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#26

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:55am

Joanna Gleason was absolutely brilliant in the role. I also think that she was destined to win because she was creating a brand new role, whereas Patti LuPone was doing a revival. Think of all the extra work that Joanna Gleason had to put in to form the character of The Baker's Wife.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#27

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:24pm

I've seen a number of Baker's wives and have no doubt Joanna Gleason deserved her Tony. She certainly remains the gold standard for MY understanding of the role.

But I'm a little baffled by the argument that the creator of an "original" work automatically does more than the star of a revival. Whatever Ethel Merman or Eileen Rogers did as Reno, the part was still new to Patti LuPone and she had to find her own way in it. And, in fact, each of the three major productions before Sutton Foster had a new book and an altered song list, so the actress playing Reno was indeed working with new material.

If anything, I think the problem for LuPone may have been that Reno--in between songs--actually has next-to-nothing to do in the show.

#28

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:07pm

^^ Yes. This. Exactly. This is what baffled me so much about the hype around Sutton Foster getting a Tony for playing Reno - I mean for what? Sure she was great but the part is pretty thankless other than having 2 or 3 great Broadway songs to belt. In 2011 (not to reopen a can of worms), I felt that Patina Miller really deserved her Tony for creating a role (and a great role at that) in Sister Act - what a great role to win a Tony for - and that this year she was kind of given a sympathy Tony to make up for that.
Back to the original point, Gleason had heart, and heart = Tony, that year anyway. I think the decision was right. And anyway, LuPone got a Drama Desk out of it.

Updated On: 6/29/13 at 08:07 PM

#29

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 7/1/13 at 10:12am

Joanna Gleason in Into The Woods is a case of talent and interpretation turning what is really a featured role into a lead. (Another case is Carole Shelley in The Elephant Man.)

Gleason won fair and square, and the only real complaints were from those with vested interests in her competition.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

#30

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 7/1/13 at 10:20am

That's a very interesting point about it really being a supporting role and that's something I notice every time I see a production of the show. But when I watch the OBC, it's absolutely a leading role. I can't think of any other show/role like that.

#31

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 7/1/13 at 10:29am

"But I'm a little baffled by the argument that the creator of an "original" work automatically does more than the star of a revival"

The role in a revival has already been tested and they know enough that the character and the songs are going to work. Patti already had a template. They knew the jokes worked, they knew that "Blow Gabriel Blow" and "Anything Goes" were audience pleasers. They knew that "Friendship" worked. The revival of Anything Goes was what was expected. It wasn't testing any new ground in tone or style like the revival of Cabaret did.

When you have a song like "Moments in the Woods" you don't know if that song is going to work or not until it gets up several times in front of audiences. Think how much material is cut or changed from any given show in out of town tryouts because audiences weren't engaged.

Joanna was creating a new character and decisions had to be made. Is she too mousy, should she be more bossy? Who is the person? Will the audience be engaged with the character? She didn't have a template to work from.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#32

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 7/1/13 at 10:58am

On the other hand, taking on an iconic tried-and-true role with a beloved pedigree has its own challenges, sometimes treacherous ones. One is subject to all sorts of comparisons, both of the reasonable and unreasonable varieties.

Updated On: 7/1/13 at 10:58 AM

#33

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 7/1/13 at 12:15pm

Joanna Gleason deserved it! She was incredible in the role!

#34

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 11/30/13 at 2:23am

Have to say that even after all the arguments on this forum ONE thing has always stayed true.....And that thing is the brilliant performance Joanna Gleason gave in ITW. It was a true masterclass is comedy and tragedy!!

#35

Into the Woods Best Actress 1988 Tony Awards

Posted: 11/30/13 at 10:38am

Every tine I see another actress play the role, I am reminded of how brilliant Gleason was (thank god for the PBS broadcast!!). No one I've ever seen has gotten the laughs that Gleason did. It's definitely one of those cases of the perfect match of actress and role.

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