Theater Talk speculates about Tony winners- Page 2

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:33pm

Christine Ebersole won a Tony in the Best Leading Actress category for playing a featured role in 42ND STREET and Donna McKechnie won for what is arguably a featured role for A CHORUS LINE. I see nothing wrong with Monk being in the leading category. No, I do not feel her role is truly leading, but she deserves her nomination in the category and it would indeed be unfair to other supporting actresses to compete against Monk's part.
I agree 150% with Rath about David Hyde Pierce. I actually went into CURTAINS feeling the casting of Pierce was pretty dull, I was excited about seeing Monk, Ziemba, and Danieley live but not even caring for one second about the fact Pierce was the lead. The second he came on stage and all the way through his final bow, I felt enthralled by him, he won me over. No, his role does not have the kind of dramatic arc that Bobby does, but Pierce becomes the character. He doesn't have to carry the show because it is an ensemble piece, but when he is on stage I really could not pay attention to anyone else, he owns the role and I would be very happy if he took a Tony home come June 10.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:35pm

Tom, the "someone" you ask for may well preferably be one who doesn't wear her bias on her sleeve, but having seen all but Cerveris, I'll bite anyway. Perhaps in some ways, the answer best comes from someone who's long supported his work, because the reasons why I've always loved his work are exactly why I believe so strongly in his performance in Company.

I've been a fan of Esparza's for a couple of years. I saw his understudy in Taboo, but before I saw the show, I picked up the tick, Tick...BOOM! CD to hear what he sounded like, and I liked his voice right from the start. I first saw him on stage in The Normal Heart, and I just found his rather magnetic intensity to be completely captivating, with some serious acting chops to go along with that beautiful voice. As I familiarized myself with more of his work, I found that he's wonderfully versatile, too. I'm pretty picky about actors, and I think the man is a genius.

While I like the way he sings, what I love most about his performance in Company isn't hearing him sing the score, even though he does so beautifully. Doyle's revival was my very first exposure to Company; I wasn't familiar with anything but the music before I saw this production, so I was very willing to accept the someone controversial things he's done with the character as perfection rather than blasphemy. I connected really deeply with Doyle's interpretation of the show, and the really dark comedic spin he gave it, and I think Esparza's interpretation of Bobby just embodies that. To watch, it's the perfect example of elements meshing perfectly.

As for his performance in comparison to the others in his category: I think Groff's nomination is a complete joke. He's very talented, but he's giving a decent performance in a mediocre role, and he's just not in the same league as his fellow nominees. I loved DHP's performance. I've always liked him -- there's something very lovable and inviting about the way he is on stage, or in performance in general, really. But, to be honest, while he gave a fine performance, I think it's very difficult to be brilliant in that kind of role -- and one that doesn't have nearly as much depth as does a role like Bobby. After seeing Curtains, I thought that while he will be, theoretically and based on performance alone (idealistic, I know), he shouldn't be a legitimate threat. I just saw Mary Poppins this week, and was incredibly impressed by Gavin Lee. The movie has a very dear place in my heart, so he had a lot to live up to, and I thought he was the best thing about the show. He was endearing and enjoyable to watch, and as I said before, if Raúl weren't up this season, I would be thrilled to see Gavin take the Tony. There was something so joyous and radiant about his performance.

The first time I saw Company was over a year ago, out in Cincinnati. Perhaps one of the highest compliments I could pay to the performance is to say that, as someone who is terrified of flying, it was absolutely worth getting on a plane to see. Raúl's Bobby explores something that I think is very relatable, often to the point of that wonderful kind of discomfort we often experience when theater grabs onto us. His performance did then, and still does now, viscerally shake some deep emotional core... and that doesn't happen to me very often. I think he tapped into something fascinating and deeply moving with this one. His performance, to me, is explosive and cathartic and stunning. I think he not only shatters the complaints that Bobby is a cipher, but that his Bobby is about something much more wide-reaching than just whether or not to get married. What he's doing up there is immensely powerful, and I'm really taken with his approach to the character, even (maybe because) of its depressive, deadpan feel -- he can do that without losing Bobby's sweet, lovable charm. I certainly think a lot of what makes the performance is so special is good directing, but once you've got such a capable actor, it's often a collaborative effort to create a great performance, no? All of that, and much, much more that I could think to say, to me, make him stand out way above the rest this season.

My pocket change, to do with what you will. Now, let's wait for CurtainPullDowner to come in after all of that and insist that really, I just think Raúl's a mega-hottie.

Updated On: 5/27/07 at 04:35 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:37pm

Actually Ray, while I agree with everything else you said, I feel that Pierce indeed does need to carry the show. There is certainly a large ensemble, but Pierce is onstage nearly the whole time and I just don't think you can enjoy or buy Curtains if you don't buy/love his performance.

And of course, he does a great job of carrying it.

God, this category is stock full of talent!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:37pm

Double post

Updated On: 5/27/07 at 04:37 PM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:37pm

How would it be unfair to the other Supporting Actresses? Just because her part is bigger doesn't mean that she is going to win, look at Adriane Lenox in DOUBT.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:43pm

No, but it isn't fair to put someone who is above the title, is considered the female lead, and who has a moment who stops the show every single night for minutes at a time (as part of her LARGE role) to be put in Featured. What other featured actress has a role like that?

