KINKY BOOTS to win the Tony over MATILDA?- Page 2

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:21am

LOL i literally did a thread about this 2 weeks ago ago and everyone disagreed with me..Looks like i may know a thing or two about how TONYS work lol...good to know im not crazy

"Even though it is based on a British film, KINKY BOOTS is an American musical versus a British import."

HAAHAHA i have been saying for months how this could end up like WILL ROGER FOLLIES and MiSS SAIGON. WRF won cause it was an american musical and MS was a british import and by that time The TONYS wanted a good old fashion american Musical to win. Lea Salonga says it herself HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA hysterical...You people crack me up!


Updated On: 5/7/13 at 08:21 AM

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:22am

As you can tell from my avatar, I'm definitely a Kinky fan! I have yet to see, Matilda, but I have tickets in July. Kinky was the show I was most interested to see this season, and it lived up to all of my expectations. It's exactly what the world needs, the message of acceptance is beautifully done! I loved the score as well and I think there are many hit songs in it by Broadway's standards. IMO, I think Kinky is a superior show to Hairspray, and that won best musical. I'm rooting for Kinky, I just don't think, as others have stated Matilda will live up to it's hype, it's going to be it's own worst enemy. Tight race to say the least, which will be very exciting come Tony night!

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:29am

I vote KINKY BOOTS!

Matilda was pretty good, but... eh... i don't remember any of the songs... and the deus ex machina ending... i hate those...

But THE SEX IS IN THE HEEL is still stuck in my head!

[Patash]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:37am

I'm really thrown by all this "love" for Kinky Boots. Before it opened and during previews, all the talk here made me not even want to see this "dull, uninspired" show. So I didn't get tickets when I had the chance. Now suddenly the crowd here makes it sound like the best thing since sliced bread!

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:41am

Same here, Patash. I don't remember this lovefest on the boards. Or the all-of-a-sudden dislike for Matilda.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 9:19am

I don't even think Kinky Boots is the second or third best new musicals of the season (those honors go to A Christmas Story and Chaplin for me). Heck, I even liked Bring It On more. At least the book there captured the humor. Harvey's book for Kinky Boots is legitimately one of the worst I have experienced in years. I expect Matilda to win and deservedly so.

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 9:56am

Here's how I see it going down, Kinky Boots will take Score, Book, Sound, Actor and musical with a shot at costumes. Matilda will take Sets, lighting, orchestrations and choreography. Pippin will take supporting actress and Director (although I think Matilda deserves that one but that award going to Pippin will set up Kinky for the win.) Actress will go to Cinderella and supporting actor? Insert your choice here.

I thought Matilda was the most brilliantly staged show of the season but the material did nothing for me, did nothing to me. I felt like I was at a very good action movie with my nephew. Fun, needlessly dark, lots of movement but completely forgettable. Kinky Boots had me smiling, dancing in my seat and at times crying. Cyndi Lauper's score shocked me, I was expecting an Elton John Broadway exercise and instead I got a Broadway debut I will forever remember. If Matilda was about something, if it gave me that goose bump experience I would have a different opinion of it. Kinky Boots gave me joy. This reminds me of the Lion King win against Ragtime. Joy vs well crafted. I have come to appreciate Ragtime but the emotions and joy Lion King stirred back then with its pageantry was palatable. I feel the same way about Kinky Boots and Matilda this year.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:03am

You think Matilda will choreography over Pippin? Just curious...I have not seen Pippin yet but I hear amazing things there...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:13am

- Even though it is based on a British film, KINKY BOOTS is an American musical versus a British import.

If any voters are letting this influence their decision, they shouldn't be allowed to vote.

I saw Kinky Boots in Chicago and it was okay. It was pleasant enough that I enjoyed myself, but nothing special. Didn't care for Billy Porter's performance and the book had MAJOR problems in the second act, especially the ending. Now, perhaps a few things were fixed, but it never would have occurred to me the show would be a front-runner for Best Musical or Best Score (unless perhaps it was up against Big Fish).

I believe Matilda's family's obsession with television and Miss Trunchbull's with athletic achievement over Matida's literary taste is intended as a parody of a stereotyped British view of the domination of global popular culture by vulgar, illiterate American exports.

I think that is something you wanted to see, not anything that was expressed by either the creative team or Roald Dahl.

Heck, I even liked Bring It On more.

Me too.

WRF won cause it was an american musical and MS was a british import and by that time The TONYS wanted a good old fashion american Musical to win.

I saw both shows and Broadway and Will Rogers Follies won for being the stronger of the two shows, and better reviewed. Miss Saigon did not receive raves for its book or score, there was backlash over the casting of Pryce, and many felt the staging attempted to cover the show's flaws.

