* New Poll Topic Up! * - TONY THOUGHTS- Page 2

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:37pm

Glad Idina Menzel won best actress & Hugh Jackman for best actor. Idina definetly deserved it. I don't think it's fair that Avenue Q won over Wicked for Best Musical & Book.

"OK NOW YOU GUYS ARE BUGGIN ME!!!
Avenue Q deserved not one of the awards it got! The Music was the same as Seasame Street!!! It wasn't that funny of a book either!! And the fact it won best musical drove me crazy! Wicked is a masterpiece! It is one of the Best Broadway shows i've seen in a long long time! and IDINA DESERVED HER TONY!!! Donna Murphy and Tonya Pinkins were horrible last night! I have no interest in seeing either show now!! Stephen Scwartz should have won just because of his body of work that has NEVER been honored!! Avenue Q was cute but WICKED is a work of art!! "
Totally agree with everything you said!!!!!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:53pm

wow. What planet could any human being be on and not acknowledge that, in spite of whatever you think of the performances going on in the respective theatres, Donna Murphy gave the best performance on that stage last night. Tonya was sick (and I'll still wish, while being glad that Idina won, that last night had been Tonya's night), Idina was clearly pitchy, and, well, I'd prefer listening to Donna over Hugh.

Also, I think it's a flame-war in the making to start criticizing the book and score to Avenue Q...god knows Wicked has provided enough fuel for that fire.

[Shawk]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 5:01pm

It seems to me that Boy from Oz and Wicked both depend so much on their leads, that it would be unfair for either to be musical of the year, but that's just me. I was a bit scared by Idina Menzel's faces during "Defying Gravity." She didn't look like that from the mezzanine when I saw her, thankfully. Eek.

The complete lack of context for the Caroline or Change number didn't help promote that show, I didn't think.

Carol Channing rapping... ow.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 7:32pm

It was great. I could have done without all the Hollywood personalities and the horrid pop remake of ACL, but Idina, the most deserving, won so that made up for any negative element.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:06pm

I think Donna Murphy was clearly the best female performance last night. She reminded me what I liked so much about her performance when I saw it live earlier this year.

Hugh Jackman did a good job again, and it was nice to see his number, showing off his high energy skills and his ability to charm and interact with an audience, which is no small talent.

I thought Tony Bennett was good, although they should have done more long shots, as part of his greatness is his ability to fill a stage and ride the backseat of an orchestra, and "the close-up" is not a friend of ANY man that age.

Mary J. Blige did what many pop stars tend to do with musical theatre songs... she took the heart out of it and added vocal riffs to compensate for not knowing what the song was about. Clearly her phone was not ringing off the hook this morning (unless they're looking for a new Mimi, Aida, Belle, Roxie, Audrey, Elphaba or Glinda) Quick! Someone cut the phones at the Weisslers!

I was happy that Avenue Q won, which was clearly the best musical of the year, for those who actually saw the shows. I thought they did a good job with their number, even if the camera people didn't know to get the puppeteers as well as the puppets.

I'm not saying Wicked didn't have it's moments, (actually, that's what my boyfriend is saying as he's reading over my shoulder.) I must admit I wasn't blown away with Wicked, but I went in with really high expectations. Since seeing it, I've grown to appreciate it for what it is. But there is more to a Broadway musical than women belting high e's, even if Ben Brantley thinks I'm nuts for saying it. Avenue Q certainly had better lyrics even if the music wasn't as grand. Eugene Lee deserved his win for set design, as it seemed apparent that he was the only member of the creative team involved to actually read the book upon which the show was based. Dense novel or not, Holzman wrote a book with a lot of holes and gimmicks (the references to the movie Wizard of Oz rather than the McGuire novel.) The costumes were appropriately over the top and totally tony voter friendly.

Starobin won because he's been doing this for years. He's great at it, and it didn't hurt that, because it was deemed a revival, it was the only award that the music was eligible to receive. Still, it was great orchestration. Mantello deserved his win also. He made a show work that, very recently, critics had dismissed. Cerveris is a great actor, and I was happy to see him win, even if I was pulling for Raul Esparza. Fisher and Eisenhauer are brilliant and I've never been dissapointed in their work.

Rashad was great. McDonald wins a fourth? Most fourth awards actors recieve are for lifetime achievement, and here she's only 33. Wow! Brava!

Now, as for best actress of a musical. I was secretly hoping that Menzel and Chenowith would split the Wicked vote and somehow D'Abruzzo would trump them all... a long shot, I know, but what do we have if we can't dream?

Poor Tonya Pinkins. I know she was sick, and I know that the song was taken out of context. Had I not seen the show, I'm not sure that her performance would have been enough to get me to the Eugene O'Neill.

A lot of the performers seemed intimidated up there. It's understandable, they were playing to a house at least three times the size they are used to. It has to be intimidating. Not to mention the "6,000" people watching at home. All joking aside, even if only 6,000 people were watching via television combined with the live audience of 6,000 that's 10 times the normal size of the audience at most broadway houses. (and 15 times the size of the Golden Theatre, where Avenue Q plays.)


Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hate me if you like.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:17pm

Christine & directorkid we gotta start our own little subcult- The Anti "Q's"! Dedicated to proving what a show that would have been incredible as college revue does not deserve accolades reserved for such REAL shows as "Guys & Dolls" or "Assassins" or yes My antidote to the hype "Urinetown!"
GET OVER THE "Q"!!!! Updated On: 6/7/04 at 08:17 PM

[Stephen2]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:24pm

The show tried but it was a disappointing evening overall. The sound techs were asleep, numbers were rushed and the "Hollywoodization" of the whole thing did little more than annoy. Wicked's loss to the bastard child of Sesame Street and Crank Yankers was tempered by Idina's well-deserved win. I saw Wicked over the Memorial Day weekend and it was amazing. I have no desire to see Q; if I want to hear songs with lyrics such as "it sucks to be you" I can always turn to Nickelodeon. If the Tony voters wanted to make a statement (whatever it was) by giving so many awards to Q then so be it. Q will enjoy a jump at the box office, but so will Wicked. Wicked will also have more staying power on Broadway and on tour. The witches and monkeys will be flying long after the eyes and noses have fallen off those little felt heads.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:24pm

surely you don't think that Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Lion King, even the Producers is in the same league as Guys and Dolls. Look at the complete failure of Millie in the West End. Many critics have cited it's lack of content for it's failure. I wouldn't even compare Rent or Hairspray to many shows from the golden era of Broadway. But to be so adamently against a show simply because it opened the same year as Wicked, which is no Guys and Dolls itself, is not really a reason to go off and join a cult, is it? (I'm not familiar with the prerequisites.)

I just cringed at a lyric from Wicked playing on Broadwayworldradio. They sure DO deserve each other.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:29pm

I really enjoyed last night, but I think Wicked got robbed of best score. No- that's not right. Wicked didn't get robbed- Stephen Scwartz got robbed. I think he should have won best score for Godspell and/or Pippin.

Avenue Q deserved best book- it was really funny! I see why Wicked won best costumes, but I think Taboo should have won something.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:33pm

my point is AGAIN, The performers are very talented but the show is so slight that i can't justify spending $90+ bucks for an orchestra ticket! One good song and a lot of f*ck jokes. Reel Mature! I was never a fan of Millie -reworked melodies. Producers needs incredible performers to keep from showing its limitations and Lion King well it had its elements but it also had it weakness(Can You Feel The Love Tonight?) "Q" is cute. Thats all. That is not enough to give it an award. Just my thoughts.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:43pm

I agree that Schwartz has an impressive body of work, I'm quite fond of Children of Eden, Pippin, Godspell, The Baker's Wife. But this was an award for music and lyrics for a show that was mounted on Broadway in the 2003-2004 season, and as far as his entry this season, it wasn't on the same level as his other scores. More on par with his work on Prince of Egypt.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:52pm

I didn't know he did Prince of Egypt! I just looked on IMDB now-- no wonder those songs were great!!

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:55pm

indeed... and Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame... although those were lyrics jobs only...

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:07pm

I was thrilled with the results last night, particularly Idina and AVENUE Q. Even though they didn't win many Tonys, WICKED is doing quite well, and I doubt they'll be going anywhere for awhile. AVENUE Q really needed these awards, and really deserved them. The only award they received which I DIDN'T think they should have was Best Score, which I thought should've gone to CAROLINE OR CHANGE, whose haunting score is just beautiful.

Some of these posts about the performances last night are getting a tad annoying...

The fact is, I don't think ANY of the performances from leading actresses last night were the greatest thing ever, and if the Tonys had been based on those performances alone then no, Idina wouldn't have gotten it. But just because she was nervous (and for good reason, IMO) for this one performance does not say anything less about her talent or deserving to win that Tony.

Idina for Best Actress and AVENUE Q for Musical just made my night...I don't think any of those happy happy winners should be brought down right after winning. But go ahead...it seems to make so many people feel better.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:26pm

Sabrelady - just out of curiosity, have you seen AVENUE Q or not? I can't tell from your posts.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/9/04 at 2:43pm

yes I did see "Q". row 3 on the aisle. & like I said the performers were great But the show ...
I think part of it may be I can't stand complaining about how bad u got it. I work with cancer patients & u think u got troubles! All these characters were young had their lives ahead of them, Mom & Dad to bail em out... Enough whining!
Also, it really was trite
one, two, three, four, five night stands.
five, four, three, two, one night stand
ONE NIGHT STAND
(geddit?! HAHAHAHA)
Cole & Noel would have been jealous!

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 6/9/04 at 3:18pm

My thoughts in one post:
For all of you that are saying Wicked was robbed--I don't think you understand what robbed means. The only reason critics thought Wicked would win Best Musical is because critics, like many, underestimated the fact that the voters might vote for innovation and clever wit, and something new. As most know, I LOVE Wicked, and I just ignore whatever comments are made against it on the board. But it was the right year for Q. They were the only musical who got consistently solid and great reviews, and to be honest, there are some major flaws in the book of Wicked, as well as some cop-out lyrics. I, personally, would rather spend the day listening to Wicked, but thats because I like the big numbers, and the spectacle of it all. Wicked is in the tradition of the big musical, that will probably have a great run. Avenue Q is a new kind of musical that has found its feet and will also have a solid run.

Idina wise--I was ecstatic when she won. Here's why I think the "Donna was robbed" comments are a little out of line:

Last night she was the female performer with the most experience at the Tony's venue (if my memory serves me, feel free to correct if I'm wrong). Naturally, she'd be the least nervous, compounded with the fact that Tonya was sick, Kristin sang two lines, and Idina was probably not only nervous, but also singing a much more vocally challenging song that night. Most importantly, the award wasn't based on the performances given that night, they were based on the whole year, and as shallow as it is, if Donna wasn't there for the voters to see (she was absent for several performances one week many voters came) how could she be expected to win?

I did not see Caroline or Change or Avenue Q, so I can't say who of all of them 'deserved' to win, but I am more than pleased with the fact Idina pulled through, and her genuine joy of getting her first tony is what that night is all about.

I don't know if any of that made sense, but I don't feel like going back and rereading it.
always,
~m~