Riedel on Denzel, the Tony race, and Christina Applegate's debut- Page 2

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:35am

The Best Actress Tony is Victoria Clark's to lose.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:17am

The fifth slot will either be Dilly or Gambatese. I think O'Hara will most likely fall under supporting unless she is campaigned for lead. In that case, she could easily get the fifth slot. It will be an interesting race to the finish. Personally, I already gave Clark the award last year in the same show in Chicago. I think Applegate is delightful and deserves a nom, but not a win over Clark. Which means Applegate will probably win the Tony.

[ken8631]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:19am

I'm still thinking Sutton, but since she has one, rooting for Christina....

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:44am

Rob -- I have a sneaking feeling Riedel is going to be pushing for Applegate to win the Tony as well. And since many credit him for Peters losing the Tony for GYPSY, I suspect his influence direct or not is pretty palpable...

And while its true Sutton is giving a bravura performance in a less then stellar show -- the comparison with Hugh Jackman is a pretty big stretch. Jackman's performance was raved by all the major critics as being more then great but a true Broadway "event." Moreover, he sold tickets, and his Broadway debut made international headlines.

Foster's show opened months ago (thereby is old news) is dying fast at the box office, her personal reviews were not extraordinary, and she just won. I don't see how she could pull a win here.

If Christina REALLY wants to win -- she should announce she's going to tour.

[ken8631]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:56am

Comparing to Jackman was a stretch... He definitely deserved it. With what I've seen so far, I am rooting for Christina, I'm just not sure she's as good as Sutton.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:15pm

Has Riedel had anything to say about Clark and "Piazza"?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:28pm

So nice to heard Riedel say something supportive...

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:30pm

He hasn't said anything about Piazza and likely won't as it's a pretty uncontroversial production, all things considered.

[Mutts]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:00pm

I think the cause for Peters’ Tony loss had more to do with her early absences and having to perform for the award voters while still recovering from her illness than anything that transparent, self-serving publicity whore wrote about her in that little paper. People already had doubts about her ability to handle the role vocally, so those absences just probably confirmed for them what they thought they knew. The fact that Peters went on to make the next 400 plus performances probably helped Donna Murphy get a pass on her early WT absences from all the know-it-all posters who were so quick to proclaim Peters incapable of physically handling the part of Rose.

I also don’t see why people should be concerned about anything he regurgitates. I’m not in NY, but I work with lots of people who travel to NY to see shows and none of them have even heard of him. Their opinion of what’s happening on NY stages is formed by what is written in the Times, the New Yorker, the national weekly mags and what AP story might be carried in the local paper or reviewed by the local critic. None of them had any knowledge of Murphy’s frequent absences until the Times did that big story because when they saw the show, she happened to be there. The only time I think I’ve ever heard his name mentioned in the theater was when I overheard some people talking about halitosis.

And speaking of bad breath, I think it’s pretty obvious he’s a pawn/mouthpiece for the Weisslers. He only bothered to write about poor Murphy after how many absences probably caused the Weisslers to get fed up with her and now it’s Christina and Charity. Hasn’t he basically said that if you kiss my butt (like Sean Combs did), I’ll write positive things about you but if you don’t (i.e. Miss Peters) I might attack you if you’re a big enough name to get me attention. If he were actually any good, wouldn’t he have known about the debacle forming that was Bobbi Boland or written about Chenoweth / Menzel in Wicked or Jasmine Guy in the Violet Hour?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:24pm

Mutts -- I agree about Peter's early absences contributing to her Tony loss -- but the person publicizing Peter's absences was largely Riedel. Everyone in the theatre community poo-poos his comments, but everybody reads what he writes, so his influence is undeniable.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:32pm

Piazza is a controversial production? LOL !!!! And since when does Riedel not comment on the controversial? He hasn't said anything simply because it has NOT been controversial at all. There's no dirt, sleaze or mess to be made from talking about Piazza, so ignores it.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:36pm

Mutts,
As someone in the industry I do read what he writes. And he also has had a influence on what has been written in all those big publications you mentioned. Also; Entertainment Tonight picked up on the whole Bernadette thing because of him ( so yes.. it did cross over to mainstream media) . So..
I agree with you :he’s a pawn/mouthpiece for the Weisslers. I wish he would write about other shows the way he writes about theirs.

Oh.. and may I add.. in my opinion ( for whatever it is worth) ..he has been right most of the time.

Updated On: 4/20/05 at 01:36 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 2:50pm

I truly don't think Victoria Clark is a lock for the Tony. Her performance is fine, but not as impressive as some of the other potential nominees. I really don't see what all the buzz is about on her.

I do not think Jen Gambatese will be nominated. In my opinion, the 5th slot will go to either Kelli O'Hara if they consider her leading.

If it were up to me, I would nominate Melissa Errico for DRACULA over Erin Dilly and Kelli O'Hara.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 2:58pm

I agree with the oft repeated statement that Melissa Errico's acting is as wooden as a lumberyard*. Her voice is beautiful, however, and that makes up for a lot.

*I added the funny ending

[DAME]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:02pm

Midtown,
I agree. She and Rebecca Luker are like wooden dolls.

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:11pm

Please excuse my ignorance but could someone please explain the story behind this quote, somehow I missed it and it sounds quite entertaining...

"Hmm, well, since Cheno's not campaigning this year, there's no chance that Karl Rove will be "suggesting" that Cherry Jones is gay and would Tony voters really want to let a homo win. Of course, he probably takes on look at Kathleen Turner and sends out the same form letter"

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:17pm

If Sutton wins - I will go straight to the toilet and vomit.

Anyway - It's very refreshing to see Riedel say nice things about Christina.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:21pm

I hope Sherie gets a nod, but even then I doubt she'll win.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:22pm

She'll obviously get a nomination.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:59pm

Broadway Style, that's my quote. Just above it, you'll see (I believe RobbieJ) mention something about the nominees all being Democrats and being unable to run good campaigns, prompting my remarks.

I still reiterate this Tony this year is Clark's. There really are barely four or five leading women's roles on Broadway in musicals this year (it's highly doubtful they will give Erin Dilly a lead slot, which is unfortunate since she's delightful and certainly *my* pick to play Mary when Mary Poppins makes its way here...she's also probably going to be overlooked in the featured category).
I would expect the leading women of the big shows to get nominations but Clark has it in the bag.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:03pm

I think we are just going to have to wait to see how Christina gets reviewed.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:06pm

Yes, I agree with DAME. Victoria Clark is the front runner right now, but it will be hard to overlook the "backstage drama" of the year, if Applegate manages to pull through even if her personal notices aren't as strong as those given to Clark.

The CHARITY revival is going to have more life potential then PIAZZA as well. Don't discount that. Especially with road producers, who make up a big chuck of Tony Voters.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:13pm

Exactly. That and now sheis geting great word of mouth.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:14pm

I would love to see Appelgate win the Tony. I haven't seen her so I can't comment, but I'd really love to see her pull through, and I suspect I'm not the only one.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:20pm

Actually, the advance on the show is poor, poor, poor. It's highly unlikely the show will receive raves unless it's been completely reworked and, as we've mentioned with Piazza, raves for your star (even a well-known tv star) do not make for brisk sales.
And, again, the majority of the people who vote for Best Actress are going to be out to honor one of their own.