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:16am

I really think Kinky Boots will take best score. I also think Pippin is going to get the most awards (this might be an unpopular opinion, but I think Pippin has a lot going for it). Pippin will land Diane Paulus her long-awaited Tony, as well as Chet Walker for choreography (I still don't know why Gypsy Snider isn't recognized somewhere), best revival, featured actress and leading actress, with a chance for Terrence Mann to win his Tony at long last for featured actor.

In a perfect world, Bertie would have been placed in featured actor so Billy could win. But it's not a perfect world, and I think Stark Sands and Billy Porter may cancel each other out. I also think Bertie Carvel represents Matilda's acting award. (I personally adored his performance, but now understand why people want Billy to win. He's really quite amazing in the role.) I'm happy with either outcome, but I do think Bertie Carvel will take it.

Best Book-I think Matilda will take it, but Harvey Fierstein is a beloved theater veteran and his book is actually much better than I'd been led to believe. (I find Matilda's book a little sloppy at times but it's sure stronger than its score.)

Best Sets-Pippin

Best Lighting-Pippin with either Kinky or Matilda as spoiler-watch this and the tech categories as they will give an idea of where the evening could be headed.

Best Costumes-Cinderella with Pippin or Kinky as a possible spoiler

Best Musical-The road voters worry me for Kinky Boots because I'm not sure the more conservative areas of the country will be willing to give Kinky a shot. It's not nearly as much of a family friendly show as Matilda. This could be similar to the Billy Elliot v. next to normal scenario. My head says Matilda but my heart says Kinky Boots.




Updated On: 5/7/13 at 10:16 AM

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:16am

^I agree with your thoughts on Kinky Boots, it really could've been a disaster, but it's moving, joyous, and toe-tapping, lol! I had the same viewing experience, i was shocked how moving I found it to be, I cried 3 times, happy tears even! I just think it's more Tony friendly. I agree with all your Tony prediction as well, however, take Bring it On for what it was, that choreography was a totally new experience for Broadway audiences, I could see an upset in that category, maybe. My supporting actor insert would be Chase for Drood, honestly, this is the category I care the least about. I agree also with your craft vs. quality argument as well, I mean I enjoyed Bring it On, but I think Hands on a Hardbody was crafted better and should probably have had that slot, but happy yo see Bring it On recognized. I don't think the dislike for Matilda is sudden, I think it's timely on here. Most had only heard reviews or viewed clips from the show online before it opened over here, it was over hyped, I've said from the beginning, it couldn't possibly have lived up to the very high expectations people placed on it. I think the Kinky love comes from going into the show with no-low expectations and having a moving experience, the show really wins you over. I think the Tony race between the two shows is really exciting, and with so many closings lately, it gives me hope to see such strong thoughts on both pieces of art!

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:25am

Obviously, Kinky Boots used its out-of-town run and early Broadway previews to fix whatever flaws there were quite well and made the show better.

That is exactly what out of town tryouts and previews are for!

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:38am

Kinky Boots has a song where the entire chorus is "everybody say yeah" over and over and over and over again. Listen to "Naughty" from Matilda. The lyrical play in that song alone is far superior than anything in Kinky Boots.

I completely agree. I am just flabbergasted at all of this praise for the “Kinky” score. I saw the show in Chicago and, from everything I have heard, very little has been changed. The score, although fun, sounded like variations on the same song over and over. And, truly, it almost felt like a jukebox musical in terms of the lyrics; they kinda work for the show, but are just so general and vague we don’t get much insight into the characters.

I have yet to see “Matilda” but know the score very well and find it inventive, clever, touching, and exciting.

Add me to those who are wondering where this “Kinky” love came from – don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the show. (And, yes, I am going off of the Chicago run, but, as I said earlier, I have heard there were very few changes.) But, never would I think it is worthy of the Tony. Personally, other than the score and how clunky it felt, the thing that really turned me off of “Kinky” was that I felt like it SO badly wanted to be poignant and WANTED you to cry, but I don’t feel like it ever earned either. I feel like it would have succeeded more if they had not tried to make things too important and stuck with focusing on the fun (or, been less preachy and let the audience come to the message of the show on our own).

I haven’t seen “A Christmas Story” or “Matilda” yet, but, I agree with bjh, even “Bring it On” was better than “Kinky” (yes, I have a soft spot for “Bring it On,” but I honestly feel like the music, book, flow, and heart of BIO soars above “Kinky”).

