The 75th Annual TONY Awards! — Page 20

Weird to call it bland. I was less than thrilled with much of it but I can’t say it was “bland”.

JasonC3 said: "This was not the first opening number to get a standing ovation, though it is one of the least deserving in my mind.

This for me remains one of the best opening numbers in TONY broadcast history."

Oooh yeah, as soon as you posted that I knew what the link was going to be. Good point.

How could Lansbury not be mentioned on the network broadcast? Like how is that even possible?

SisterGeorge said: "The Mr. Saturday Night and Paradise Square performances tempted me to give those two a try, but when the show ended I opened my laptop and bought tickets to see Company a fourth time. I don't understand the hate for that show's opening number, which I find thrilling every time I see it, and if the primary purpose of those performances are to sell tickets, no one will forget the show's called Company. I wonder how many people are trying to find tickets to a show called Let It Burn."

The Company number was fine, but not nearly as interesting or exciting as the Mr. Saturday Night or Paradise Square numbers. I don't believe anyone will be confused about what Paradise Square is called. People understand that songs have titles.

Tag said: "How could Lansbury not be mentioned on the network broadcast? Like how is that even possible?"

Because… this is CBS!!

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Also….I HATE speculating like this, but I’m curious. How much longer would you give Funny Girl as it was completely shut out"

It's selling well for now. Maybe that won't be the case by January 1, but as of right now it's in no danger of closing."

Julie Benko (u/s for Beanie in Funny Girl) is a real find. The show was exciting with her in it, a real star turn. I hate to speculate but, if Beanie steps out and Julie takes over full time, this musical could have legs.

In a nod to Modern Millie, Funny Girl will do for Benko what Millie did for Sutton Foster. The only difference, Benko did not get the chance to open in the revival and lost all the adulation that would have come with it.

Updated On: 6/13/22 at 11:27 AM

binau said: "PipingHotPiccolosaid:

Excuse me? Bernadette is by far Sondheim's most important and closest acting collaborator, associated with at least 7 of his major works (Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Evening Primrose, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy, A Little Night Music, Follies), countless event/concert appearances including a Carnegie Hall concert dedicated to Sondheim that is still basically being performed today as Bernadette's concert routine, and most recently performed Sondheim's very last show Square One in a private reading that Sondheim described as 'encouraging'. There is nothing 'insulting' about 'trotting out' Bernadette for this purpose - in fact what would be more insulting WOULD be getting a bunch of big 'stars' (as if there are any that would even level Bernadette) or 'vocal geniuses' performing boring and sanitised versions of his work that they had and have no business performing. That sounds shallow and insulting."

Never suggested she isnt an important Sondheim collaborator, and had they done something more interesting, I'm not saying they couldnt include her in it. We obviously disagree re how she sounds, but if your point is that her standing there singing one Sondheim song is a better tribute than a medley of different performers (stars, his collaborators, anyone), than sure lets agree to disagree on that. I'm pretty confident that "have Bernadette sing Children Will Listen" was not what we were all hoping to see, but I could be wrong.

Bernadette never would sing. She could croak when she was young. Now, when she's old, she can just do an imitation of her younger croak. I never understood how she became the gold standard of Sondheim singing.

I wonder why they put Angela's tribute in the preshow - is she in good health? When they announced she wasnt there the ENTIRE audience gasped

Has anyone found performance clips on YouTube? CBS has only posted some of the performances. They have not included Company, Mr. Saturday Night, Girl From the North Country or the Sondheim tribute.

Yeah, like I said, I can’t feel too bad for him. It’s just that when doing your dream show and the stars feel practically lined up for rave reviews and accolades, to strike out in that department has to be noticeable for him.

But Hugh for all his success is a down to earth guy, I’m sure he’s contented with the actual love he’s gotten. Anyway, rumors are he might complete his EGOT through The Son next year, so again, he’s obviously doing just fine.

While Bernadette's voice has aged since she started performing in the 60s, she still remains an unparalleled interpreter and collaborator of Sondheim's. I don't know another performer who should have sung the tribute to Sondheim - and I'm sure he would have been pleased with last night's selection.

I'm choosing to ignore the comments saying that Bernadette was NEVER a good singer, because obviously that person has come down with COVID to have such a lack of taste. Get well soon!