Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:07pm
Having seen both Kristin and Kelli, I would give the Tony to Kelli. Hands down.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:49pm
I would like to see Kristin win. Not many actresses could play Lily Garland, a physically and vocally difficult role. It really shows off her talent, if you were beginning to doubt after so many years on the other coast. She is also responsible for bringing back this very unique and entertaining musical, before it was completely forgotten.
But the judges cannot prevent personal feelings from affecting their votes. Some may have gotten a little tired of Kristin's persona and may be unhappy that she deserted the theater for such a long time.
Kelli O'Hara, on the other hand, just goes from show to show, through two pregnancies, and picks up her annual Tony nomination. The judges may feel that it is time that she won the award.
Either way, I'm happy that both shows turned out so well and are doing well at the box office.
Nice review, Henrik.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 9:09am
A friend of mine, who loved the SOUTH PACIFIC revival at LC (I did not, other than hearing the orchestra play the overture, and discovering Paulo Szot), felt as I did about THE KING AND I: perfectly acceptable, nothing especially memorable. Kelli sings perfectly well, but does not bring the passion to the role, as she did in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and perhaps that's just the way it is written. And her in-and-out "Briitish" accent is very noticeable; some times it sounds as though she's still in the Oklahoma cornfields. Watanabe is passable, but amazingly has still not improved his diction to the point where we can always understand him, and his "Is a Puzzlement" is underwhelming, to say the least. Oh, yes, the opening sequence is quite spectacular.
Bart Sher can be a fine director, but this is not his finest moment (or nearly three hours; why weren't some of the constant reprises cut? Does R&H really care that much, or did Sher feel that every moment, every note was sacrosanct?)
Will probably get raves from the major critics and run for years, but I say, enough of THE KING AND I. Let's give the show a rest, until someone comes along and gives it a fresh spin, such as LC'S CAROUSEL 20 years ago.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 9:28am
"But the judges cannot prevent personal feelings from affecting their votes. Some may have gotten a little tired of Kristin's persona and may be unhappy that she deserted the theater for such a long time.
Kelli O'Hara, on the other hand, just goes from show to show, through two pregnancies, and picks up her annual Tony nomination. The judges may feel that it is time that she won the award."
This kind of thinking makes no sense to me, though I can imagine some voters think along these lines. Just because O'Hara has made the decision to not leave the New York theater, other actresses who have should be punished? Perhaps the actresses who decide to work elsewhere aren't getting as many Broadway offers that they deem good enough for their time and efforts.
Besides, Chenoweth was last on Broadway in Promises, Promises, which only closed in 2011; it's not like she's been away for twenty years. On the Twentieth Century has been in the works for several years, and Chenoweth always seemed like she was eager to get back on the boards and do this part. She didn't swear of theater and then come groveling back, asking for critics to love her.
It doesn't seem like Audra McDonald's decision to do television affected her standing with Tony voters, so why should anyone else be punished for looking elsewhere for career choices?
Posted: 4/16/15 at 11:37am
I know it was briefly mentioned, but is it better to sit in Orchestra Left or Orchestra right? My friends and I are buying the LincTix and from the montage that was posted the other day, it seems like more of the show is played to Orchestra Left.
Posted: 4/16/15 at 12:07pm
I really wanted to do LincTix for this but I was so apprehensive about those way far side seats and also being up too close. I decided it was worth it to buy a regular ticket but spent a while this morning trying to decide when to go and where to sit. Thanks to those on here who have offered opinions on their seats - it helped a lot.
I'm anxious to see it but decided to wait until next month when I could get a true center Loge ticket even though it's back row, because for the money it seems better than the way sides that are mostly left in the next few weeks. I also couldn't justify paying $60 more to sit two rows further up in the loge - can anyone offer thoughts on these seats? Back row (E?) center loge.
Posted: 4/16/15 at 4:30pm
This kind of thinking makes no sense to me, though I can imagine some voters think along these lines. Just because O'Hara has made the decision to not leave the New York theater, other actresses who have should be punished?
Well, if that's the way you feel, I admire your faith in the integrity of the species. I think that people who have been around for a decade or two know of a fistful of Tonys that have gone to actors not for their work in their current show, but for a previous show or a whole career that the judges feel has not been sufficiently recognized.
Not talking about punishing KC as much as feeling they need to finally give the award to Kelli before it starts to become embarrassing for all as in the case of Susan Lucci. You don't want to get to the point where every interview that Kelli gives begins with the question of how she feels about having never won a Tony.
Audra I put in a class of her own. Whereas Kristin and Kelli between them have only one Tony for a rather small featured role, Audra had four by 2004. Much of her television work was substantial, as she was nominated for two Emmys. I'm really looking forward to seeing her at Carnegie Hall in two weeks, and I really enjoyed seeing KC at Carnegie last fall.
But I think it was wrong to get involved in the Tony discussion, which makes the award seem more important than it really is. What is important is that both Kelli and Kristin have had great years as the stars of two successful major musical productions. Neither of them will find it difficult to accept the loss of the Tony.
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:44am
Tickets are on sale through January 2016. Do we know how long O'Hara and Watanabe are currently committed for? Sorry if this has been answered already (long thread!).
Posted: 4/17/15 at 10:31am
Now that this has been extended and more LincTix will open up, can someone with experience offer insight on the BEST seats that are offered through this program?
Posted: 10/12/16 at 4:00pm
Does anyone know if the procession in Act 2 when Phra Alack gets the Prince to go see his dying father was included in this revival?
Posted: 10/12/16 at 4:35pm
Only the first few measures of the procession were included, but all of the dialogue was there.
