Spamalot, Sunday Top Olivier Award Noms; Wicked Snubbed — Page 2

Brilliant. And aside from Idina's lack of ability to create a three-dimensional character, the fact that she came in to kick-start the production for a short time only to up and leave after a few months probably didn't weigh very well up against actresses that have committed to seeing a production through for the entire season. Not to mention that the show is garbage. I'm thrilled to see CAROLINE and Pinkins receive nominations.

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If I remember correctly, it seemed like Avenue Q received a rather tepid response when it opened on the West End. I remember this sort of "THIS is what the Americans are raving about??" attitude. On the other hand, it seemed like people were going ga-ga for Wicked, much like in the US. So to see Q nominated over Wicked is a bit shocking--how well have these shows done at the box office since their openings?

The snub is for Best Musical.

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CAROLINE OR CHANGE is playing at the National Theatre which is eligible for the Olivier Awards. Sort of like how shows that play the Vivian Beaumont (Lincoln Center) are eligible for the Tony, even though they aren't in the theatre district.

Updated On: 1/18/07 at 02:47 AM

Outstanding Musical Production = Musical Revival. Porgy and Bess is a new version of the opera that has not been performed in any SOLT houses before (Merrily we Roll Along won Best New Musical in 2001 for the same reason, despite having had previous London productions and a 20-year old score!). Personally, I'm backing Sunday in the Park with George all the way, other than the Best Actress catagory which is a tough choice between Russell and Pinkins.

And there is no snubbing - Idina Menzel didn't get nominated because the judges didn't feel that her performance was as good as all the other nominees. And in my opinion, they were right. Elphaba is a much easier role than the Lady in the Lake - paint yourself green, use broad character stokes (now I am outraged, now I am angry, now I'm in love etc) and belt a lot. The comedy in Spamalot is much harder (witness the lack of enthusiasm for the Broadway 'Lady' replacements), though her lack of stage time does make her position in the 'lead' catagory a mystery...

As far as The Lady of the Lake being a leading role or not,
If you check the posters outside the Shubert Theatre, i'm pretty sure you'll find whomever is playing the Lady of the Lake with top billing alongside Arthur. This has been the case with Marin Mazzie, Lauren Kennedy and Pia Glenn.
The role really is the leading female role in the show, and though Sara Raimerez was great in it, the role seemed smallish compared to the star power of Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria.

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if wicked received four nominations in categories it also received tony nominations it seems so strange that they would deny it the other nominations. im not saying that tony nominations are a default to olivier BUT the show really didnt change from ny to london. so why the love for joe mantello this time around, despite no additional directorial vision (imo), and a snub for idina, who was actually a significant amount better in london? if anything the acting nominations would seem more appropriate than tech noms because they are the dynamics of the show that changed.


ps. i did actually see both productions.

You won't get an argument from me about Menzel being omitted. I've never understood the hype and adulation that performance received here. I just find it ironic that the same performance could win a Tony on one side of the Atlantic and be ignored on the other.

I also was never a fan of Mantello's staging which struck me as incoherent and static (he has no idea how to stage a crowd scene or create visually appealing stage pictures on such a broad canvas).

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I'm pretty sure Idina's "snub" delt with her being with the show for 4 months. But it's not like she just quit in the middle of her run. It was planned months ahead she would have a short run. And Wanna Be A Foster, Idina is actually quite capable of doing justice to a character, otherwise crowds of critics would not have praised her performance.

Payback's a bitch.

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Her reviews were NOT raves in London.

And her reviews most certainly were not all that positive in New York, either.


You are really beginning to sound like an obnoxious little fangirl. Which, I KNOW, you're not. Why you feel the need to come on here and defend someone you will never know is beyond me. It's not as if people on here are writing horrible things about her, we are just pointing out that it's interesting, and that it is of our opinion that the Brits got it right.

Yes, I know..."But Tonya Pinkins this..." or "Elena Roger that...." but seriously. You sound like an idiot.

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I just checked: Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski only did 6 months of GUYS AND DOLLS last year, but were still nominated for Olivier Awards -- and the show is STILL running.

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Updated On: 1/18/07 at 02:49 PM

I'm sorry, I fail to see where anything I said was overly defensive or at all fangirl-y. I was just pointing out that many did find it surprising and that, in my opinion, considering outside motivations for the lack of a nom is not without merit despite the rather dismissive posts to the contrary. That's all.

I mentioned Tonya simply because she was brought up in an earlier post (and, for the record, I thought she was fantastic in Caroline- though I think Russell will be the frontrunner). And I don't think anything I posted is nearly as obnoxious as "payback's a bitch."

I read a number of reviews from London. Nearly all were positive and I would describe some of them as "raves."