Linney or Metcalf for the Tony

[BeingAlive 2]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:34pm

Really fascinating race and two incredible performers. The general impression from this board and most critics seemed to be that Metcalf had this locked, making Linney's Drama Desk and Outer Critics wins are both  surprising. Also interesting as both are on their 4th nominations. Thoughts on who will win? Also sorry if this feels like yet another tony thread-this seemed like such a specific thing to discuss, that I thought it might warrant its own thread. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:39pm

I would vote in favor of Metcalf, but I would not be surprised to see the award go to Linney.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:42pm

It's a tough call. I thought both gave excellent performances, and both are overdue for a Tony. If I had to pick though, I think I'd pick Linney, mainly because I think she has better material to work with. I think Regina is far more interesting and 3-dimensional than Hnath's version of Nora, and Little Foxes is significantly more well-written. For me, Metcalf elevated the material and demonstrated her excellent acting chops, while Linney disappeared more fully into the role. I personally prefer the latter. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:45pm

Either could win, but in my head I can't justify anyone but Metcalf winning. I've seen everyone in that category except Blanchett, and her work has stuck with me the most. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 12:37am

I just saw both on Friday (Linney) and Saturday (Metcalf).  I have to admit that I don't get all the raves for Metcalf, a performer who I like.  I thought she was excellent, but i didn't feel she was playing a full-blooded character.  I know a lot of people on this board loved ADH2; to me, it was entertaining, but it seemed more like an outline for a play rather than a full play.  The points raised were very interesting and thoughtful, but that didn't make it a play...at least for me.  And that impacted my view of Metcalfe's performance.

On the other hand, I thought Linney gave a remarkable performance as Regina (and Birdie, for that matter).  She played a full-blooded character and, for me at least, made Bette Davis's performance seem almost one-dimensional. 

I will really be disappointed if Linney does not win, as I think it may be the best performance I have seen her give to date in any medium.

 

[@z5]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 1:41am

Having seen all the nominees (except Linney, which I'll see this coming Thursday) I'm really still pulling for Cate Blanchett. 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 6:18am

Both are doing excellent and exciting work, such different plays and performances though. Metcalf gets my vote, what a tour de force! But Linney is a commendable choice. I still expect the Tony to go to Metcalf.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 8:29am

I'm still predicting Metcalf, but in my ideal world, they would tie.  These are two of my favorite actresses, and neither has ever won a Tony (which is criminal).

[10086sunset]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 9:52am

Still believe Blanchett gave the best performance of the season. 

That said, I would vote Linney over Metcalf. Regina is a far more interesting and complex character. She's also giving this performance while alternating roles, which is insane.

Updated On: 6/5/17 at 09:52 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 10:28am

10086sunset said: "Still believe Blanchett gave the best performance of the season. 

That said, I would vote Linney over Metcalf. Regina is a far more interesting and complex character. She's also giving this performance while alternating roles, which is insane."

 

The alternating roles aspect is important to remember. Even though the voters are supposed to be basing their vote on her work as Regina, there will definitely be some who have this in the back of their mind and it could easily influence their choice, whether consciously or not. Let's face it, even here on this board we have many people who speak about the awards not in terms of the quality of the performance but in how hard an actor is working. "Such and Such an actor never leaves the stage and thus deserves the award for working so hard" or "So and so only has two big solos, while Such and Such has four and is the center-point of several big ensemble pieces, so Such and Such should get the award" are not unheard of sentiments around here.

[Another Winter]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 10:43am

Does anyone think Metcalf being in Three Tall Women next year gives Linney an advantage? Would voters maybe hold off so they can reward Metcalf next year and give Linney the win this year?

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 10:46am

I would wager that very few Tony voters make their decisions in such a way.

[ren598]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 11:02am

The more likely scenario is Tony voters will want to reward both Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon.  So if we're to assume Nixon is a lock for featured actress, then I think Linney would have the edge over Metcalf.  

