isn't too bad in my wallet.

Updated On: 5/23/15 at 05:14 PM