Patti or LaChanze? — Page 2

Why do people always insist that someone should take home a Tony because of "what she's been through!" or "she's worked so hard and never won one!"? The winner of the award should be the actor who, for whatever reasons, has given the most all-around best performance in a musical. That in itself, though, is a bit of a challenge seeing as how these roles are often incomparable.

I'm really tired of hearing that Lachanze SHOULD win over Patti because her role is "more emotional" or requires her to sing more "powerful songs." What kind of criteria is that? Patti Lupone has absolutely REINVENTED the role of Mrs. Lovett for this production (something that has really yet to be done since Angela Lansbury's original performance) and she has been spell-binding the three times I have seen this revival of Sweeney.

In my opinion, Patti SHOULD win and I certainly hope she does. I'm not asking for others to agree that she should take the Tony, but at least give the woman some of the credit she deserves for her work on Broadway right now. Lachanze may be phenomenal, but why does that need to lead to so much disrespect and lack of praise for a true pro who is doing some of the best, if not THE best, work of her career. I'm not going to lie, I had extreme doubts about Patti when the cast was announced for Sweeney, but she has floored me and I took a complete 180! We all know she could have easily simply taken a diva-turn with this role and production, but she didn't. She has given herself over 100% to a new, extraordinary challenge, meeting it with technique and passion.

I think Miss P. should be rewarded.

LaChanze character has a lot more emotional depth than than Patti's. LaChanze should win.

Even thoguth i don't like Patti that much,It's her performance that matters. Now how she acts at the stage door.

its Patti's year

True. Plenty of b*tches have won in the past (Harvey Fierstein comes to mind), and their b*tchiness had nothing to do with winning.

Nevertheless, I think LaChanze should win. She is a beautiful and hard-working performer. Patti LuPone is OK, but LaChanze just does better in her role. I'm not sure how Chita was nominated, and Sutton and Kelli are always excellent. But I think this award belongs to LaChanze.

Chita got nominated for playing herself and singing some song she had sang in the past. WTF????

Updated On: 6/8/06 at 01:23 PM

This is laughable. We're now bringing in stage door conduct!

I don't understand.

Patti all the way.

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I realy think Patti should win, and I think she will win. As many have said, she complately recreated the role of Mrs. Lovett. She did that. I'm sure John Doyle did help her to delve into the depths of the character she plays, but John Doyle is not the one playing the role. Patti is. I think Patti did a fantastic job in the show, has always seemed engaged and never bored, and gave and all-out brilliant perfromance.

And on a side not, every time I have stage-doored at Sweeney, Ms. LuPone has been very kind to me.

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LChanze all the way.

Patti LuPone for the win.

Updated On: 6/8/06 at 05:31 PM

I think it's Patti's year. Although they are both great.
This is a little off topic, but why is Sutton even in this category? I love her and think she's great in the Drowsy Chaperone, but shouldn't she be in the featured actress category? Her role, while lots of fun, can't even begin to compare to the others.

I think some people are being incredibly rude about the whole situation. Remarks like "I'm going to the awards, so listen out on TV for my scream of disappointment and horror when Patti wins!!!" are just unnecessary and not very nice at all. At whom would you be yelling, Patti? Why would it be her fault if other people thought she gave a great performance? Or perhaps that shriek is for the voters, but then who are the voters any way? And what do the Tonys actually matter? It's a bunch of people's opinions of certain things that rely on many other certain things. Anyway, we all know that the Tonys are no longer a show about "excellence" but rather marketing and politics. Spamalot the best of last season? You have to be kidding me. So let's not be cruel to the performers. All five of the nominees have worked their butts off to be where they are, no one excluded. It's a tough business. The fact that they're on Broadway should be rewarding enough for them.

That said, yes, I do think Patti will and should win. I thought her performance was amazing.