Intelligent Reactions To The Tony Awards, Please

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 12:46pm

Once the telecast began yesterday I didn't bother to go online. And now, trying to read through these ridiculous comments in the various Tony Awards reaction threads is both sorry and disappointing.

Does anyone have anything intelligent, logical reactions to share here, or in other threads I perhaps overlooked?

Some of my thoughts:

1) In the video montage of other shows not performing live, why was HIGH FIDELITY's underscore not its own music from the show? Odd.

2) I thought SPRING AWAKENING winning for Choreography was quite a shock. Of all of the awards, I was not expecting that. I thought perhaps MARY POPPINS or LEGALLY BLONDE should have taken the trophy. In my opinion, SPRING AWAKENING won it because either it was well-liked and/or unconventional choreography. Which is fine - it suits the show, is designed brilliantly, and executed more than properly.

3) Entertainment-wise, I very much enjoyed the opening number featuring the cast of A CHORUS LINE and this evening's presenters headshots. Audra Macdonald's "Rauncy" was a highlight! Fantasia's R&B/Pop rendition of "I'm Here" was stunning (her performance in the Tony rehearsal was even better). The SPRING AWAKENING performance was a treat and I thought the alterations in the arrangements provided perfect transitions. I was confused by their reasoning for changing the lyrics. Of course, we're not given a reason - I would love for that decision to be explained. It doesn't mean anything to anyone who isn't familiar with the show, but to someone who knows the music - why? I will also say that the new choreography for that number, including the censoring, looks MUCH better live than on TV. On TV it looked semi-cheesy.

4) I thought it unfair that the JERSEY BOYS got to perform. I didn't mind Fantasia because of the Alliance Theatre winning, however the fact that the Jersey Boys were presenters doesn't give them the privilege to sing. If it does - why not have Stephanie J. Block, Hadley Fraser and Laura Bell Bundy present so they can perform, too? I understand that they are marketable for the ratings, however it is still unfair.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 12:48pm

I think Jersey Boys performance was less than excellent and they got it because they won last year. (Don't know if it's fair but that's why they did it.)
My reaction-much better than last year.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 12:49pm

This thread is totally on the wrong website.

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 12:51pm

Agree with you on #2, I thought Mary Poppins would take that one home.

I thought on a whole the performances were good. I was pleasantly surprised by Fantasisa. Raul's performance was by far my favorite.

[CrAzIaBoUtReNt]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 12:58pm

In your response to the lyrics question:

I think that :

She said: "Give me that hand, please
And the itch you can't control
Let me teach you how to handle
All the sadness in your soul
Oh, we'll work that silver magic
Then we'll aim it at the wall"
She said: "Love may make you blind kid-
But I wouldn't mind at all"

- The Bitch of Living

They changed that to "silver castle" and what not... probobly because this could be taken in a very perverted sense if you read into the lyrics. Thats the only reason why I can think they wold change it.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 1:19pm

I was shocked at SA's choreography win. If I had a cast jump around like spastics in a show and called it choreography, I'd be run out of town.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 1:21pm

i hate this thread and everyone who posts in it!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 1:33pm

After all these years of awards shows, why do people STILL get in a tizzy over this crap.

Yes, I call it crap, because, when you get right down to it, it's nothing more than folks awarding each other on, what they think, is a job well done.

In the scheme of things, it's doesn't affect my life, one way or the other.

Everyone is acting as if their lives depended on THEIR CHOICE winning.

It's a hunk of stone with a silver thing on top. Get over it.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 2:25pm

Diva, you've reminded me of "I Am My Own Cast" from Forbidden Broadway ...

But, I understand your sentiment.

I don't watch award shows to see who's going to win. I watch them for fun. To me, the Tony's have and always will be the Academy Awards but with more pizazz. Or in some cases, less pizazz. To be shocked over wins that were truly predictable [for the most part], is silly and throwing myself into a convulsion because someone didn't get their deserved award is ridiculous. There are plenty of other things I could get upset about - and the Tony's certainly ain't one of 'em.

:)

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 2:27pm

I thought the performances were very entertaining, given how boring the program looked. I LOVED the spotlight shining on the actors and actresses in character announcing that their performance was coming next (especially the Grey Gardens intro - Matt Cavenaugh as Jerry is awesome). Not to mention the creepy sound the spotlight made as it turned on.

I leave you with this:

"A soprano has been whacked! No, not that way..."

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:48pm

Who was that guy with the frightening expression on his face, who won at least one award? I think I his last name may be Sater? His look reminded me of Carrie's (Sissy Spacek's) face when the bucket of blood was dropped all over her. Truly scary... from RC in Austin, Texas

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:28pm

I'm afraid intelligent reactions will be hard to come by because so many of us are emotionally involved with the Tony awards. I have been watching religiously since 1971 and have archived all the telecasts since '82. Yes, I go back and re-watch portions and some years (1984, 88, 90, 94 & 97) the entire show.

Sure there were some awards that didn't go the way I hoped...but that's awards shows for you. There were fewer mis-steps this year than the last few years, and the telecast moved along at a good pace.

And now on to the 2007/2008 season.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:37pm

1. I thought that the opening number with the headshots was clever, though i'm not a Chorus Line fan.

2. Spring Awakening, 110, Curtains, and Company were presented beautifully.

3. Mary Louise Wilson was arrogant and lucky to be standing there. Being old doesn't mean you deserve awards. (That said, I thought she was better than Ebersole in the show).

4. Audra and Raul-glorious

5. I was said but not surprised that Audra went home empty-handed. I still don't get the big deal over Ebersole's performance.

6. I was shocked that Raul didn't win, but it's hard to hate David Hyde Pierce who gave (in my opinion) the most humble speech of the evening.

7. It was great to see Lansbury.

8. Julie White was the hilight of the night. Hysterical, brilliant and seemingly deserving.

9. Overall...entertaining.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:51pm

Only One:



What in the world were the voters smoking when they voted for Pierce over Raul Esparza?!

[bythesword84]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:08pm

1) In the video montage of other shows not performing live, why was HIGH FIDELITY's underscore not its own music from the show? Odd.

On the montage, from what I remember (I was there, but it was a long night, so I'd have to check on my tape at home) every other show had its own music played under it. I don't think every show did. I know LoveMusik, PQ, and Legally Blonde did, but the shows that aren't currently running mostly had standard music playing during their sections.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:18pm

Re: the change in SA lyrics, crazi is pretty much right. Certain words aside, I'm pretty sure in terms of the censors, it comes down to meaning/intention, and if a phrase comes that they feel can be interpretted no other way than in an inappropriate way, than they'll force it to be changed. So it's not to say ass or breasts even can't be said, but it's just the context of the words in the song.