The 75th Annual TONY Awards! — Page 21

ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure said: "While I went in last night expecting it to go home empty, if you told me a year ago a Hugh Jackman led Music Man directed by Jerry Zaks and costarring Sutton Foster and all those other big Broadway names wasn’t gonna win a single Tony, I’d have thought you were mad.

Fee bad for Hugh, he really was psyched to do this show, and I feel with a different team he could’ve had a much better received performance and production. Obviously he’s just fine, he’s Hugh Jackman, but it’s gotta sting a bit to get so underwhelming a response to finally doing your dream role."

I’m sorry I just don’t get his appeal. Certainly not the appeal to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars to see mediocre singing and passable dancing.

Sondheim: "Like very few others, she sings and acts at the same time. Most performers act and then sing, act and then sing.....Bernadette is flawless as far as I'm concerned. I can't think of anything negative."

---

I kind of understand why people don't 'get her' sometimes, she truly has the strangest and most bizarre singing voice I have heard come out of any person ever (part of why I love it so much!). But in addition to bringing an incredibly unique vocal sound not just to theatre but the world, I can just really hear the acting coming through her voice in a way that I don't hear in others - there is so much depth in the expression that it's hard for me to hear anyone better "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE", "STAY WITH ME", "I REMEMBER", "ANYONE CAN WHISTLE", "SEND IN THE CLOWNS" or "IN BUDDY'S EYES". I think I will create a new thread sometime soon outlining song-by-song why she just seems to nail Sondheim and what are the specific moments that are notable to try and convert the uninitiated.

Updated On: 6/13/22 at 01:06 PM

I'd love for Joaquin's win / performance to save Paradise Square. But, let's be honest: it's not likely. She may get them some excitement for the next few weeks, but there is already another show taking the theatre in September.

BorisTomashevsky said: "Re: Angela Lansbury not being there, this can really only mean she’s not doing well. She’s shown up to the openings of envelopes for the three quarters of a century."

It just means she's 96 years old and like most 96 year olds probably isn't getting out and about as much as she used to (especially when she lives in California and the Tonys are in New York). If I'm not mistaken, the last time she was at the Tonys was in 2010, so this is nothing new.

People forget she’s 96. They still expect to see her doing a kick line to “Mame.” If anything, I’m surprised they didn’t have someone film a video message. I’m sure there are a handful of people around her who could have done the honors for grandma.

BorisTomashevsky said: "Broadway61004 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "Re: Angela Lansbury not being there, this can really only mean she’s not doing well. She’s shown up to the openings of envelopes for the three quarters of a century."

It just means she's 96 years old and like most 96 year olds probably isn't getting out and about as much as she used to (especially when she lives in California and the Tonys are in New York). If I'm not mistaken, the last time she was at the Tonys was in 2010, so this is nothing new."

In that case, curious that there wasn’t a pre-recorded video saying “thank you for this honor”. She’s definitely the type to be grateful and humble so it’s strange there was not even some media."

That's a fair point and I was a little surprised they didn't have any type of message from her. But I wouldn't read too much into it other than she's 96 so of course isn't appearing at a lot of these functions anymore (to be clear, I have absolutely no clue what her health is like right now--just saying that this itself wouldn't really raise any red flags about it, at least in my book).

Well, that was incredible.

I’m not going to say much, but it was an absolute THRILL to be there last night. Much more exhilarating in person, though the sound quality was a little muffled (probably to prevent speaker feedback).

YvanEhtNioj, did you feel HOT inside Radio City? Because I certainly did.

Well, The NYT was, once again, pretty spot on About The winners. They did call Deirdre after all.

That left me thinking that MJ almost won Best Musical, damn.

Curiosity question:



As Matt Doyle left the stage after receiving his award, he muttered something about becoming the "next bride". In the online photos, it is obvious that his significant other, Max Clayton, is wearing a wedding band. Are these two already married?

Ariana was fantastic. As much as I think she can veer a little close to Taylor Swift/Anne Hathaway levels of "Oh my goshness" she kept that show going with energy, enthusiasm, and sheer talent. I was really impressed. And to be able to ad-lib and jive with no co-host? And rock some gorgeous dress changes? One of the best hosting jobs in recent award show history. Astonishing.

Did we need all the cutaways to Lin-Manuel, especially in the first hour? I mean I love him, but it's a love/hate. Love that he loves theatre, hate that he's perpetually tearing up.

Adored the Sondheim tribute. To have one his most notable interpreters sing one of his most haunting songs, it was simple yet lovely. We could focus on his words and his melodies, without distraction. Sondheim would never want a big glitzy number made about him.

I mean bravo to Joaquina Kalukango for winning for singing a terrible song and being able to hold the notes while screaming, but you can't tell me that was a good song. It was atrocious and instantly forgettable, and it's shocking how easily Twitter, and I guess Tony voters, were wowed into thinking it was a good show based on that performance.

I don't care. Kenita was robbed. Was anyone really saying Phylicia Rashad? A show that closed months ago, and didn't get the best reviews to begin with? Kenita was robbed.

I don't know why biopics and bio-musicals are such catnip to Tony voters, and really for any acting awards, but really? MJ, which got okay reviews, saying it was entertaining enough, basically? And this Myles Frost acceptance speech was a little eerie, saying things that Michael might say, in a Michael-like voice. It was a little confusing for me.

Why does Julianne Hough always seem like she's talking so much?

I do like that the In Memoriam songs on award shows have been shifting to more interesting choices. I feel like for years it was the same five songs in rotation.

I do like the opening number for A Strange Loop, but it does drive me crazy, both in the theatre and on the telecast, that the overlapping lyrics start to turn into a muddle. But up until then, it was a great way to introduce the show.

I wish Company had chosen another song. Considering it crests with Katrina high-pitched "You I loves" when there's so many great moments for her and the cast to choose from. Though I do appreciate any chance to see Christopher Fitzgeralds's calves again.

I could understand how some felt some of musical numbers can feel a slower or underpowered. I hate that Radio City is the venue for the Tonys. Those years when they were at the Beacon were some of their best. It was a large enough venue, but felt intimate enough. Drives me crazy when they use that passerelle at Radio City. Like hey, there's the rest of the cast a good 30 feet away at least from whatever is going on over there!

EDSOSLO858 said: "

YvanEhtNioj, did you feel HOT inside Radio City? Because I certainly did.
"

YES. thank god for the $5 waters..

Sally Durant Plummer said: "Dollypop, I don't know if it was a reference to Doyle's personal life, but he was quoting the end of his scene in Company."



I felt he was quoting that line but I wondered if he and Max got married backstage. Anything is possible today.

YvanEhtNioj said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "

YvanEhtNioj, did you feel HOT inside Radio City? Because I certainly did.
"

YES. thank god for the $5 waters.."

It was SO WARM in there.