What A Shock- Page 6

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 7:22am

Hell to the no!!!!!!!

I haven't seen Company but if you can give a performance of Being Alive that almost brings me to tears, then that's enough to convince me that you deserve a Tony.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 7:25am

When Raul didn't win, I was like "HUH?!". Not that I have anything against David Hyde Piece or Curtains (I'm actually looking forward to seeing it later this summer), but I believe that Raul's performance was phenomenal & the award should've gone to him.

Well your opinion is invalid because you have not seen both performances. You cannot say that Raul deserved to win over David Hyde Pierce when you have not seen David Hyde Pierce's performance.

Raul said in an interview that he is most proud of this role, and he thinks it is the best piece of work he has ever been a part of, and I agree.

I disagree. While I do believe that it may be the best work -- as a whole -- that he has been a part of, I would have given him a Tony Award for TICK, TICK...BOOM!, THE NORMAL HEART, or TABOO before his performance in COMPANY. I think Raul's words about his performance before the Tonys were jaded by the fact that he had the chance to win a Tony, and he was speaking to the voters. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. He convinced himself that this was his best work because it has gotten the most praise; it's a Sondheim work; it's directed by Doyle; and he's headlining it.

He was said to be the best Bobby ever, and Bobby is such a challenging role. I just don't understand it.

I agree that Bobby is a challenging role, but by challenging I mean that it is a flawed role filled with handicaps that the actor at hand has to try to overcome in order to make it work the best that it can. I don't think that Bobby is a challenging role in the way the Momma Rose is challenging -- a well-written role with a lot for the actress at hand to work with.

Let him have his win and go enjoy his marvelous performance, even if he doesn't blow the roof off the theatre, his character is nuanced beyond belief.

Nuanced beyond belief? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 07:25 AM

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 7:47am

I know I'll probably get some grief for this, but....

Didn't shock me in the least that Esparza lost. I just didn't find him engaging at all. Which is a shame because I have seen him in Tick, Tick...Boom and Rocky Horror and thought he was enjoyable. IMO he was missing "it" when I saw him in "Company." Whether it was an off night for him, I don't know.

Friends that watched the Tony's laughed during his performance. Said it was campy and over the top. One was in hysterics. I thought it was miles better from the night that I saw him, but I just don't think he "appeals" to those that don't "get" Broadway.

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 7:53am

I saw both performances and definitely thought Raul deserved the win.
I was VERY disappointed (and AT the Tonys).

[D2]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:12am

I've seen both performances. It was a tough choice to make, but DHP has as much right to that Tony as Esparza, and I'm thrilled with the win.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:36am

I was shocked when DHP won. My mouth literally dropped. I'm so sad for Raul Esparza, I really thought this would be his year.

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:41am

I thought is was a lock! DHP was great, but this was (I thought) Raul's year. Such a wonderful performance!

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 08:41 AM

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:45am

I remember DHP commenting that he had seen Raul's performance and thought he deserved the Tony. DHP looked shocked when he won.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:53am

Having seen both performances too, I was shocked. Count me among the folks who thought Raul's performance was a revelation. But it is hard not to be happy for David Hyde Pierce--he seem genuinely surprised at his win.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:02am

I'm not gonna lie, I was rooting for Raul.

But, I totally thought Jonathon Groff was gonna win. As they announced the names I was like It's a tought category, such great perfomances by all, they all equally are good in what they do. Then they announced DHP as the winner and my jaw hit the floor, I was expecting Jonathon to take it or my personal favorite, Raul. But, I was shocked to see DHP. I'm very happy for him though, he truly should have been nominated for Spamalot, for his great perfomance, but from what I saw during Curtain's performance, I think he is pretty good. He seemed as shocked as the rest of us.

I do think Raul should have won, I mean, my god, "Being Alive", he like throws himself into the song: heart and soul. But, I think maybe they were looking to award it to a more of song-and dance-man type. I don't know, I don't understand Tony voters.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:19am

Glenn Close should have won the Oscar for Fatal Attraction over Cher's light-hearted turn in Moonstruck. However, she didn't and it happens. Deal with it. David and Raul's performances are like comparing apples and oranges. However, David has a much longer history in the theatre community and is every bit as talented as Raul-he's just not as HOT as Raul is right now. I think the Tony voters made a solid choice. Raul will have plenty more opportunities to get a Tony.

[karen24]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:25am

Well, I saw both DHP and Raul in their respective performances, and I really thought Raul should and would win the Tony. There was a lot more to his performance than just "Being Alive." Yes, it is certainly a big moment in the show, but it's not like he is just standing there doing nothing for the 1 1/2 hours prior to that. There's his whole interaction with April before "Barcelona." There's his interaction with Barbara Walsh before "Being Alive." There's "Marry Me a Little." I think his Tony performance was a little off because they took the rest of the cast away and he had to adjust the song to their absence, and also because the song is not as powerful out of context. Maybe he was trying to make up for that or maybe he was nervous and that's why it seemed a bit over-the-top. I've seen him twice in the show and both times his "Being Alive" was much more subtle and flowed much better.
I saw DHP in "Curtains" and thought he gave a charming performance and was the best thing about "Curtains." I don't think "Curtains" is as strong a show as "Company." It felt to me as if it was a show with a uniformly excellent cast and mostly mediocre material. I think that's why it's so hard for me to really compare DHP and Raul. DHP did a great job with what he had. Raul started out with an advantage because his material, especially his songs, were better. It felt to me that Raul was excellent at showing Bobby's journey in the show and how he evolved and gradually opened himself up to marriage. DHP's role just didn't call for that kind of acting. But he was touching in his love scenes and very funny in the way he became more and more involved in the "Robbin' Hood" production.
I really can't speculate as to why DHP won over Raul. I am probably overly naive and don't want to think that a lot of politics or business or personal likes & dislikes were involved. It could have been as simple as Raul and Groff splitting the vote and letting DHP "sneak" in, as some have suggested. Or the Tony voters may have honestly felt that DHP's performance brought a relatively mediocre show up to a higher level and he should be rewarded for that. In any case, while I'm disappointed for Raul, I don't feel like the world has come to an end, and I hope DHP can enjoy his win.

