Time Out New York's Tony Predictions... — Page 3

I can't listen to that song without breaking down. And Carol Shelley's song is insignificant to the story? Did you even try to listen to the words? She told you about the home Jackie grew up in. About the father who was a drunken brute and the mother who did her own share of hitting whenever she could. This background that led to the man who then had to leave school and enter the mines at the age of 15, and who was widowed and left with two young sons. Now he's lost the only job he's ever known and his wife and (he believes) his sons. If you'd listened to his song, you would know this. And now it's the sons who are showing that sign of brutality (Tony on the strike line and Billy at the audition). Her song put sense to the characters of each of these men and added layers to the world that Billy was living in. It also laid the base that showed you just how far Jackie travelled to reach the character he became at the end. I get so angry when I hear people making these quick snide comments about the score when it's so obvious they didn't even bother to listen to what was being sung.

edit to add: and I never had a problem understanding a word of the song. I'm sorry you did. You really missed an important part of the story.

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Updated On: 6/1/09 at 10:47 PM

I get so angry when I hear people making these quick snide comments about the score when it's so obvious they didn't even bother to listen to what was being sung

I've listened to the score repeatedly and always found it trite and repetitive, particularly act 2. I don't remember a single song in the second act.

God, I couldn't stand Jbara's number during the Christmas party. It should be re-titled "Time to Take a Cigarette or Bathroom Break" though that wouldn't make much sense since it's at the top of Act II.

It really is a complete bore. It's also the number I notice the audience begin to reach for the Playbills in, to see what's next.

As a person who absolutely loves Next to Normal and Hair, I think Billy truly deserves to sweep. The other two would come in a very close second in pretty much every category, but I think everything just meshed together so well in Billy Elliot. Also for me, Haydn Gwynne is the clear winner in my book (I didn't see Martha though). Haydn's performance is hilarious and heartfelt, biting and bittersweet. I think the only one who comes close in the acting department is Carole Shelley. Jen is all right and I just did not love Karen Olivo at all (did I miss something maybe?). And Daldry should win Direction if only because he got those performances out of all of those young actors, from the Billys to the Michaels to the ballet girls. His staging is beautiful also.

~Steven

My vote (if I had one):

Musical - Next to Normal
Choreo- Billy Elliot
Dir/ Musical - Paulus/ Hair
Score - Next to Normal
Book - Billy Elliot

Actor - i respectfully abstain
Actress - Ripley
Feat Actor - Sieber
Feat Actress - up in the air? Plimpton maybe? Gynne?

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Updated On: 6/2/09 at 02:30 PM

Feat Actress - up in the air? Plimpton maybe? Gynne?


- LOL. I like how you originally had Olivo, but changed it to Plimpton and Gwynne.

Updated On: 6/2/09 at 03:19 PM

And here's my oh-so-important two cents worth. Will Swenson galvanized an already-frenetic Hair from the first moment to the last. Frankly, I thought he should have warranted a Best Musical Actor nod, but beggars and choosers and all that good stuff. You just don't see that sustained energy level all that often and he should be justly remembered for his brilliant performance.

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Again, I am in the minority when it comes to people's feelings about Billy Elliot's score. But I really want Next to Normal to take home Best Score.

But at the same time, I'm rooting for Greg Jbara for Best Featured Actor in A Musical.

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I love the Billy score and I really like the Next to Normal score as well. I would not be upset if Next to Normal wins. Both shows are also beautifully orchestrated.

It seems like I'm in the minority who will be happy with whoever wins. I'm not one to sulk about awards show wins, even when I disagree completely. For example, if Olivo wins, I will very much disagree, but I will be happy for her.

~Steven

again, 23/26. (I'm including the orchestrations as them getting it.)

and I'm sorry, but Greg Jbara deserves his award. Maybe it's because I'm British born, but I understand every word he sang. and he has probably the hardest emotional ride in the show, going from mad, to pissed off, to sad about his wife, to trying to accept Billy, and finally understanding why Billy is doing what he is doing.

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