So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
#1So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 10:00pm
Just got home from seeing LOOPED and gotta say it's one of the best plays on Broadway now and Harper is just stunning as Bankhead. I actually thought this was a one woman show but was very happy to see that it wasn't and what I got was a hilarious and surprisingly emotional 2 hours. I think I'll actually go back and see it again before the week is over and take friends with me next week. I want everyone I know to see this.
Also, I hope people don't forget the fine job being done by Brian Hutchinson. He gives an excellent performance as well and really holds his own next to a character so much larger than life. He's pretty damn great.
Oh, and I've witnessed stupidity in my life, however I think this takes the cake. In a scene in Act 1 where she is talking about performing STREETCAR at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, an audience member starts clapping and than yells out "We saw you in that, Tallulah!!" I do hope nobody told them her understudy, Valerie Harper was on tonight. It would have devastated them.
Updated On: 2/23/10 at 10:00 PM
#2So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 10:47pmI've been a bit out of the theatre loop lately, but I saw an ad for this in my God of Carnage Playbill on Sunday. I think I'm going to add it to my spring lineup.
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
#2So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 10:51pmI honestly think Laura Linney will be giving Valerie a run for her money.
#3So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:41pm
At this point in the season I would absolutely vote Valerie for the Tony. She is giving a pitch-perfect performance that commands the stage and leaves the scenery in tatters.
I don't think the play is perfect, though, and wish it was cut down to one act. There really is no dramatic reason for the intermission. (We're dying of suspense if she can record the line correctly?!)
For me this was a clear example of a star vehicle. There is no reason for this play to exist that to show off the talents of Ms. Harper, which are considerable.
Depending how the rest of the season goes she will be a strong contender. The other problem will be if the show flops she'll have a harder time beating someone in a (running) hit.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#4So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:56pmOkay this play is now in serious contention for my Spring trip to NYC (I have 3 free slots without clear choices). I've heard Next Fall (which I was excited to see)is over-rated soap opera from more than one credible source. And All About Me (once high on my list) looks like a wasted of time and talent.
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
#5So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:58pmViola Davis will have the benefit of her show opening at the very end of the season, and will have a lot of "buzz" going into the awards.
#6So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:58pmMildred, NEXT FALL is brilliant.
#7So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:03amSee Jordan I'm hearing that from some and then others find it to be melodramatic (and I hate a predictable gay soap on stage).
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
#8So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:04amI forgot about Viola Davis, but then again I guess I just assumed that she would be ruled in the featured category.
#9So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:05amAnd Mildred, Next Fall is FAR from soap opera. In fact it's the exact opposite. Soap opera is overly-dramatic, while Next Fall is incredibly understated. It's excellent.
#10So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:05am
Is she over-the-title? I'm pretty sure that's a featured role. They'd probably be smart to petition her for lead but if I'm remembering the play correctly it's far from a lead.
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
Updated On: 2/24/10 at 12:05 AM
RoslynReynolds
Understudy Joined: 12/14/09
#11So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:06am
Valerie Harper isn't winning the Tony in
that dog of a play. Get real. And
Next Fall is a turd.
#12So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:07amThanks for your insightful thoughts, Roslyn.
#13So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:07amShe has a much better chance of being nominated (and potentially winning) if they can keep her in Leading Actress. I assume she'll be above the title, so unless they petition her for featured, she'd stay a lead.
#14So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:10amMy guess is that she will be above the title unless Denzel pulls a "I want sole top billing" situation. I agree that she will have a better chance in the leading category, but the part is just SO small until the very end that it might be hard for the Tony committee to approve the petition.
#15So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:10am
adamgreer is right about what a formidable presence Viola Davis is sure to be in the award race, but she'll almost certainly be in the Featured Actress category.
Denzel Washington is the only actor in FENCES billed above the title, with Davis in a smaller sized font directly beneath it.
The producers may petition her for Lead Actress anyway, but considering the fact that Mary Alice won a Tony for originating the role of Rose in the Featured Actress category, they'll have a hard time convincing the committee Davis belongs elsewhere.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 2/24/10 at 12:10 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#16So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 2/24/10 at 12:11amAnd you could very well be right bjh. I've just heard the soap opera comparison from more than one intelligent theatergoer.
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#17So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/2/10 at 5:34pm
Valerie Harper on The Joy Behar Show
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
#18So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/3/10 at 11:23am
Saw it last weekend. Harper is great fun to watch. The play is kind of a dog, though, isn't it? Much of the humor is old variety sketch show style, with a set-up/joke, set-up/joke rhythm. And the serious stuff in the second act is pretty maudlin and overdone (to me). I also felt sorry for her co-star, what's-his-name. The character seems to be manipulated all over the place just to set Bankhead up, but the actor treats the role like an overdone Willy Loman. I thought his acting was exceptionally hammy.
But I did love watching Harper. She reminded me of a young Charles Busch.
madlibrarian
Broadway Star Joined: 8/15/06
#19So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/3/10 at 7:58pmActually, whoever wins the Tony Award will have to wait until June.
#20So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/4/10 at 1:30amLaura Linney has a big chance of winning I think, the actresses in Next Fall are not going to be nominated for best actress, if they get any nods, it will be for featuring I'd guess. I still have to see Valerie in this though.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Updated On: 3/4/10 at 01:30 AM
tommigyrl5
Stand-by Joined: 5/13/03
#21So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/4/10 at 10:29am
"I also felt sorry for her co-star, what's-his-name. The character seems to be manipulated all over the place just to set Bankhead up, but the actor treats the role like an overdone Willy Loman. I thought his acting was exceptionally hammy."
I've seen Looped a few times...and I LOVE Valerie. I agree 100% about the Tony possibility. But I HATED that guy who played opposite her.
When actors (pause) talk like this (pause) and never (pause) give you a (pause) a (pause) complete thought (pause) its its its (pause) enough to (pause) drive a sane person (pausepausepausepausepause) CRAZY!!!!!!
#22So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/4/10 at 10:30amOh wow, I LOVED Brian. I thought he gave as good of a performance as Valerie did!
#23So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/4/10 at 10:44am
"When actors (pause) talk like this (pause) and never (pause) give you a (pause) a (pause) complete thought (pause) its its its (pause) enough to (pause) drive a sane person (pausepausepausepausepause) CRAZY!!!!!!"
That bugged the crap out of me too..spit it out already!
Updated On: 3/4/10 at 10:44 AM
tommigyrl5
Stand-by Joined: 5/13/03
#24So Can We Give Valerie Harper The Tony Now Or Do We Have To Wait Until May?
Posted: 3/4/10 at 11:05am
Oh he was most certainly not as good as Valerie was by ANY stretch of the imagination, in my opinion. The gasping! The pausing and the gASPING. He was painful to watch. Valerie was the pain-killer (get it? ha ha)
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