Times article about the great shows of this past season; Brantley calls N2N "the best new musical of the season"
#2
Posted: 5/15/09 at 5:31pm
Good thing Brantley's not a Tony voter.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#3
Posted: 5/15/09 at 5:35pm
Go Brantley. N2N is in another league from BE, in my opinion.
#4
Posted: 5/15/09 at 5:37pm
N2N and BILLY are almost equally good. But N2N is the best new musical this year by a nose, IMO.
And the Tony for Best Musical will go to BILLY...so go figure.
And the Tony for Best Musical will go to BILLY...so go figure.
#5
Posted: 5/15/09 at 5:43pm
"Its exclusion from the Tony nominations shows how meaningless the awards generally are as measures of artistic merit."
I love the hubris that if the show connected with him, be damned with consensus and everybody else who got it wrong.
I love the hubris that if the show connected with him, be damned with consensus and everybody else who got it wrong.
If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them. - Ethel Merman
#6
Posted: 5/15/09 at 6:01pm
I think his point was that the consensus at the time actually WAS that the production was fantastic. The Tony nominators failure to recognize it, instead focusing almost exclusively on those shows currently running, indicated that there is a bias toward rewarding shows that can use the boost rather than solely rewarding based on artistic merit.
Of course, I happen to agree with him that The Seagull was the best production of the season and wish Kristin Scott Thomas and Zoe Kazan were poised to win Tony awards. I'm still baffled that the show got zero nominations.
As to where he and Isherwood got the impression that Dividing the Estate was an astounding work, I surely can't say. I found that show trite and hokey. But alas...
But back to the original subject of the post, N2N also has my vote for best musical. I was less entranced by Billy Elliot than most seemed to be. And though I think Next to Normal has flaws, I was deeply moved by it. What more can you ask for?
Of course, I happen to agree with him that The Seagull was the best production of the season and wish Kristin Scott Thomas and Zoe Kazan were poised to win Tony awards. I'm still baffled that the show got zero nominations.
As to where he and Isherwood got the impression that Dividing the Estate was an astounding work, I surely can't say. I found that show trite and hokey. But alas...
But back to the original subject of the post, N2N also has my vote for best musical. I was less entranced by Billy Elliot than most seemed to be. And though I think Next to Normal has flaws, I was deeply moved by it. What more can you ask for?
#7
Posted: 5/15/09 at 6:48pm
All it will take is another two or three shout-outs like this and N2N will be a MAJOR contender for Best Musical. (The Tony Committee actually does listen to people like Brantley, after all.)
There are times when I have to hate Brantley, but as for his wrap-up of this year's season on Broadway, I tend to agree, strongly, with almost everything he put in this article -- especially his take on N2N.
Peace.
There are times when I have to hate Brantley, but as for his wrap-up of this year's season on Broadway, I tend to agree, strongly, with almost everything he put in this article -- especially his take on N2N.
Peace.
#8
Posted: 5/15/09 at 6:48pm
All it will take is another two or three shout-outs like this and N2N will be a MAJOR contender for Best Musical. (The Tony Committee actually does listen to people like Brantley, after all.)
There are times when I have to hate Brantley, but as for his wrap-up of this year's season on Broadway, I tend to agree, strongly, with almost everything he put in this article -- especially his take on N2N.
Peace.
There are times when I have to hate Brantley, but as for his wrap-up of this year's season on Broadway, I tend to agree, strongly, with almost everything he put in this article -- especially his take on N2N.
Peace.
#9
Posted: 5/16/09 at 12:01am
All it will take is another two or three shout-outs like this and N2N will be a MAJOR contender for Best Musical. (The Tony Committee actually does listen to people like Brantley, after all.)
It is going to take a LOT more than two or three more positive shout-outs for N2N to pose a threat for Best Musical. BILLY has it in the bag...the Tony voters really don't listen to people like Brantley anyway. He crapped on MILLE and even Sutton's performance and it stormed the Tonys that season. The Tony voters tend to vote for the show that will tour the best, appeal the most to middle America and tourists, and is the surefire hit of that season with some exceptions (usually in less than stellar seasons on Broadway; and this season was certainly stellar). A paragraph in a NY Times article is not going to win N2N the Tony for Best Musical...politics and all taken into consideration, BILLY will walk away with the award come June 7th; to me, it's almost guaranteed. But weirder things have happened with the Tonys...if BILLY loses, N2N will win. But BILLY is almost certainly not going to lose.
