It would have been absurd for any performer in the SWEENEY TODD revival to win a Tony Award for a performance in which they were standing still the whole time.
OK, maybe walking a few steps here and there.
Patti's "reinvention" was "Patti LuPone as Patti LuPone as Mrs. Lovett." Nothing new or complex there.
I saw SWEENEY six times, and while the production as a whole was GLORIOUS, Patti's performance was the least revelatory thing happening on that stage.
LaChanze ACTED, SANG, and DANCED the role of a completely defined human being from age 14 to 60 in what in my opinion was a gorgeous, heartbreaking new musical that deserved much praise.
Patti's performance in GYPSY this past summer was the same game as when she did SWEENEY. Patti as Patti as Rose.
Luckily, Laurents worked hard with her between then and now, and here we are on Broadway and she is delivering a fully developed human portrayal that has the audience feeling for the character as opposed to the actress.
Patti deserves this Tony for GYPSY. She did not deserve it for SWEENEY TODD.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)