Why do the Olivier Awards nominate replacements?

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 12:27pm

I was perusing through the Acting awards listings for the Oliviers and I noticed that replacements are often nominated alongside new nominees rather frequently.

Examples:
SUNSET BOULEVARD: BA/M - Betty Buckley (1995) and Elaine Paige (1996)
CHICAGO - Maria Friedman (1999)
BLOOD BROTHERS - Melanie Chisholm (2010)

Does anyone know why this occurs, instead of a general replacement category?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 1:54pm

Its very rare. Mel C was only nominated because of her celeb status and it was a big deal her doing the show.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 2:12pm

Why the hell not? We always talk on here about how certain replacements are as good--if not better--than their predecessors, yet they receive no recognition at any of our awards.

And Melanie C was *fantastic* in BLOOD BROTHERS. Talk about a replacement revitalizing an old war horse.

[3bluenight]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 3:06pm

i agree with 'why the hell not?'
if an award is for indeed merit based then i would certainly applaud nominating any worthy performance - replacement or not.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 3:31pm

Don't forget Robert Lindsay in Oliver!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 3:51pm

It's even more rare when two actors/actresses actually win for the same role in the same production. If I'm not mistaken, the only case of this is Martine McCutcheon (2002) and Joanna Riding (2003) both for playing Eliza in the Cam Mac revival of My Fair Lady at Drury Lane. I saw Martine and she truly was perfection in the role.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 4:00pm

I saw both, and both were wonderful.

I like the idea of rewarding replacement performances if they're worthy.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 4:42pm

Even though the replacement category died before it even began, the Tonys have given special awards for replacements (such as Mary Tyler Moore in Whose Life Is It Anyway?) and could do it again if they cared to. There's nothing in the rules against it.

[dreaming]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 4:44pm

I want the replacement Tony resurrected. (Bernadette should have won for Night Music.)

[algy]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 4:52pm

I like having the ability for replacements to be recognised. It was always one of the categories I enjoyed picking people for in the WhatsOnStage awards.

I always feel a bit sorry for people giving great performances as replacements who don't get any props for it - be it reviews or arards.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 4:55pm

I've always assumed Tonys weren't given to replacements because of the problem of guaranteeing that voters see the show again. In Mary Tyler Moore's case, the gender switch was novel enough (and she was sufficiently beloved because of her TV show) that her taking over the role was treated as a second opening ("Second Coming" was more like it!), was reviewed again, etc.

How do the Oliviers handle this issue?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/29/11 at 5:15pm

Reg - I wish I could have seen Riding as well. I remember there was a HUGE amount of positive buzz surrounding her performance. Especially after all the controversy regarding Martine's poor attendance record and early exit from her contract with Joanna stepping in as a quick replacement.

*sigh*

I have such fond memories of that production. Except for Jonathan Pryce who was a HUGE disappointment and seemed to be performing in another show entitled The Jonathan Pryce Show Starring Jonathan Pryce as Jonathan Pryce. His one contribution to creating a character seemed to be holding his hands behind his back. All the time.

Considering I'm not old enough to have seen the original cast, both Martine McCutcheon and Dennis Waterman delivered what I considered to be definitive performances.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:46am

As far as best replacement Tony awards go, there's no fair way to do it unless ALL replacements get properly judged, which is impossible. Unfortunate though.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:54am

Do the Oliviers also nominate replacements in later, non-premiere seasons?

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 9:05am

Yes. Melanie Chisholm was nominated for BLOOD BROTHERS last year, for instance.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 12:39pm

I would think one reason not to do in the same category would be that long runs often contain great roles - often recast with popular performers, sometimes long overdue or otherwise ripe for awards - that it would be hard for the pool of actors originating new roles (and by extension their new productions) to compete with.

But it's great to award replacements. Perhaps the Tony committee should consider honoring them with a new category. I'd be in favor of this, particularly because replacing someone well is, fitting in to something previously created but still making it your own, is an art all it's own.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 12:43pm

That means they have to see EVERY show running on Broadway. Imagine how many times a year they would be sitting through Chicago and Phantom???

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 12:45pm

The Tony committee created a Best Replacement category in 2005 but it was never awarded, and was retired shortly thereafter. The Oliviers do consider replacements alongside new performances; however, it seems rare that they ever actually win. The McCutcheon/Riding situation that's already been mentioned is the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

Replacement Tony

Updated On: 9/30/11 at 12:45 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 2:29pm

My guess is, for a replacement Tony category to work, it would have to be a performance that has invited critics and been reviewed just the same as new productions. Then producers could submit them for nomination if they chose.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 2:34pm

Otherwise the poor Tony voters would never make it out of the Ambassador.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 2:59pm

Well, the Weisslers wouldn't give out 1500ish comps for EVERY Velma and Roxie that goes into Chicago each season. Just for the big stars that come every once in a while.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 3:15pm

From the article I linked, it seems like the Replacement Tony was envisioned as an award that would be bestowed on a specific performance, based on the votes of the nominating committee, rather than as a regular competitive award. It states that Harvey Fierstein and Jonathan Pryce had been under consideration, but neither received the necessary votes to receive the award.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 3:20pm

I think we should vote on who SHOULD be a replacement in a show. And then that actor has to do it whether they want to or not.

And then they automatically get a Tony.





Updated On: 9/30/11 at 03:20 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:20pm

AC, that makes more sense. Let a committee decide when the award is deserved rather than having the entire membership vote on a performance most haven't seen.

Could provide a real shot in the arm to a long-running show that needs the attention.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 5:38pm

It could also encourage A-listers to go in as replacements more.