Posted: 6/1/15 at 11:05am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNcq3d3OvPA
Riedel has been fangirling An American in Paris for months, so take his prediction with a grain of salt. It's more telling that Musto thinks it will win.
Interesting how they all seem to go for Ruthie Ann Miles.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 11:05am
^Also interesting to see that there's no word for On the Town.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 11:58am
I know she writes, and I use that term lightly, for the same paper as Riedel, but why do they give that miserable, wretched "critic" Elisabeth Vincentelli a platform? OK, I probably answered my own question there. I always looked forward to their Tony Awards specials because of the three panelists. Adding a fourth, and such a miserable toad, ruined it for me this year.
I'm surprised that most of them went for Ruthie Ann Miles, too, but I think Susan's right. Judy Kuhn will win. Riedel was disrespectful, condescending, and sneering when Tesori, Kron and Bechdel made an appearance on Theater Talk last week, so it's not a surprise that he's in the AMERICAN IN PARIS camp-- and probably not because he likes it, but because he's a tin-eared homophobe.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:09pm
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:13pm
For the past few years, I've been winning many a Tony pool by hearing Riedel's "predictions" and completely ignoring them... Looks like this year will be no different.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:20pm
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:26pm
I certainly don't hate Vincentelli - she writes very well-worded if not always the most thoughtful pieces - but her presence here really did throw off the wonderful dynamic that Pacheco, Musto and Green have established over the years. If they were going to include a new critic (and why would they, since Green is now the critic for Vulture), why not ask Brantley? He's always incredibly charismatic and fun.
Did anybody else catch Vincentelli and Green saying that they are voters? I thought the reviewing press was cut from the voting group.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:29pm
Some critics have been added back to the voting pool.
Brantley is always fairly charming on Theater Talk, but I believe they're having a non-predictions "Critics' Panel" in a few weeks with him, Peter Marks, Terry Teachout and another cow that ought to be put out to pasture, John Simon.
Oskar Eustis and The Public are fairly left-wing. Riedel is...not. Methinks it's political.
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 12:29 PM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:33pm
Good Lord, get Vincentelli the hell out of there. Fun Home a "beige" score? The time has come when she has to realize she should take a step back from critiquing and call it quits. Just obnoxious.
I just dont understand how Ruthie Ann Miles wins. Sure she had a successful year with Here Lies Love, but if Tony voters, as they pointed out, arent sitting there thinking of if a nominee hasnt won before or is hosting, then will they really be taking into account their off-broadway credits too? The way I see it, if Judy Kuhn loses, it will only be to her co-star Sydney Lucas.
It does look like Robert Fairchild is somehow locking down best actor... sigh. He's perfection as a dancer, but there are so many great options in that category (including snubbed McClure and a dancer who actually can act and sing, Yazbeck) it saddens me to think Cerveris wont be recognized for the complex man he created, or that James will have to wait still for his big Tony win.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:36pm
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:39pm
I have a feeling that every other award given out is going to cause a "HUH???" reaction from 90% of the people here.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:47pm
I agree, Jordan. I like that. It means I will most likely lose when it comes to correctly predicting winners, but it will make for a very exciting and surprising awards show.
Ha! I'll definitely never forget Riedel lying about the success of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, which when I saw the night after opening had a largely empty mezzanine---the audience was completely unresponsive too.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 12:59pm
Posted: 6/1/15 at 1:05pm
Riedel very conveniently blamed his BULLETS OVER BROADWAY boner on Susan Haskins, because SHE went to the press preview and SHE said it was good. Well, SHE is your executive producer and SHE should fire you. Unless I'm mistaken, isn't Theater Talk technically Haskins' show? Why does she put up with his abuse? Surely she could go on without him.
Elisabeth Vincetelli's claim to fame before becoming a critic was writing a coffee table book about ABBA. (No, not A-B-B-A song structure. The disco group.) So there.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:18pm
All that video really did for me was make me sad that I missed out on Here Lies Love.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:26pm
To Audra
It seems a bit strident suggesting a critic should retire because she does not like a score you do. We were not bowled by the show either . An acquaintance in our building felt the same. Many people did not care for it Not every show will appeal to everyone hence mixed reviews on shows. It will probably win and so be it. We will not go off the deep end because something we liked more did not win. Life somehow goes on no matter who wins or does not win the Tonys
To JV
Brantleys claim to fame was writing on fashion. Not much better. Charming? Oy Vey
By the way, how does anyone train to become a professional theater critic?
