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I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul? — Page 2

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#32

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 2:29am

At least Raul's performance will be preserved. Imagine in 100 years time people could still be watching it while DHP's will be long, long, long, long forgotten.

Raul has the last laugh.

(Not that DHP should be blamed for winning, lol.)
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#36

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 7:20am

"In other words, people 100 years from now can be as bemused and border-line horrified at the self-indulgent, indefensible artistic slaughter that defined that 'performance'?"

LOL! Geez Q - I was going to say I thought Raul's re-invention of Bobby was a horror, but okay, I'll go with your description instead.

As to why voters picked DHP over Raul. I don't know. Nobody but the voters really know. I can only speak for myself. I saw both - I liked DHP much better. He was completely charming, adorable and for me at least, elevated a rather mediocre musical into an absolutely wonderful couple of hours of theatre. By the end of Curtains I wanted to give Cioffi a big ole hug. By the end of Company - I wanted to beat Bobby with a stick. But that's just me. re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?
#37

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 7:47am

"In other words, people 100 years from now can be as bemused and border-line horrified at the self-indulgent, indefensible artistic slaughter that defined that 'performance'?"

Early candidate for best post of the day!
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson
#38

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:38am

At least Raul's performance will be preserved. Imagine in 100 years time people could still be watching it while DHP's will be long, long, long, long forgotten.

DHP's performance is also preserved, thanks to the Lincoln Center taping and several very good fruitkegs. It's available.
"Hurry up and get into your conga clothes - we've got to do something to save this show!"
#39

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 10:51am

Raul Esparza tends to polarize people. They either love him or hate him. He does have a tendency to be overwrought, which was evident in the performance of "Company" that I attended (I hated that revival).

For a laugh, listen to "Being Intense" on Forbidden BW's CD "Rude Awakening". It's a howler.
#41

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 11:57am

"Slam goes the iron...slam goes the iron.FLAT. FLAT..FFFLLLLAAAAATTTT!" And Eyedeena won for hopping on a forklift?????
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#42

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 12:04pm

Perhaps it was the size of the role itself which also had something to do with it. I saw both and liked both but "Company" is perhaps the definitive ensemble musical, whereas Pierce's role was much more a lead star turn. Put a gun to my head, I'd have voted for Esparza, but I didn't feel outraged or even surprised when DHP won.
#43

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 12:08pm

Pearce gave a flawless performance and carried the show. To me, Esparza's performance was self-indulgent and almost completely off the mark (though that could be due to his direction). Never before had the character of Bobby made me so depressed, desperately hoping any other character would come along to brighten up the gloomy rain clouds that hovered over Raul every moment on stage. I even preferred him in Chitty over the perpetual downer that was the Company revival.

Raul has the last laugh.

No, in fact, we do every time we encounter his "MOCK ME WITH PRAISE!!!".
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#45

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 2:59pm

Esparza's performance was self-indulgent and almost completely off the mark (though that could be due to his direction).

It was.

Esparza played Bobby like a totally unlikable sarcastic drunk.
Which the character is not.

Again, that was the director's choice, not Raul's. With Sondheim's approval. Just because he's never been played a certain way doesn't mean he CAN'T be.

By the end of Curtains I wanted to give Cioffi a big ole hug. By the end of Company - I wanted to beat Bobby with a stick.

I wasn't aware Tonys were decided on likeability of the character.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent

"He's a tramp, but I love him."
#46

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:57pm

He played Niles (AKA himself)

dramarama2 - you obviously haven't seen DHP being interviewed as 'himself' - he is NOTHING like Niles (apart from a slight physical resemblance re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?). Which kind of invalidates your opinion of his performance in Curtains (IMHO).

Fine if you didn't enjoy his performance yourself, but don't try to pretend it had no merit for that reason. He wouldn't have won other awards (including several Emmys) if the voters didn't see any merit in his acting.

I loved Raul Esparza's performance when I saw him in Speed The Plow and his time will surely come. But it REALLY pisses me off when his fans/supporters choose to disparage other fine actors in order to show their support.
Seen some shows in my time....
#47

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:58pm

"I wasn't aware Tonys were decided on likeability of the character."

Actually Yero, if you read my post again, there's nothing in it that says likeability is critera for a Tony Award. I say;"As to why voters picked DHP over Raul. I don't know. Nobody but the voters really know."

The comment you quote is in the summation as to why 'I' liked DHP's performance over Raul's. Sorry if my thoughts lacked clarity. re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?
#48

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:10pm

"Why did Marissa Jaret Winokur beat Bernadette Peters?"

Probably because Gypsy opened very late in the season with a relatively short window of time for voters to see her and during that time Peters was performing while suffering from a respiratory infection.
#49

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:29pm

"But it REALLY pisses me off when his fans/supporters choose to disparage other fine actors in order to show their support."

Ditto, Tiggosaurus.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#50

re: I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul?

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:51pm

Again, that was the director's choice, not Raul's. With Sondheim's approval. Just because he's never been played a certain way doesn't mean he CAN'T be.

But it doesn't mean he SHOULD be played that way, either. Personally, I thought it was a HUGE mistake. And with a personality like that, I couldn't figure out why so many women were attracted to him. His personality came off more repellent than magnetic. While the likability of a character shouldn't be a factor in determining the Tony, I do think the actor's suitability towards a role should. Pearce simply sparkled in a role he was fortunate enough to create, but I've no doubt Esparza will get his Tony one day for something for more suited to his persona and abilities. I just don't think his Bobby was anything close to Tony-worthy whether it is was his own choices or the director's.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

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