KINKY BOOTS to win the Tony over MATILDA? — Page 9

This year the Tony race for Best Musical has become very competitive, brings us back to 2004 when Avenue Q won over Wicked.

Now let's get the facts.

KINKY BOOTS
-Feel good musical
-Audiences love it
-Catchy tunes
-Positive message
-Bright
-Colorful

MATILDA
-Smart
-Inventive
-Dark
-Intimidating
-Technically great score

Now the next becomes my opinion. Kinky Boots however feel good it is has become a generally safe musical. Appeals to most audiences. Problems with Kinky Boots are that it is too preachy, stereotypical, and not edgy enough given the pedigree it has. Harvey Fierstein whose experience with the subject of not belonging apparent enough in Torch Song Trilogy doesn't really push the edge with his book. I expected a lot more from the book. Cyndi Lauper could have written sexier songs and edgier given the fact she wrote "She Bop" I am not saying I didn't like Kinky Boots, I loved it. But it didn't meet expectations. It is too preachy again.

Matilda is a smart musical with very witty songs, inventive sets, and what has to be one of the most awesome uses of the alphabet with "School Song." It hasn't been dumb down and follows the tone one would expect from a Roald Dahl story. I loved Matilda a lot. It has some funny characters. It's not a safe musical because its very dark. I claimed it intimidating because it isn't a feel good musical, it's very pessimistic.

Which musical would win the Tony?

For this we go back to the 2004 Tony's, the envelope is opened and Avenue Q is announced the victor. What a shock! The edgy, pessimistic, smart musical won over the feel good musical that's selling out tickets to this day.

I'd venture a guess and announce the winner to be MATILDA.

I would say this, though. Kinky Boots or Matilda winning the Tony would be perfectly fine with everyone. Both shows are good, well reviewed, and popular.

We will find out on June 9th, see you guys there.

^but then you have the Next to normal/Billy Elliot year which is the opposite of that.

There isn't a formula for this. I feel like the talk is centered around the "london transfer" winning and kinky boots stands more as a feel good musical.

To me, kinky boots was hairspray for drag queens. but unlike hairspray, it didn't really brooch a subject that hasn't been develed into before (a la La Cage). Kinky boots was good fun but i don't think it deserves to win "best musical."

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So, I just saw Matilda yesterday and I LOVED it! A review of it will come out tomorrow under "Matilda Previews"

It was fantastic! I REALLY REALLY think that Matilda will get BEST MUSICAL. It was very unique with the story and the choices that it made with the set, direction, acting etc. It was really moving, esepecially at the end. I'm sure that KB is great, but this is REALLY a big standout!

Sorry if it isn't a good description. I didn't know what to say :P

No matter what happens, I agree, I hope Cyndi Lauper continues to write for theatre. I was hoping Dolly would as well. They have great points of view as songwriters.

Which musical would win the Tony?

For this we go back to the 2004 Tony's, the envelope is opened and Avenue Q is announced the victor. What a shock! The edgy, pessimistic, smart musical won over the feel good musical that's selling out tickets to this day.

I'd venture a guess and announce the winner to be MATILDA.

Never base an outcome on another year. Just a couple of years before that, Millie won over Urinetown. Trends change, voters change, times change, and the shows and seasons change.

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Well, clearly if a group of people who might be Tony voters didn't like it...

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I was merely sharing an experience I had. Personally I think Christmas Story was the best show of the year. It had everything. Heart, charm, made you laugh, cry, remember the warm feelings of family. The over the top dance number with the cute little kid. I think it could have been extended and still done well. But since it is not going to win. I am behind Kinky.

I think what some people are saying about Matilda not living up to the hype it got is exactly what is going on. While Matilda in my opinion was still very charming and well performed I still found my self expecting more, to be blown away. However on the other side of it, Kinky Boots. I had no idea how Kinky Boots would do. I came in with no expectations, just thinking, if anything else it would give me something to do and I would have another show under my belt. When one goes in not expecting anything and it ends up being amazing, you tend to remember those ones a lot more. Fantastic show. Kinky Boots wins but both are worth seeing.

Saw Matilda (twice, once in London and once here) and Kinky Boots. Put me in team Kinky. Matilda just didn't do it for me. The score was mediocre at best, the performances didn't wow me, save for Lesli and Bertie, and I thought the scurrying off into the sunset for Trunchbull's character (ostensibly the monstrous villain of the piece) completely took any bite out of the ending. What a middling denouement for the character set up as the bad gal.

Kinky Boots, on the other hand, I went in expecting to find complete crap and be another piece of Jerry Mitchell's usual fluff, but I was definitely wowed. Kinky Boots is one fierce, tight ship. The music was charming, both exactly what you'd expect from Lauper and completely surprising all at once, the performances were larger than life, bombastic in the best ways, and Billy Porter had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised in any way if Matilda took it, but it's a closer race than many "Matilda" fans are giving credit for. Team Kinky.

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Updated On: 5/20/13 at 01:58 PM

Unless they're cold.

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Kelly2: I can't speak for the novel, but in the film adaption of Matilda, the events of Ms. Trunchbull fleeing happened exactly as the musical laid them out to be.

I can't honestly choose who I would like to see win - I enjoyed all four nominated shows, and find each to be charming and wonderful in their way. I adored Kinky Boots and was completely taken with Matilda, so either way, I'd be happy with the results of Best Musical. I would, however, like to see Kinky take score over Matilda, because despite having some wonderful numbers, some of the songs in Matilda didn't connect as well, while Kinky flowed very nicely.

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Updated On: 5/20/13 at 06:08 PM

"I can't speak for the novel, but in the film adaption of Matilda, the events of Ms. Trunchbull fleeing happened exactly as the musical laid them out to be."

I'm aware, but I'm of the belief that adaptation can fix the dramatic flaws of the source material. What works onscreen or in writing does not necessarily work onstage, and IMO, with the heightened expectations of a musical, Trunchbull needed a more satisfying demise.

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