[WriteInNYC]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:30am

Feinstein9: That's what I thought, that maybe so many votes were split between Esparza and Groff that DHP simply picked up a bigger total. Also, I wonder if a lot of voters who "heard" that Raul was a shoe-in might have voted for DHP just to be more independent. No matter how you look at it though, DHP got the votes and won the award...and I thought his acceptance speech was gracious and heartfelt, so I'm happy for him.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:45am

Oh, so very much to say.
I'd like to say there's a universe in which I would have found Raul's performance award-worthy...but there is absolutey not. It's histrionic, over-the-top, and lacks all the subtlety that a role like that (a character who spends the vast majority of the musical being informed on relationships by his much more flamboyant friends) calls for. You know, like that singularly bland and untalented Larry Kert gave in the original production. I mean, he's CLEARLY no Raul but he got it right.
Secondly, there's not an award in existance in which personal politics doesn't play the tiniest amount. You don't get nominated if you're bad or at least not decent, but to call DAvid Hyde Pierce's nominaton and eventual win some kind of undeserved injustice heaped upon Raul couldn't be more ridiculous.
One of the largest blocks of Tony voters is other actors. Uh huh. The people Raul Esparza and David Hyde Pierce work with. Even though I disagreed 100% with all the people who swore up and down that Christine Applegate would topple what I believed was one of the most glorious performances in musical theatre in decades (Victoria Clark in Piazza), I knew she wouldn't win for the simple matter of Clark's standing and respect within the theatrical community. Sometimes, a Cinderella story is enough (see Winokur over Peters or even LaChanze over LuPone) but not always. That kind of story was not in play here. Pierce gave a lovely, charming and perfect little performance in Curtains. End of story.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:02am

I've actually been thinking about this. What the hell is wrong with me.

What I've decided was the thing that hurt Esparza most was his 'openness' in regards to his 'sexuality'. He made BEING ALIVE about him. Not about the character. It became, 'Ooooh look...Raul is going THROUGH IT! He's singing his guts out because he's tormented!' It wasn't about Bobby...or COMPANY...it was about Raul. That Times article was a mistake.

It ended up being kind of like emotional porn. Hopefully, next time, he won't be so 'open'.

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:07am

I disagree..... DHP seems pretty open too!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:08am

For me, Raul's Being Alive wasn't "open" so much as it was "over-the-top". It was just way too much for me. Rather than the song being about Bobby's transformation, it was more about singing hard and loud and eventually screaming something that really did't make a whole lot of sense with the lyrics. There is nothing in the show that indicates Bobby is so emotionally desperate he will shriek and bark and chew scenery until he terrifies the audience into a standing ovation out of fear for their lives. Or something like that. Anyway, I thought it was sorta funny.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:10am

There are plenty of out gay men with Tonys. Let's not overanalyze this. This is one crowd where you can be gay and no is really going to care. Let's not make this what it isn't. If anything, it is more of political thing, like the Oscars. DHP got the Tony for his body of work and history rather than this particular role which most feel was not as deserving as Rauls. Needless to say, it's time to relax. Raul's Tony performance may have solidified many people's feeling that DHP was the right choice. I, personally, was underwhelmed by Being Alive.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:11am

I compared the MOCK ME WITH PRAISE line to GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT!

What other over-the-top moments does it compare to? 'MANNNNYYYYY' from POSIDEON ADVENTURE, perhaps?

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:17am

Wasn't underwhelmed at all.....

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:21am

I compare MOCK ME WITH PRAISE to "Christina, GET OUT OF THAT BED!"

To each his own, I guess. Diversity among theatre fans is the lifeblood of theatre.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:22am

But Esparza isn't an out gay man. He's married to a woman and has been having affairs with men for AT LEAST the last 8 years. So to kinda come out in the times and make BEING ALIVE all about your self-made torment, but then continue to take your wife everywhere and thank her over and over again is just kinda...well...let's just say it sends a mixed message.

I'm all for personal journeys and arrangements in relationships for whatever reasons. Eat the cake you have. But don't be completely gobsmacked when others MAY not 'get it'.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:25am

I compared the MOCK ME WITH PRAISE line to GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT!

You are absolutely correct.

What other over-the-top moments does it compare to? 'MANNNNYYYYY' from POSIDEON ADVENTURE, perhaps?

In more ways than one: "Why can't you give me the RESPECT I am ENTITLED TO???"

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 10:25 AM

[ActualReality2]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:27am

For awhile I wasn't a huge fan of Raul's voice,
but his performance last night definitely changed my mind!
He was amazing, and while I haven't seen Company I'm pretty shocked and upset that he didn't win.

Plus, I'm sick of seeing DHPs face everywhere on this website.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:27am

If only he went with a subtler line reading...like

TINA...Bring me the ax.

THAT would have gotten him the award.



I'm terrible. I really liked him in the show! Honestly.