Tony Best Actress in a Musical- Page 3

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 4:33pm

If you were to put Kristin up against just Idina, I don't see why Idina should win. I'm FAR from being a Kristin fan, but I think she would deserve it over Idina even if you only count it because of vocal consistency. You go to see Kristin and you know what you're going to hear. You go to see Idina and you risk one of her "off" nights.

Posted: 7/28/04 at 4:45pm

Not that we can judge on Tony performances, but is Tonya the one who sung a performance? Because I myself thought she was a screamer just from that one performance I saw alone, but I can't judge if I haven't seen the show.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 4:48pm

Yes, Pinkins had an awful night at the Tonys. I saw Caroline, or Change afterwards, and she was much better- she stayed in tune throughout "Lot's Wife." However, at this point her upper register is just ravaged. She needs to take a short vacation to try and recover.

She isn't a screamer, though- she was singing with a worn-out voice, which doesn't sound much better. And her lower register is still lovely.

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 4:49pm

I haven't seen "Caroline or Change" yet but from what I understand...isn't it a lot of singing? It's carried like an opera almost? Not judging from her Tony performance, but isn't her role very demanding? I understand Idina does "fly" and she does hit that note at the end of "Defying Gravity" but like I said before, Tonya is carrying CoC.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 4:51pm

Yup, Caroline, or Change is sung through. And outside of Bernadette Peters in Gypsy and Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz, Tonya Pinkins is the hardest-working actor I've seen in a musical this year.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 5:32pm

I was VERY VERY happy when Idina won. I was also rooting for her all the way. But, that was before i knew nothing about CoC. If i had known what a perfromance tonya gives (not to mention all the singing in that show), i would have rooted for her. Tonya really owns that role. I am still glad idina won, but tonya really deserved it (too bad it wasnt a tie). heres my order of who deserved it the most:
tonya
idina
stephanie
kristin

[Testing1232]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 6:27pm

Little_sally...

Yes, Tonya is amazing, but I dont know if she carries "Caroline". Dont forget that Anika Noni Rose won the Tony for her role, and basically steals every scene that she is in. She absolutely lights up the stage as Emmie. Have seen the show a number of times , and I am always curious to hear comments from people leaving the show. Most times I hear that Tonya was incredible, but that "the daughter" is the best in the show.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 6:45pm

Anika Noni Rose's character, Emmie, is more instantly likeable than Tonya Pinkins' Caroline. I think Caroline herself says, "I am mean, and I am tough." And she is- but the longer the show goes on, the more sympathetic she becomes, as you learn why she is how she is. Emmie is bright, headstrong and hopeful, the kind of character that other musicals would center on. Caroline is...well...a grump. So if people like Anika Noni Rose better than Tonya Pinkins, I think it's as much a reflection on the characters they play as on their respective performances.

[shesings]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:03pm

While I was rooting for Idina, I have to admit I was surprised she won. Since the race was so close this year I expected that Kristin and Idina would split the Wicked vote leaving them further behind the other ladies. I am very happy for Idina though. The other 3 who were considered to be big contenders (unfortunatly not Stephanie D'Abruzzo)all have Tonys so I think its only fair really to spread the wealth. Hopefully Stephanie will get one soon as well! And while we're at it I'd like one as well!

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:10pm

Now, I find Hugh Jackman to me much more attractive than Ms. Menzel, but that's just me. :) But honestly, gymfred, if you haven't heard anyone won can sing better than Idina Menzel, you need to listen to more singers.

Like Audra McDonald, for one, though she isn't my personal favorite. You can listen to her "Seven Deadly Sins" concert from the NPR website if you search for her name, or just listen to the Ragtime OBC. Sarah Rice on the OBC of Sweeney Todd. Victoria Mallory and D'Jamin Bartlett in the OBC of A Little Night Music. Barbara Cook in the 1985 concert of Follies. Julie Andrews in anything, but let's just take the OBC of My Fair Lady as an example.

But why stick to women? You said people, right? Brian Stokes Mitchell in the OBC of Ragtime or the revival of Man of La Mancha. John Raitt in the OBC of Carousel. Shuler Hensley in the 1998 London revival of Oklahoma. Michel Bell in the 1994 revival of Show Boat.