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 12:53pm

Saw 'em both, loved 'em both, I'd vote for Metcalf (even though I'm a bigger fan of Linney, whose double-role, I agree, could favor into the voting of some). To me, Linney's is an excellent interpretation, whereas Metcalf's is one of those take-no-prisoners performances that becomes legendary.

[The Josh]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 12:57pm

My money's on Metcalf!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 4:43pm

If there was ever a category worthy of a tie this year, this would be the one. They are both giving extraordinary performances this season in their own rights. I might personally give Linney the edge by 0.00001%, but I wish they could both be equally recognized for their incredible work on Sunday night.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 4:52pm

I loved both performances and would be so happy if either of them one, but I think I'm pulling a little more for Linney. What has stuck with me since seeing The Little Foxes a few weeks ago was the subtle movement she made to sit back in her chair when Horace was dying. That one small movement made such a HUGE impact on me.

[IHeartNY2]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 4:55pm

Metcalf all the way!

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 5:38pm

I just don't think Metcalf's role was nearly as complex as Linney's.  I felt occasionally that she was not playing a real character (think A Doll's House by Ibsen), just a lot of ideas, whereas Regina was a real character and Linney brought so much to the role.  I expect Metcalfe to win (surprise hit, midnight performance), but really don't think it will be deserved.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 5:44pm

givesmevoice said: "I loved both performances and would be so happy if either of them one, but I think I'm pulling a little more for Linney. What has stuck with me since seeing The Little Foxes a few weeks ago was the subtle movement she made to sit back in her chair when Horace was dying. That one small movement made such a HUGE impact on me."

See, this is what I was missing from Linney's performance. Maybe I was just too far back, but it felt like a mostly surface portrayal of the character. It's a good performance, but it didn't really strike me as...surprising, if that makes sense? It was all the technical elements of Regina, but something was just lacking for me. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 7:42pm

wonderfulwizard11 said: "givesmevoice said: "I loved both performances and would be so happy if either of them one, but I think I'm pulling a little more for Linney. What has stuck with me since seeing The Little Foxes a few weeks ago was the subtle movement she made to sit back in her chair when Horace was dying. That one small movement made such a HUGE impact on me."

See, this is what I was missing from Linney's performance. Maybe I was just too far back, but it felt like a mostly surface portrayal of the character. It's a good performance, but it didn't really strike me as...surprising, if that makes sense? It was all the technical elements of Regina, but something was just lacking for me."

 

For what it's worth, I was sitting in the last row of the mezzanine, and I agree with givesmevoice. I found her Regina to be fascinating and fully fleshed out. Maybe you saw her on an off day? Or maybe her take on the role was just not to your liking, which is fine too. To each their own! 

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 8:35pm

I think both are exceptional performances. However, I feel Metcalf deserves it more. Nora is a tour de force character with ups and downs.Its physical, its sad, its hysterical and vulnerable and its a showcase for Metcalf. It's a very modern play with modern sensibilities so you can't compare it to Foxes. Apples and oranges.

Linney is marvelous but after her failure in Liaisons, this is a nice redemption but she has plenty more time to win a Tony. We all know politics are involved and Metcalf was woefully overlooked for The Other Place as well as many other performances. Its her time. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 11:49pm

Metcalf will WIN the TONY

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/9/17 at 12:26am

I think Laurie Metcalf was far more natural as Nora than Laura Linney as Regina, and, for this reason, she would get my vote. The modern vernacular in A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 certainly played a part in the ease of Ms. Metcalf's delivery, but of the three nominated performances from THE LITTLE FOXES, Ms. Linney's was the weakest, in my opinion. Granted, Cynthia Nixon and Richard Thomas had featured roles, as opposed to Ms. Linney's lead, but I felt they inhabited their characters more seamlessly, as did Ms. Metcalf. For me, Ms. Linney never quite disappeared into Regina, and her dialogue felt somewhat forced. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the performance, but I don't believe it deserves a Tony.

Updated On: 6/9/17 at 12:26 AM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/9/17 at 1:44am

I hope Linney, just because ADH2 was so disapponting for me. My full review is here:

http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2017/06/spring-diaries-dolls-house-part-2-sab.html