It is going to take a LOT more than two or three more positive shout-outs for N2N to pose a threat for Best Musical. BILLY has it in the bag...the Tony voters really don't listen to people like Brantley anyway. He crapped on MILLE and even Sutton's performance and it stormed the Tonys that season. The Tony voters tend to vote for the show that will tour the best, appeal the most to middle America and tourists, and is the surefire hit of that season with some exceptions (usually in less than stellar seasons on Broadway; and this season was certainly stellar). A paragraph in a NY Times article is not going to win N2N the Tony for Best Musical...politics and all taken into consideration, BILLY will walk away with the award come June 7th; to me, it's almost guaranteed. But weirder things have happened with the Tonys...if BILLY loses, N2N will win. But BILLY is almost certainly not going to lose.
#10
Posted: 5/16/09 at 1:24am
"As to where he and Isherwood got the impression that Dividing the Estate was an astounding work, I surely can't say. I found that show trite and hokey. But alas..."
Thank you.
Thank you.
#11
Posted: 5/16/09 at 9:14am
In his predictions (also in this weekend's arts and leisure section) he lists that everything about EVERYDAY RAPTURE should have been nominated.
#12
Posted: 5/16/09 at 9:49am
I saw that as well Yankeefan-I thought it was wierd that he could *chose* to nominate an off-broadway show for a TONY...just thought it was a little odd, but I do love the Everyday Rapture love...here's a link for anyone who wants to see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/theater/theaterspecial/17critics.html?ref=theaterspecial
#13
Posted: 5/16/09 at 10:31am
See, I have nothing wrong with the ability to choose Off-Broadway; hell, I think everyone would definitely choose RUINED as the best play of the season and year thus far...my thing is that he chose EVERYDAY RAPTURE.
#14
Posted: 5/16/09 at 10:33am
He also says Aaron Tveit should have been nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical...um...what?
#15
Posted: 5/16/09 at 10:39am
This little list certainly illuminated the differences between Brantley and Isherwood in terms of their personal choices.
Also, I must be the only person on the planet who didn't think Hallie Foote was brilliant. I still think Angela should win that award over her.
Also, I must be the only person on the planet who didn't think Hallie Foote was brilliant. I still think Angela should win that award over her.
#16
Posted: 5/16/09 at 11:13am
PS: Yankee, you didn't like EVERYDAY RAPTURE? I'm seeing it this afternoon...
#17
Posted: 5/16/09 at 11:40am
Can someone provide a link for Brantley and Isherwood's predictions?
I can't seem to find it on the website for The Times.
I can't seem to find it on the website for The Times.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#18
Posted: 5/16/09 at 12:29pm
It's linked in bwayfan's post.
#19
Posted: 5/16/09 at 12:34pm
Many critics thought N2N was better than BILLY....unfortunately the lock-step Tony voters will probably choose the latter. Not that that's a horrible thing, just...predictable.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#20
Posted: 5/16/09 at 12:52pm
I have a question about those predictions. Do both critics eventually get around to seeing the shows which they do not see to review? Because I know Isherwood reviewed [tos] and RoA and he's the only one who listed them in his "should have been nominated" lists, and I was wondering if Brantley has seen both of them.
#21
Posted: 5/16/09 at 1:20pm
Thank God someone high up like Brantley acknowledges the stupidity of entirely neglecting THE SEAGULL. One of the two best productions of the season (HAIR being my choice for the other).
#22
Posted: 5/16/09 at 3:33pm
Do both critics eventually get around to seeing the shows which they do not see to review? Because I know Isherwood reviewed [tos] and RoA and he's the only one who listed them in his "should have been nominated" lists, and I was wondering if Brantley has seen both of them.
Brantley has talked about [title of show] before. He's definitely seen it. I would imagine he has seen Rock of Ages as well.
Brantley has talked about [title of show] before. He's definitely seen it. I would imagine he has seen Rock of Ages as well.
Updated On: 5/16/09 at 03:33 PM
#23
Posted: 5/16/09 at 3:44pm
"Also, I must be the only person on the planet who didn't think Hallie Foote was brilliant."
I am absolutely baffled by all the praise Hallie Foote got for that role. I found her incredible annoying and difficult to watch. If she had said "I'm prayin'" one more time I would have screamed.
I am absolutely baffled by all the praise Hallie Foote got for that role. I found her incredible annoying and difficult to watch. If she had said "I'm prayin'" one more time I would have screamed.
#24
Posted: 5/16/09 at 5:12pm
I also thought Hallie Foote was pretty terrible- didn't particularly like the play either. In fact, I found it boring and repetitive.
#25
Posted: 5/16/09 at 5:56pm
I think the should give a best musical award for Drama and Comedy! Like they do for plays.
Updated On: 5/16/09 at 05:56 PM
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