She wanted to be above the title so that for the ages, her name is associated with that. She knew what that meant as far as awards, but awards are not as important to her as being that kind of a permanent part of CURTAINS. She's fine with it - why shouldn't we be?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:46pm

I never said that she shouldn't be above the title, I just don't think she is a leading actress in that show, and I don't understand why she is considered a leading actress. Is the criteria to be considered a leading actress based on where your name is for marketing and publicity?
Updated On: 5/27/07 at 04:46 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:47pm

Since we're debating Monk, what do you guys think of Gavin Lee? Does he belong in the lead or featured category?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:48pm

I don't see how so much huff and puff can be created by this. I don't think Monk's role is of leading lady status, but it's probably the closest the show has to one and she's extremely good in Curtains. I'm glad she's nominated. No matter what the category.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:50pm

Lead, absolutely -- especially since the show really makes more of Bert as a narrator in addition to a player in the story.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:52pm

wrq, sorry for not responding to your question sooner, I didn't see it. I haven't seen LoveMusik yet, so I'm not sure; that's what I think Cerveris notwithstanding, though. And I think his part is still a lead, but less of a traditional leading man than is DHP's, if that makes sense.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:52pm

He's also great. Although that just justifies his nomination, not his category.

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:58pm

I also think that Lee should have been in the featured category. He would have had such a better chance!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:02pm

Oh okay, Emcee. Granted you said if Raul wasn't there, you'd prefer Gavin over David, not Gavin period, still couldn't have hurt to put in parenthesis or something that you haven't seen Cerveris or something.

Totally not something personal against you, I just see time and time again people making Tony predictions, I mean who they think deserves to win, having not seen all the nominated shows/performances, especially when they don't acknowledge that they haven't seen them all, and it just really bothers me.

But...that might be hypocritical on my part, b/c for instance, I said Curtains deserves best book without having scene Legally Blonde, but to me, from everything I've read and people have said, I shouldn't have any reason to think LB is the best book. I don't know what do you guys think? If I think people should always add in anything they might not have seen when making statements about who deserves Tonys, should that go for everything, even those who the person has no reason to think is better? Like if someone made decisions without having seen Wedding Singer last year, I wouldn't have faulted them. Is that all right? Do you guys think I should hold everything to the same standards? If you think I should, I will.

Again, Emcee what you did isn't anywhere near as bad as someone only seeing Spring Awakening and trying to tell me that Jonathan Groff deserves the Tony, but things like that are what get me so frustrated.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:14pm

Sorry, I thought I had said it in another post in this thread -- my mistake, I just forget what I say where. I'll edit. I was actually comparing DHP and Gavin because of the nominees, I think their parts are most similar. Not a great analogy, I know. But anyway, I think it's fair-but-unrealistic to expect a "standard' like that to hold, just because people get caught up in their opinions and forget to make disclaimers... and because people make a lot of assumptions. I mean, I gave my opinion about book without having seen Legally Blonde, on the assumption that it's probably not that good, which is perhaps unfair. And so it goes.

Anyway. I think that if I had a hypothetical vote, unless Cerveris was truly mind-blowing, I'd subscribe to the "well, he just won a few years ago" camp. I was really impressed with Gavin. I didn't expect him to be anything above mediocre at all, and I thought he was just wonderful.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:15pm

Can anyone say some of the "upsets" the panal said might happen, like who might take best new musical if Spring Awakening doesn't win, etc...?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:29pm

Umm...I think they said Poppins for musical because of it's commercialism (or I'm confusing that with something else)...Audra from Christine like I stated, Translations from Journey's End...umm I think a couple for best play...Radio Golf as a possibility, Frost/Nixon for its entertainment value, but very very like Coast of Utopia.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:39pm

I think that when looking at Mary Poppins as a whole, Mary is the lead and Bert is her supporting sidekick friend. But if you look at the character of Bert you will see that he is as close to a Leading Man that the show has. So while he isn't the LEAD character he is the LEAD male character.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 5:43pm

Ugh, Translations was a bad production of a beautifully-written play. I felt distanced from Journey's End, but I thought it was very good.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 6:10pm

I always find Theatre Talk amsuing and comical. It's a nice laugh at 1:00 in the morning Friday nights. After their ludicrious predictions in 2005, though, I'm not particularly trusting of them. They were better last year.
I'm not going to say Spring Awakening is going to make a clean sweep. I don't really want to, but also I don't think it will happen.
Spring Awakening for choreography? It's like when they said Spamalot deserved best score! I didn't find the choreography particularly impressive. They were hip and young and jumped around a little. So what? The voters are going to keep on giving it to the flashiest, most "Broadway-ish" choreography, which would be Curtains.
And I'm going to say right now, 110 will not win revival. It doesn't have the same merit Pajama Game had. I want Company to win badly, but my gut is going with A Chorus Line, simply because of the money.
Updated On: 5/27/07 at 06:10 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 7:07pm

Which upsets did they say were most likely (in their estimation)?

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 7:42pm

I'm sure Company will win Best Musical. The Pajama Game only won Best Musical because they announced that they would be bringing the production back in November, probably just so they had a chance at the award, and right after they won they cancelled it. 110 in the Shade closes the week after the tony's and Sweeney was snubbed last year, therefore Company deserves to win. Also I don't think David Hyde Pierce stands a chance winning against Raul Esparza. Esparza blew me away, Pierce was just funny.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 7:52pm

"I'm sure Company will win Best Musical."

You really think it will beat Spring Awakening

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 8:09pm

The thing is, if they're going for commercial appeal for best revival, A Chorus Line will win. I personally think that the only revivals that could possibly win are Company and ACL. I would hate it for Chorus Line to win, simply because it’s a photocopy of the original production. I LOVE ACL, don’t get me wrong, but a revival is about rethinking something, not just recreating.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 8:14pm

The Pajama Game revival was also excellent and didn't rely on it's star's performance for a Tony win. Don't get me wrong, Harry Connick Jr. sure sold tickets, but it was a very solid production with a great cast. It also never officially stated that it was going to move to a commercial theatre that November. It was RUMORED and almost everyone knew it wasn't going to happen. Don't try and spin this into another Avenue Q story, Just John.