The Kristin/Kelli/Chita competition... — Page 5

"Maddie, the role and performance simply are not at the same level as that of the other three actresses. Any number of actresses could have played Beth's role in Fun Home. I don't think you can say the same thing about the other performances."

Valid. But I still adore her and will be happy if she or any other the other three win. This is easily the most exciting category of the year, and IMO, of the past few years. Everyone has their favorites; I'm having a Tony party and at least each nominee has one of my guests in her court (Even Leanne Cope). Can't wait!

"Maddie, the role and performance simply are not at the same level as that of the other three actresses. Any number of actresses could have played Beth's role in Fun Home. I don't think you can say the same thing about the other performances."

Hmm. Mixed reactions to this. Certainly not as demanding a role as what Kelli and Kristin do, but I think Beth's role is as challenging if not more so than Chita's in The Visit. She has more songs, more stage business to do, and carries a great deal of the show's arc in her narration.

Question about last year's race: Why did people suddenly start predicting Mueller only about a week or two before the broadcast? What clues or hints lead people to believe that she was going to take home the Tony? Because in the beginning, it was pretty wide open, right?

I would think the fact that Bridges closed greatly hurt Kelli's chances. Being in an open show, Mueller rode a great wave of press and building buzz through Tony night.

I'm sure I will be in the minority for this, but I'm not giving Chita extra credit points towards a Tony for doing the show at her age ... as wonderful as it is that she is still performing eight shows a week.

Some look at Rivera's age and make that a part of their evaluation.

And some think O'Hara should get it because she is overdue.

Personally I would lean toward giving the nod to an 82 year old who is still gracing us with her talent and doing so in spectacular fashion over an actress portraying a role that IMO is fairly textbook for a talented woman like Kelli who is both a good actress and has a gorgeous voice.

Some will say there are a lot of nuances that the latter captures in her portrayal of Anna.

But you can say the same for Chita's Claire, as well.

My vote though….Chenoweth. Because IMO she's got the most grueling role that requires the most range in both acting performance and song. And she is knocking it out of the park. Timing and delivery in that role is everything. Any minor slip up and it throws the whole thing off. It goes beyond nuance and a beautiful voice.

After that as a close second, Chita.

I think we all take something away from performances that resonate with us in special ways.

I saw OTTC earlier this month and Chenoweth's performance has stuck with me, as well. I was blown away.

I do agree that flashy doesn't always equate with being best. But then again, neither should a quieter, more subdued, less flashy or "nuanced" performance be automatically considered the best either.

So that basically leaves us where we started. Personal impressions and what resonated most with us in the overall scope of the show and the performances within that show.

I wouldn't be surprised if O'Hara wins it. There seems to be a lot of sentimentality behind her, and her performance.

But likewise, I don't think sentimentality should play a role either.

This will be a tight race, I think.

If O'Hara and Chenoweth split votes which then allows Chita in….then hear hear! I love Chita! And her performance makes her worthy as well.

"I do think that if she loses, it'll really bug Chenoweth. But I don't think it'd faze Kelli O'Hara or Chita Rivera. "

Wow. That is the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard. Plus, she already won a Tony. So, I imagine that she won't care.

I love Kristin Chenoweth passionately and I don't think she would ever hold a grudge but it wouldn't shock me if she resents losing a little bit. It's such a perfect part for her and a highly difficult one that she's giving her all to and she knows it. I think she'd like to be honored for it and will be disappointed if she doesn't. But she would never be a diva about it.

Updated On: 12/25/22 at 01:45 AM

"I love Kristin Chenoweth passionately and I don't think she would ever hold a grudge, but it wouldn't shock me if she resents losing a little bit. It's such a perfect part for her and a highly difficult one that she's giving her all to and she knows it. I think she'd like to be honored for it and will be disappointed if she doesn't. But she would never be a diva about it. "

Exactly, I can see disappointment easily like who wouldn't? But, I doubt that she would hold a grudge about it, since like I said, she already won a Tony. I can totally see why she was upset about the Apple Tree because sometime ago, I saw some clips of her and she was fabulous!

Updated On: 7/22/20 at 03:21 PM

Thanks for the review of O'Hara, jarethan. Hers was the only performance I didn't see. Due to time constraints I had to pick and choose, and having seen The King and I so many times, including the version with Donna Murphy and LDP, I skipped that one.

Personally I think Chenoweth was stellar in, as you noted, a difficult role.

Can I totally compare her performance with O'Hara? Not having seen the latter, no.

I have seen The King and I lots though, and knowing the role of Anna, it just seems to me that if it's up against a tour de force performance of Lily Garland in the same season, the latter would have to get the nod. IMO, of course.

I'm not saying the role of Anna is easy, and doesn't require a beautiful, well-crafted performance. It absolutely does. And it's great to hear that O'Hara is hitting it out of the park. I wish I had had the time to see it. I really find it a beautiful show.

But the level of "chops" required for Lily is out there in the cosmos. And if you have an actress who has it down, I personally think it needs to be recognized.

With the passion, energy and might she's putting into her performance, giving it her all, I could certainly understand why she might be highly disappointed if she doesn't get the nod. She's not in the business for the awards, but I suppose if they're going to have awards to give, it would be nice to get one when deserved. And she does deserve it IMO.

But the role of Carole King is still difficult to pull off. You have to go through a little over a ten-year character arc within two hours, you have to play a well-known music icon without coming across as an impersonation, etc.