Tony's 2003: Was it a shocker when Bernadette didn't win the Tony? — Page 3

This is the text of a message that I posted here on December 23, 2004:

""Just a brief comment on Bernadette and her attendance:

"Gypsy" played a total of 484 performances (that includes 33 previews). Bernadette took a 1-week vacation Sept 29-Oct. 4, 2003 (8 performances) and a 1-performance night off to be with her husband in July 2003--both announced in advance. She was out sick for 11 performances (in April and May 2003 and once on May 9, 2004). The facts belie the constant carping about Ms. Peters' poor attendance, at least at "Gypsy". ""

Updated On: 6/10/06 at 11:55 AM

"while she had the acting chops to tackle the role, her voice could handle the difficulties of the score she had to sing eight times a week."

I saw Gypsy roughly 30 times. I saw it first shortly after previews started (in April 2003) and last in the middle of April 2004. I did not see it during the time that Bernadette was sick with a respiratory infection--that would be late April and part of early May 2003. Whenever I saw the play, Bernadette had no problem singing the score, and I heard no vocal distress. Nor did I hear strain, coughing--except for once, a brief clearing of the throat, really--wheezing, or any other manifestation of any inability to sing the score.

That said, I have read accounts of people who saw the show during the time she was ill--it appears to me that she may have decided to do the show when she had not completely recovered from her respiratory infection. (Or, perhaps, the circumstances dictated that she return to the show--I really couldn't say.)

My 2cents.

adamgreer:
Interesting. I'm sure you aren't as mean-sprited as your post makes you sound. (Probably just the vagueries of the internet.)

adamgreer - that is exactly what I refered to earlier, 'the pointing around'.

kjklo - it was thigh slappingly funny! She never was really a contender. There seems to be this strange perception that every woman who plays Rose deserves an award. Obviously this wasn't one of them.

More importantly, was it a shocker when Ethel didn't win the Tony?

Updated On: 6/11/06 at 12:22 AM

Who? What? Can I get fries with that?





Allison MacKenzie
Peyton Place, New Hampshire

Munkus-The Tony Awards are a co-venture between the League of American THEATRES and PRODUCERS and the American Theatre Wing, a service organization whose Board of Directors consist mainly of PRODUCERS. Saying that the Producers should not be the deciding factor in who receives a Tony is like saying the Critics should not decide who gets a good review (or the Outer Critics Circle Award).

As for Peters v. Winoker, it was clear that Hairspray, which got better reviews than Gypsy, had momentum carrying it from August and Harvey and Marrisa were really fantastic together. Reidel decided to be particularly cruel to Peters that year and that, cobbled with her Tony win from her recent revival turn (with Reba McEntire replacing her and receiving better notices) it simply "wasn't her year" as far as the Tonys were concerned. I was not particularly shocked.

As to Banderas v. Fierstein, while Antonio gave a very nuanced performance in a beautifully staged revival, there's nothing like a star turn in a well-done new musical comedy - especially one given by a star with Fierstein's pedigree. And while I missed Banderas once Stamos replaced him, I've yet to see someone ground Hairspray like Harvey did. It wasn't just a comedic turn, it was the heart of the show.

Just my opinion, and I'll leave it at that. I have clothes to iron for the Tonys tomorrow and my diet pill is wearing off :)

---

The shocker was her winning one for her inept performance in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN!

Mandelbaum claimed Peters was the front runner for the Tony after she opened to raves from the major NY dailies and weeklies including the Times, New Yorker and NY Magazine and most of the national press. However when she missed those performances following the opening, had to perform while sick during the time all the Tony voters would have been attending, and didn’t win the Drama Desk, most predicted a win for Winokur, so I don’t know how Peters or anyone really following the awards process could have been “shocked.” People only tuning in to the telecast might have been after seeing the two performances and the audiences’ response to those performances.

AEgo – if you find Peters losing hysterically funny, you must have been rolling on the floor after seeing LuPone’s reaction to losing in 1988. If you haven’t seen it you really must, someone like you would likely bust a gut, and since LuPone had actually won the Drama Desk and was expecting to win, her reaction is even more priceless. LuPone was apparently so upset about not winning that she let it affect her performance to the point that the director had to come back and give her a spanking. Hopefully LuPone will win this year. If her critically well received return to the Broadway musical after a nearly 20 year absence in one of the best reviewed shows of the season only generates lukewarm box office numbers, I can’t imagine that she will have many more chances to get that second leading actress Tony.