LADY DAY Reviews- Page 2

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 12:00am

Updated On: 4/14/14 at 12:00 AM

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 12:39am

Tony #6 perhaps?

I think the Best Actress in a Play contest is definitely between her and Cherry Jones.

Updated On: 4/14/14 at 12:39 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 2:20am

I was there tonight. Audra was simply mesmerizing. I couldn't believe she disappeared into the role the way she did, it'll go down as one of her most, if not her most, fully realized performance. It's crazy to see her completely change everything about her voice and everything that you expect from Audra to turn into the character. And to do that for a full 90 minutes 8 times a week is insane.
It's hard to tell how it'll go down at the Tonys, both Cherry and Audra are doing top notch work. It's a shame only one of them can win.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 6:23am

It's hard to tell how it'll go down at the Tonys, both Cherry and Audra are doing top notch work. It's a shame only one of them can win.

Or they could tie.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 6:25am

It sounds like most of these reviews praise Audra's work but many of them also criticize the play for a number of reasons.

With Cherry Jones in a much better play overall, it might give her the edge for a Tony win over Audra, who shines with lesser material. Who knows?

It's great to have a season where two modern stage legends are giving performances like this.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 8:10am

'With Cherry Jones in a much better play overall, it might give her the edge for a Tony win over Audra, who shines with lesser material"

I thought the same thing, reading the reviews. The praise for Audra's performance is so uniform and unstinting, yet the final scores are 3 out of 4 stars or A- rather than A or A+, with any negative words reserved for the play.

Now I realize one reason why--having so thoroughly enjoyed Jones' understudy--I should have gone back to see Jones herself. I'm unable to have a confident opinion on this likely horse race.

ETA: Yes--I know the world will muddle through without my having an opinion. I think this will be a topic of some interesting discussions, however, and it would be interesting to have a fully-informed opinion.

Updated On: 4/14/14 at 08:10 AM

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 11:55am

Just got my ticket to see this after these reviews and the good reports on here. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm glad I snagged a ticket (with a discount code, no less!)--it looks like they're going fast.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 12:05pm

Did Jesse Green in New York magazine just call Audra's performance "one of the greatest performances I ever hope to see"?

Wow.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 1:19pm

This all of course assumes that Lady Day is considered a play (a likely assumption).

If either didn't already have a tony (Jones has two, McDonald 5) I would expect that the one without a tony would have the advantage. For the same reasons, if Velocity of Autumn were a better liked play, the award might be the 4 times previously nominated Parsons's to lose.

I expect some people might favor McDonald because a win would make major tony history. No one has ever won in all four (gender-eligible) acting categories. And it's hard to imagine any one more deserving of that distinction. On the other hand, McDonald is almost certain to have many more chances to win best lead actress in a play.

McDonald might also have a slight edge because her show is still running; though I'm not convinced that Lady Day's future depends all that much on whether or not McDonald wins a tony for it.

Bottom line: I expect people will just vote for the performance that impressed them the most.



Updated On: 4/14/14 at 01:19 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 1:28pm

Throw in Tyne Daly, who I thought was egregiously overlooked for Master Class, and it really is an outstanding year for lead actresses.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 3:11pm

While Tyne was egregiously overlooked for MASTER CLASS, in this competitive year, a nomination may be certain but has a near-zero chance of winning unless Tony voters split themselves between Cherry and Audra.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 4:09pm

My moneys on McDonald

[east side story]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 4:15pm

Jones' win was a done deal up until a few weeks ago. I think the tides have turned in favor of McDonald.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 6:52pm

Wow, I just checked for the Circle Club tickets for the entire run and there aren't any left! (If I'm mistaken puhhlease let me know.) Amazing reviews work quickly. I cannot wait to see her. I bet there are no rush tickets soon - isn't it if the show is sold out they won't do rush?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 7:00pm

Going again next week...I can't wait!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 8:47pm

How the hell am I going to wait 4 weeks to see this?

Updated On: 4/15/14 at 08:47 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 11:30pm

NY Post is mostly positive, with three out of four stars: http://nypost.com/2014/04/14/lady-day-sings-the-blues-away/

NJ Newsroom is positive: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/lady-day-at-emersons-bar-a-grill-broadway-review-another-triumph-for-audra-mcdonald

The Record is mixed to positive: http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater/the-same-sad-story-but-oh-what-singing-1.961589

NY Magazine is positive, calling Audra's performance "one of the greatest performances I ever hope to see": http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/theater-review-audra-mcdonald-as-lady-day.html Updated On: 4/14/14 at 11:30 PM

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:58am

I watched the highlight reel this morning and immediately snatched up a ticket through Audience Rewards-wow! does that program pay off, great seat too! Anyway, I am really looking forward to this performance, I do have a question regarding all the buzz (which looks to be beyond deserving). How does this show differ from "End of the Rainbow" in the sense it follows both legends in their final performances? In regards to Tony time, there is no doubt Audra is a Tony fave (so is Cherry, who's performance in "The Glass Menagerie" was really compelling), but I still believe that the Tony that year should've gone to Tracy over Nina. We'll see either way I am really excited to see Audra's range as Billie!

[bdboston]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:05pm

Can anyone recommend where/where not to sit for this show? Does Audra stay at the lip of the stage (thus making only her back visible to folks sitting at the far end of the side rows)? Thanks!

[chanel]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:37pm

Out.com says Audra is extraordinary and could win a sixth Tony, but wonders why she doesn't sing "Good Morning Heartache".

http://www.out.com/entertainment/michael-musto/2014/04/14/10-gayest-movies-ever-made?page=0,1

[emo_geek]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:53pm

I would like to echo bdboston's question, as I am curious myself:

"Can anyone recommend where/where not to sit for this show? Does Audra stay at the lip of the stage (thus making only her back visible to folks sitting at the far end of the side rows)? Thanks! "

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:35pm

I was all the way to the side (third row, left side, aisle) and was able to see Audra's profile often as well as her face when she was facing that side of the audience, and definitely all of her when she was by the tables (which happens a few times throughout the performance). She also moves around the stage. Honestly, I don't feel like I missed a thing, mainly because the performance was so spectacular, there was no point I felt I should be seating somewhere else. If you do care that much about it, I'd recommend sitting to the sides but maybe not all the way to the side. She also interacts with her accompanist throughout, so the people sitting to the right of the stage got to see that more. Really, the space is so small, and the performance is so astonishing, that at no point you will feel like you're "missing out" for not seeing her face all the time.

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 5:33pm

I splurged and managed to get a Circle Club ticket for this Thursday, row T4. Anyone else sit here?

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:57am

Curious, as my lat time at Circle in the Square was Godspell... if I get a front row seat around the sides, is that a few feet lower than the stage where the tables would be? Or is the front row at the same level as the tables? Don't want to get "front row" and then be below a Gold Circler who's above and blocking my view, heh.

[east side story]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 4:24pm

I braved the blue hairs and attended the 2pm show today. Ordinarily, I avoid a Wednesday matinee like it's cancer. The last time I went to a weekday afternoon show was Anything Goes in 2011. An elderly, female patron took it upon herself to sit in my pristine aisle seat. She claimed she had to leave early, and figured it was okay. Wrong. She ended up enjoying the show from the seat she paid for, and not the one I did.

The same thing happened at Lady Day! Just as before, she sat in her seat. I sat in mine.

Anyway -- Audra will break a certain Tony record in a few months.