Outer Critic Circle Nominations ANNOUNCED: — Page 2

No Maria Friedman?

---

I can't believe Mano wasn't nominated. I am in complete shock!

---

With regards to Manoel, whatever you're intimating about the nature his fan following, if anything at all, if not on a theatre message board and in the reviews, where are you expecting to hear buzz about him? I can't say I've heard *all* that many people gushing about him at the show, but I think that's because the focus is (obviously) on Patti and Michael.

Regardless of where Mano's buzz is or isn't, and regardless of the fact that yes, I like the guy and yes, I'm a fan, looking as objectively as possible at his performance -- how beautifully sung, nuanced, calculated and intelligent it is -- I am truly baffled as to why this isn't being seen, OTHER than that it might be because Sweeney is being seen as too much of an ensemble-driven piece for it to get much acting consideration outside of Patti and Michael. And even there, I contest that it's wrong, because in Doyle's production, Sweeney Todd is Toby's story.

---

I was never under the impression that Sweeney Todd attracted the General Theatregoing Public all that consistently.

---

I may be coming off as snarky, but I'm being honest. Mano isn't as adored as many originally thought. I actually enjoyed his performance to a certain extent, but does it deserve a Tony? I don't know. Evidently I am not allowed to disagee.

How does this reflect on Tony nominations? Are they what the Golden Globes are to the Oscars?

---

When you disagree on this board, you are branded "wrong." And because it's not a face-to-face conversation, it's almost impossible to reach a conclusion with each party being satisfied.

From the beginning, my point was that Mano doesn't have Tony buzz. Like many have said, he's in a strong ensemble cast with two outstanding leads. He's bound to be forgotten. Someone saying that this wasn't that surprising is okay. Message board love does not a Tony nomination make. I'm just saying.

I never said you were wrong,PJ. I said I don't agree with your assessment of the buzz surrounding Manoel, and the importance of the places from which it does or does not come. Don't put words in my mouth, on my fingers, whatever.

Yes, it is impossible to reach a conclusion where everyone is satisfied, but is that the purpose of sharing opinions? I'm not trying to convince you of my point of view, nor do I get the impression that you're trying to convince me of yours. Convincing someone to change his or her mind isn't the goal of every discussion, even when opposing viewpoints are involved.

I think you're making a hugely over-arching statement about the fact that he doesn't have Tony buzz, because there's a lot that goes on with regards to the awards and the voting tendencies and who thinks what that is not public. I also don't know where you're getting this with regards to what of it *is* public, given how many of the reviews singled out and lauded his performance; things like that a Tony nomination make. I'm not at all saying that fans on the internet dictate that, but it's not the only thing at play.

You're arguing too many different things that don't make sense. First of all, to say that he's overshadowed by Patti and Michael is legit, when you're looking at the show as a whole, but as far as the awards are concerned, that's fairly moot, because they're not his competition; to some degree, he's going to be looked at separately, and that degree is concerning the awards and nominations. To argue that the leads he's working with are the reasoning behind the snub simply makes very little sense; he's competing with other actors in his category, not them. And I disagree with the fact that having Patti and Michael on stage with him makes him look any less talented, or diminishes how wonderful his performance is.

Also, I completely and totally disagree that his part is an ensemble part, and I think to say that greatly misinterprets Doyle's telling of the story.

---

Updated On: 4/24/06 at 11:56 PM

Going back to your post in which you compared JLY, Michael, Patti, Lachanze, and Manoel...

JLY and Lachanze are in more popular, tourist driven shows, and Patti and Michael are established theater actors. So it's definitely more likely that people "outside" the board, as you said, talk about THEM. They're just more known. But that hardly constitues grounds for saying Mano is undeserving of a nomination, or that he hasn't generated any "buzz". The guy has also had two sold out Ars Nova shows, and another recent sold out Joe's Pub show, so I wouldn't say there is no "buzz".

---

Yes, PJ, you're right. You are branded as wrong when you disagree.

But that's not what's going on here.

You make it sound like outside this little community Manoel isn't as well-received. Or popular. Well, truth be told, do you thinkg anyone knows who the hell Felicia P. Fields is outside the community?

BTW, where the hell is she and Elisabeth?

Mano was good, but I haven't seen the other shows, so its hard to tell if he deserves to win or not, ya know? unless you've seen every show that's nominated, then I think its unfair to really say "its unfair not nominate...blah" - I mean i'm pissed Wedding Singer didn't get any love - I don't think it will be shut out of the Tonys - but I'm not gonna whine about it, I mean I haven't seen over half the shows, so I can't compare.

I didn't just mean for this.

But I got so angry about Cyndi I blacked out!


<----TONY! TONY! TONY!