Grade the 2008 Tony performances... — Page 3

The Lion King:B. Okay. Just okay.

Cry-Baby:B-. Great choreography, I loved the guy who was kicking himself in the face. This is just a not-so-great number. Congrats on the dancing, though.

Passing Strange: C-. Just really really not exciting. I loved Daniel Breaker, but what was with de'Adre Aziza's weird accent? "so tahk them nahwah that's just in caeese"

Grease: C. I think that Laura and Max were fantastic. So was that blonde Pink Lady. She is fierce! The choreography was whack! The colors of the locker wall was flat-out ugly. The songs are fun and Grease is going to make money off of this performance. It was more enjoyable than PS, though! Definitely not the worst.

The Little Mermaid: B-. Myeh...she sounded good, she just doesn't look like a mermaid. I blame the skirt and tail.

A Catered Affair: B+. Faith Prince was absolutely amazing. The dancing couple was weird, but it helped context. I wasn't a fan of the chair turning, but I did love Faith's face at the end!

Young Frankenstein: B. I don't like the song, but Megan Mulally sang that song amazingly well! I loved the belting at the end "forever inside! Forever inside!!!" It was magical! I blame the material, not Mulally.

Gypsy: A+. Patti was fabulous! I loved the funny scooping before the refrain. "they think that we're through, bu-ut ba-a-by". It was sooo Patti LuPone! One of the night's best, without a doubt!

South Pacific: B. As much as I love this show, the medley was bland. Part by part:"Dame":B; "Some Enchanted Evening":A; "I'm in Love":B. That Paulo Szot is really something and I felt like he was singing to me. Sing on, sing on!

In the Heights: A+. Fabulous showcase of the score, the choreography, Lin's and Robin's acting, and the spirit of the show. This is one of the few performances that told what the show is about. It provides context and is self-explanatory. Everything was amazing! One of the night's best, very easily.

Sunday in the Park with George: A+. This performance was amazing. I am not too familiar with the show, but I was left curious after the performance. The fading out of the projections was fabulous! The singing was sheer brilliance! I fell in love with both Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell. You want to like them! I also loved Jenna's sliding "Le--et others make that decision, they usually do!" And Daniel's belting "And the liiiiiight!" One of the night's best!

Xanadu: C. I was bored. That Cheyenne Jackson can sing and he is sexy, but not sexy enough to carry the performance. I don't want to talk about this performance anymore. It was disappointing.

Rent: A. I loved the tribute! I was crying my eyes out! I especially loved the strange and entirely unnecessary Idina Menzel applause. It was funny, but I clapped along. Hoorah for Wicked! This captured what Rent is all about. Daphne Rubin-Vega was beautiful!

Wrap-Up:
Top 3 Performances (in order):
1.tie-In the Heights
Sunday in the Park with George
3. Gypsy

Bottom 3 performances (in order):
1. Passing Strange
2. Grease
3. Xanadu

Top 3 Performers (in order):
1. Patti LuPone, Gypsy
2. Paulo Szot, South Pacific
3. tie-Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Daniel Evans, Sunday in the Park with George

Bottom 3 Performers (in order):
1. Stew, Passing Strange
2. de'Adre Aziza, Passing Strange
3. Danny Burstein, South Pacific

Best Vocalists (in order):
1. Paulo Szot, South Pacific
2. Patti LuPone, Gypsy
3. Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific

THE LION KING: D (I've always hated The Lion King, and the vocals were totally off)

IN THE HEIGHTS: B- (It was alright. Did make me want to see the show too much)

XANADU: A (I thought it was a great representation of the show, and the cast was phenomenal. Although I wished they would've left Jackie and Mary's mics on during Kerry's "GONE!".)

GREASE: B (I've always loved Grease, and although I thought the guys were terrible IMO, the girls, esp. Laura, made it so much better.)

GYPSY: A++++ (Patti, Laura, and Boyd were just amazing. Was on my feet like the rest of Radio City at the end.)

PASSING STRANGE: A (Never having heard the music, and the "you either love it or you hate it" mentality on BWW, I loved it and it totally made me want to go see it)

CRY-BABY: B+ (I thought the dancing was amazing, but James Snyder was unimpressive. I haven't heard any of the music, but I love Elizabeth Stanley [she was my 3rd favorite thing about COMPANY] and I wanted to hear her sing more.

RENT: C (Didn't make me cry or anything, and it felt kind of rushed, but Patti's claps in the middle of this made me (as Lily Tomlin put it) LMAO.)

A CATERED AFFAIR: D (Love the cast recording and the whole show, but this performance was def. not very good.)

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN: B (Megan did the best with what she had. Love her.)

THE LITTLE MERMAID C (Even though this will sort of sell tickets, I wish they would've done something with Sherie. She truly was the standout in the show for me.)

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE: A (Love this show. Love this cast. Love this production. I thought it worked very well with the Sondheim "tribute" and was in tears at the end.)

SOUTH PACIFIC: B (I've never really liked this show, but "Wonderful Guy" is a great song, and Kelli is just so adorable.)

---