Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change — Page 2

A marvelous, understated, and powerhouse performance. Her Lot's Wife was one of the best moments I've ever experienced in a theater (I literally couldn't even move an arm or leg after she did that number). The rest of the company was top notch also (Anika being my favorite in the whole cast). And I just want to mention Chuck Cooper as the bus, who was riveting. That being said, I truly feel that Pinkins was not as deserving as Idina Menzel for the award. Menzel won that award based somewhat on her popularity, but also because of her talent, I hope. Also, I don't think her winning can be seen as a consolation prize for Wicked, because that year the best actress category was the most competitive.

Updated On: 12/22/07 at 09:00 AM

The only reason Tonya didn't get the Tony is she failed to visualize winning it well enough. She didn't put it out there in the universe clear enough and therefore the universe accidentally gave it to Idina.

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I loved the show and I thought Tonya's acting was excellent. However, her voice was shaky throughout the majority of the show starting with a severe and starting crack in the opening line. It made it very difficult to concentrate on the show because it happened so frequently and at times would affect my ability to understand the lyrics (this was before the cast recording was released). I think that may have had some part in the voters' decisions, but I think there was another factor as well. The character of Caroline simply does not have much emotional range. She's pretty much angry and bitter from beginning to end with very little change. She has the wonderful Lot's Wife to express her moment of epiphany, which is...angry and bitter, just louder.

When examining the performances of Idina and Tonya as well as their music and the characters they performed, in the end, I have to agree with the Tony voters. Though I know it's not politically correct to acknowledge the enjoyment of anything having to do with Wicked, I have to admit Idina's performance was electrifying, engaging, humorous and touching. The night I saw Wicked, both she and Chenoweth gave flawless performances. Tonya did not. Sad, but true.

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Margo - I hear you. I do think Tonya's acting was superb. I just wished her vocal flaws hadn't pulled me out of the piece so frequently and in a musical that is almost entirely sung, it was something of a major distraction. It is still one of my favorite shows in the past decade and shame on the Tonys for not granting a nod to Veanne Cox for her brilliant performance. When I saw the show, the scene that had the most emotion and intensity for me was Anika's heartbreaking I Hate the Bus, which can still move me to tears when I listen to the CD. Perhaps I saw Tonya on an off-night. Perhaps the voters did as well. Who knows? But unlike other Tony-bitter rants that come across the boards every summer, I can understand perfectly why people would be upset with Tonya's loss.

And I freely admit it's all my own opinion. In my 20 years of theatre-going. So stop going to the theatre for the next 15 years, Margo and let me catch up. :-P

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I thought that Menzel and Chenoweth gave the most entertaining performances of that year which can oftentimes be confused as the best because such performances usually garner much more attention. Pinkins however was absolutely incredible in every respect. It was one of the best performances I've ever seen and "Lot's Wife" was one of those moments in the theater that you will just never forget.

She was stunning and the show was absolutely fantastic, certainly one of the best new musicals of the last five years.