All far better singers than Menzel, even when she's at her best. Try listening to just a few of them. Updated On: 7/28/04 at 10:10 PM

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:13pm

look, ive tried to stay away from the wicked debates (or debates which include wicked and whatnot) but i really have to say that there is a reason that kristen chenoweth was singled out by ben brantley for her role in the show, and that was because much like anika noni rose, she played a likeable character, and filled it very well. idina, on the other hand has the (i'll admit it) tough job of playing the "straight man" to kristen, and few could manage to pull that one off. and sadly, in my opinion, she really didnt. she was great in defying gravity and other songs when i saw her, but look at the tony performance for gods sake! she was terrible, a bundle of raw nerves, and kristen was hitting her notes with utter ease, like she always does. being a broadway performer is about more than just a great voice, it is also about concistancy (missing performances aside) and how well one works and moves in character onstage. idina may be spectacular when she is in her gravity defying moment, but thats not enough. even when you are working with a bland character (elphaba is entirely underwritten, but then again look at that book, gAlina isnt so terribly charming on paper either) you have to make the best of it.

but what do i know, she is the one with the tony. Updated On: 7/28/04 at 10:13 PM

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:14pm

oh.....you do not know how much i want to SCREAM at ragtime! i'm going to be nice and just peacefully disagree in my head.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:14pm

"Idina Menzel has a freak of a voice and couldn't act her way through Wicked. IT was difficult to watch. (And I somehow managed to see this pieced together musical twice). She won be default, not because she deserved it. Don't think any other way."

Well, now that you've said that, I suppose I can't be a fan of Idina's incredible work anymore. Of course, my opinion means nothing...because I know nothing. I'm glad you respect other people's opinions.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:17pm

i really do think her voice is wonderful, dont get me wrong. id like to purchase her cd, for that matter. im just talking about who is the better performer. (btw, im not responding to you, broadwaygirl107- i just mean in general)

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:17pm

"Don't think any other way."

I'll think whatever I want, thanks.

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:25pm

"idina, on the other hand has the (i'll admit it) tough job of playing the "straight man" to kristen, and few could manage to pull that one off. and sadly, in my opinion, she really didnt. she was great in defying gravity and other songs when i saw her, but look at the tony performance for gods sake! she was terrible, a bundle of raw nerves, and kristen was hitting her notes with utter ease, like she always does. being a broadway performer is about more than just a great voice, it is also about concistancy (missing performances aside) and how well one works and moves in character onstage."

Ummm, wasn't it mentioned that Tonya didn't have a great performance at the Tonys either? First of all, they give them, what, a minute and a half to do a performance? And don't they rush the song more, so it doesn't take up too much time, so they have to get used to singing it faster than usual? And let's not forget at the Tony performance who had to sing 90% of the song? You say Kristin hit her notes perfectly, but Idina had more to sing in that song. Updated On: 7/28/04 at 10:25 PM

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:36pm

you, my dear friend are the exact reason i try not to get involved in these arguments. believe whatever you want to believe. i never mentioned tonya, so i dont see what your comparison is supposed to accomplish (though, for the record i think she did much better than idina at the tonys) and there is a reason i used the term "in my opinion". you have now stated yours, thanks so very much.

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:44pm

Yeah, but it's not fair to say one actress did better on a performance than another when Idina sings the majority of the song, and gets in that harness to pull her up to "fly" and then hit the high notes. I have read reviews that praise Idina more than Kristin and others that praise Kristin more than Idina. All performances are different, you can't just base it on one.

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:48pm

I didn't think Tonya sounded that great on her Tony performance, but I would never say it's because she's a bad performer because she's inconsistent. Most performers would be nervous to perform then. But from what I'm reading, I'm sure she's a great performer if most people think she should have won. I just don't believe anyone should be judged by that one performance.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:04pm

yeah i absolutely agree. there are so many issues that we do not know of regarding the TONY performances. you really can't judge.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:11pm

Oh my Lord. I can't believe we're still having this debate. And to think that last year, I thought the Bernadette-Marissa dilemma was bad. Idina won, and rightfully so in my opinion. The Tony's were almost 2 months ago. Let it go Tonya and Donna fans. Let it go.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:14pm

Thank you, PJ...exactly my thoughts.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:22pm

Oh come on. Where else do we get to argue the finer points of "does Idina scream?" :) Updated On: 7/28/04 at 11:22 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:27pm

Not everyone likes the same performers. So I guess you're entitled to your Idina opinions. But let's put this thread on hold for a while. I hope the Best Actress in a Musical Tony isn't always this problematic.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/28/04 at 11:29pm

Of course it's not always a problem, some years people debate other topics...such as...why did Brian Stokes Mitchell lose out to Harvey Fierstein?