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 02:26 PM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:29pm
They didn't even get all the categories? I don't think they're right about Featured Musical. Judy Kuhn has that one pretty much nailed down in my opinion...
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:41pm
Michael Riedel also said Beautiful would win last year, Matilda would win the year before that, and Newsies would win the year after that. I really hope Fun Home wins
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:43pm
Just watched it now, I didn't mind Elisabeth as much, but I didn't think she was a great addition. As for the predictions, I am still predicting Judy Kuhn, but I would not be surprised if Ruthie Anne Miles wins for the reasons that they mentioned. I doubt that either of the other Fun Home nominees could beat them. I still think Cerveris will pull it off, although Fairchild is right at his heels. I am on the fence right now between Kelli and Kristin, but I am leaning towards Kristin. Play will go to Curious, Actor In A Play will go to Sharp, Actress to Mirren, Revival Of A Play to Skylight, Musical to Fun Home, and Revival Of A Musical to The King And I.
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 02:43 PM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:48pm
In Audra's defense, not that she needs it, I was also bowled over by Vincentelli's assertion that the Fun Home score is "beige." I don't care if you like it or not, that's your prerogative, but to call it beige is just wrongheaded. It Shoulda Been You is beige.
The comment was worth it, though, from the outcry it provoked from the other critics at the table immediately afterward. They were beating her down real good. It was fun to see.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:54pm
Basically what you are saying is because she did not like it she should be attacked. Forgetting about the quality of a score, why is it wrong to call Fun score Beige but Ok to call the one for ISHBY the same term?
What you are basically saying is it is wrong to criticize Fun Home. If you can criticize one show, you should be able to criticize any show without fear of retribution.
What they did to her on theater talk was good old fashion censorship. She should have been burned at the stake for daring to state her opinion on the score. Silly me, I thought that was her job - to give her opinions on shows.
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 02:54 PM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:09pm
I expect a critic to have a well-informed opinion. Calling Fun Home score "beige" is not well-informed. As I said, even if someone doesn't care for the score, I expect the person to come up with a better reason than that. I take beige to mean a score that goes along with what has come before, doesn't break new ground, doesn't make waves, is something that is more or less forgettable by the time one leaves the theater. Fun Home is the opposite of beige. On the other hand, I found It Shoulda Been You's score to sound as if it was written by committee. And, in fact, the lyrics were written by a committee of sorts.
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 03:09 PM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:18pm
I think because Fun is the it show this year, they would have criticized her no matter what she said. If it does not score at the Tonys, there will be more conspiracy theories floating around than at the time of the JFK assassination.
It is your opinion re calling her opinion not well informed. Any criticism of it would have met with the same knee jerk response. We saw it and said ok we saw it but it did not bowl us over like either The Visit or Rotten. I know liking Rotten is considered very plebian but there it is. Rotten can and will tour. I doubt any tour of Fun will be successful. If it is, more power to it but do not see it happening.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:28pm
well thanks mac for the defense. Roxy, I was not simply saying those things because we didnt agree. I frequently find myself at odds with Michael Musto's theatre tastes, but he intelligently backs up or defends his views, so I respect them.
Vincentelli appears to just not enjoy most theatre, at least that is what I take away from this appearance and some other writing of hers. Its like she has reached a point where she has consumed so much of it, nothing excites her anymore. But she did not delve into "why" she hated these shows (or aspects of them). No examples or defense given, just throwing out pomposity: "its awful", "uuughh", "boring" etc. Everyone has their own opinions and is welcome to them. But you better damn well be able to explain them or you look ridiculous. To not offer any further insight as to why she thought what is I believe Tesori's best work to date, "beige" reeks of not knowing your stuff. She may indeed know her stuff, but she seems too "over it" to care to explain. I would never attack someone who didnt like a show I liked. I would and will call out lazy journalism though.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:42pm
I don't understand how someone who so clearly hates going to the theatre could decide to make a living from it. When Vincentelli talks about the theatre, it reminds me of the scene in Candide (the novel, this scene is typically omitted from stage adaptations) in which Candide attends the theatre and decides that the men sitting next to him must be of the noblest status because they hate everything. Elisabeth Vincentelli seems to achieve an elitist feeling of superiority when complaining about shows that everyone else loves. Now, I think those who disagree with the majority should certainly engage in thoughtful discussion, but I hear none of that from Vincentelli, and I never find her a worthwhile guest on the show.
The rest of the panel, however, was lovely to have on. If only Pacheco or Green could replace Riedel's position on the show.