People keep saying they left “Kinky” happy and left “Matilda” depressed…but, is this truly the way to judge artistic merit? Believe me, I definitely think that there is an important place for “feel good” shows and it can absolutely play a part in one’s overall perception of a show, but when talking about what shows are Tony worthy, it seems silly to me to base that upon whether you were happy or depressed at the end of the show.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:38am

" 'I believe Matilda's family's obsession with television and Miss Trunchbull's with athletic achievement over Matida's literary taste is intended as a parody of a stereotyped British view of the domination of global popular culture by vulgar, illiterate American exports.'

I think that is something you wanted to see..."

It was not something I wanted to see. I went in wanting and expecting to Love Matilda. But this was the message I did see (I, like many others, recognized the genre as British Panto -- an exaggerated parody based on stock characters from pantomime with a double message, one for adults, one for children.) For a British audience, this has a charming, Christmastime association. In an American context, I found it boring and slightly obnoxious.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:40am

It's quite different than when it was in Chicago - much shorter, a number of songs were cut, yes tryouts are essential.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:44am

"I am just flabbergasted at all of this praise for the “Kinky” score. I saw the show in Chicago and, from everything I have heard, very little has been changed... (And, yes, I am going off of the Chicago run, but, as I said earlier, I have heard there were very few changes."

You apparently heard wrong. Just ask the Tony nominators and the folks snapping up $1million plus worth of tickets every week.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:52am

I don't think the "tour votes" are gonna play a large role this season. Neither KINKY nor MATILDA scream Middle America.
It's gonna be a tight race, no super-sweep, which is great.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:54am

Pippin will probably snatch up the bulk of the awards, leaving Kinky Boots and Matilda to fight over the remains. I do think Matilda has the edge here.

I wouldn't put too much stock into how many nominations either of them has. Why would you? They're just nominations- many of which earned by default in a weak year.

[jetts7]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:58am

What is up with all of this Matilda hate? It's an amazing show! I have not seen Kinky Boots yet but I predict Matilda will win Best Musical. I could see the Kinky Boots upset happening though!

[corkystclair2]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:05am

I recently walked along 44th after MATILDA let out and walked through the crowds. I continued past 45th Street and walked through the crowds past the KINKY BOOTS crowd. What a difference!! The crowd from the Shubert was so much less "excited". The KB audience was over the top happy.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:12am

I was much giddier after I left JEKYLL & HYDE than when I left GOLDEN BOY, but that alone does not determine which show deserves a Tony vote...

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:24am

"- 'Even though it is based on a British film, KINKY BOOTS is an American musical versus a British import.' If any voters are letting this influence their decision, they shouldn't be allowed to vote. "

Actually, if anyone was doing that, I believe it was those critics who gave over-the-top reviews for Matilda. They were out of sync with the sentiments in this thread. Some Americans seem to feel anything Briish is automatically superior, but those reviews made the critics in the colonies seem to me a bit sycophantic towards the Empire.

Patrick Healy's statement in the New York Times that "The answer [to whether Matilda becomes a blockbuster internationally] hinges on whether the sensibility and sophistication of Matilda will translate to American audiences…" (3/24/13) struck me as preemptive damage control for his paper's review, which had already been extremely positive in London. It basically said "we are telling you Matilda is the best thing ever; if you don't agree, it's because you're a tasteless, unintelligent American." I think theatre coverage like that is why social media boards like this one are flourishing.

[BrerBear]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:25am

I don't get the excitement for Kinky Boots. I thought it was predictable, preachy, and had me rolling my eyes through most of it. As a gay guy, I'm also tired of drag queens as some sort of epitomization of gay culture. Do not want.

Matilda moved me more, and the songs have really stuck with me. If Tony voters reject it due to some sort of nationalistic feelings, I think that's a sad reflection on them.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:27am

"I was much giddier after I left JEKYLL & HYDE than when I left GOLDEN BOY, but that alone does not determine which show deserves a Tony vote..."

Quite true. But Golden Boy is a tragedy. Matilda is a children's musical.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 11:27am

Having seen both, the biggest difference between the two shows (to me) is that Kinky Boots is an easy show to watch passively; it does what you expect it to, you can stay five steps ahead of the story, and you don't really have to listen to the words (because they're repetitive and simple). The drag queens are sexless, funny, and non-threatening, and there's a nice ultimate message about loving everyone and being empowered.

Matilda is quirky, surprising, a bit weird, and darker than most people expect from a show with kids in it (we do love our kids to be bright and shiny and simple - like in Annie or Newsies). I think it asks more attention from its audience that Kinky's does.

And real attention is something we're less and less able to give, it seems. We're trained by television to watch passively, and to resent anything that asks otherwise. Accents? Who has time to decipher those? Unexpected actions? Well, that just makes no immediate sense! Too many words? I don't have time to listen to all that!