what do you guys think? honestly...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:17pm

of the featured actor win? I'm not asking because I'm bitter that Raul lost... I'm trying to write something about this for a review I was asked to do, and I need to know what the general consensus is.

Updated On: 6/8/04 at 09:17 PM

[jakebloke]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:21pm

I think that Cerveris is excellent in Assassins. I figured he would take it, though I was kinda hoping for Raul.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:25pm

thanks jake! come on guys, I need more opinions.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:31pm

nooo! the thread's falling again. Come on guys, please help me out. This is for something I'm trying to write... I'm not trying to bash Cerveris or tell you how much I love Raul. I need your help!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:39pm

guys, please? anyone?

[ActionBoy]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:46pm

I was fortunate enough to see Cerveris and Esparza at the Kennedy Center's Sondheim festival two or three summers ago.

Both gentlemen are excellent performers in their own respective ways. It just wasn't Esparza's year. He wouldn't have won for Taboo which, unfortunately, was a failure. I'm not bashing Taboo at all, either. I own the OBCR and I love it.

If Esparza was in Assassins like he should be, I'm very confident he would have won hands down.

P.
(Esparza's gotta be in a Sondheim this season to win)

"theatre is life, film is art, television is furniture"

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 9:59pm

I saw both Taboo and Assassins. I've seen Raul in several other shows, and always found him to be a strong asset in each of them. I'd never seen Cerveris before. That being said, I would have voted for Cerveris this year because I think that his character anchors the show. He's extraordinary in the role of John Wilkes Booth. Raul, also, was excellent in Taboo (a show which I didn't hate), but his character, and hence, his performance was a little over the top. Not much subtlety required. It was also vaguely reminiscent of Riff Raff. I think the right man won this year. Raul's turn will come.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:00pm

I loved Cerveris in Assassins. He was amazing in The Ballad of Booth. O'Hare was almost as good, but Cerveris just stole the show. I didn't see the others, but I know Cariani got mixed reviews from some people, and Raul probably would never have been able to win. The dude (can't remember his name) who was in Big River wouldn't have been able to win either because not many saw it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:02pm

Raul was outstanding in "Taboo" -- even if some (including Raul himself) felt that he might have been a bit over the top at times. Raul's Tony chances were hurt because he was in a show that had already closed (notice that all eight of the acting winners were in shows that are still running) so many voters didn't get a chance to see him, as well as the fact that the show itself wasn't as popular with the theatre community as it was with the fans (Rosie and her trial didn't help; neither did Michael Riedel's campaign against it in the Post). It should be considered a major triumph that the show received four nominations in light of all the (undeserved) controversy -- obviously a lot of people admired its various parts : the cast and the score were well-regarded even by people who weren't crazy about the show itself (Newsday critic Linda Winer incidentally mentioned in one of the Tony recaps that she had voted for Boy George on her Tony ballot).

Going into the Tony voting, "Assassins" had a huge buzz around it -- it's edgy, it has something to say, it's controversial, it's Sondheim -- so its not surprising it ended up being the night's big winner. There was clearly a desire on the part of the voters to somehow honor the terrific cast, so Cerveris got singled out because of his fine, showy performance as Booth. I would bet that Raul finished a close second (he's the golden boy of NY theatre right now, considering all of his past performances and his current one in "Normal Heart"). As Cerveris said, he'll be up on that podium very, very soon.

PS -- I haven't seen anyone else mention this, but during NY1's red carpet coverage prior to the big show last night, Rosie said that she realizes that all the publicity swirling around her during Taboo's run had obviously hurt the show and she regrets that she may have ended up hurting a show she really loves. In consideration of that, she said that she plans on bringing Taboo back to NY (she didn't say whether she meant Broadway or Off-Broadway) sometime in "four or five years" because she still believes it deserves to have a fair shot at a run. She said she learned a lot from the mistakes that were made this last go round and she said they won't be repeated and the next incarnation will be all the better for it. FYI

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:02pm

I was really impressed with Cerveris and I was very happy he tok this one home.

Raul will have his day.

[deeisadiva]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:03pm

If Tabooo had been more succesful then I am certain Raul would have won the award...Taboo screwed him.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:34pm

i disagree. raul would NOT have won had he been in ASSASSINS, because the caharacter he was to play was that of Zangara, who appears for no more than 2 scenes.(tiny part is what i am saying)
-d.b.j-

[cmleidi]

Posted: 6/7/04 at 10:58pm

I like Michael Cerveris as a performer, but his John Wilkes Booth got on my nerves. It wasn't so much his performance as it was the writing. I thought he had a strong start, but then somwhere along the line, the writing just wasn't there for him. I saw the first preview so perhaps this was changed.

Raul Esparza was just dynamic as Sallon. He also had one of the best songs (Petrified) of the season. I wanted more of him, and less of Leigh Bowery.

I haven't seen FIDDLER.

I would have had a difficult time choosing between Esparza and McElroy.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 12:08am

I was torn, I really knew the competition was between Cerveris and Esparza, two performances which I loved immensely. I thought Esparza should have won because I felt the weight of his character more in the production. However, I can't say anything other then "perfect" when talking about Cerveris as Booth.

[secret-soul]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:26am

Cerveris was incredible as Booth. I didn't see Taboo, but I believe that this was just Assassins' year. Cerveris, Barbour, O'Hare, Harris, Baker and Cantone--if any of them had been nominated they would have won...it just happened to be Cerveris this time round; his acceptance speech said it all.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:32am

Obviously I wanted Raul to win, but I knew Cerveris would. As I sat in Assassins last week, I got a little sad while watching b/c I knew Raul had really strong competition. I was upset at first when he won, but got over it very quickly. Cerveris was great in an excellent production, and I'm very happy it was him. I just rewatched, and that really was a kickass genuine speech. I absolutely adore/worship Denis O'Hare, but it was Raul or Michael's year.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:36am

Either choice was fine. They were both excellent. It's apples and oranges. This just highlights the absurdity of "awards". There can ALWAYS be more than just one "best" and the giving of a trophy to one does in NO WAY invalidate the atributes of the other.

[Ruffian]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:36am

I have seen Cerveris & Esparza both in everything they have done here in NYC thru the years. Both are extremely talented performers. Both had great roles this year.

I think the only difference between the votes was Michael playing in a well-received "ASSASSINS," as opposed to Esparza cast in a a poorly received "TABOO"....that said, I loved "TABOO" immensely, so I was pulling for Raul. Dont get me wrong, "Assassins" was good too, its the argument about arguing over Art.

As for Raul being "over-the-top"....he even said if anyone knew the REAL Philip Sallon, they would see he WASN'T over-the-top. The guy is in his early 50s & is still walking around London wearing Garbage Bags & his head covered in Shaving Cream. Raul was probably nailing the character, except most people are not familiar with that kind of extreme behavior. Good for you, Philip Sallon

As for Esparza being Broadway's "Golden Boy"....he deserves the title. He is simply an AWESOME performer. And I dont just mean his incredible voice. Whoever saw him in THE NORMAL HEART & COMEDIANS knows what I am talking about. He is a Gift to the Stage.

Cerveris was a GRACIOUS Tony Winner & a deserving winner. Raul will get his moment of Tony Glory very soon.

[Jamie Hat]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:41am

Raul will have his day. But since I saw preview number four of Assassins in April I said he was going to win. Again, like Cerveris said, Raul will be up here any minute.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:54am

I disagree completely that the "contest" came down to the 2 of them. Cerveris has been around forever and has another Tony nod on his resume'. He consistenly rises above the material of any given show. Esparza has thus far shown that he can chew scenery. I think it's a wee bit too early to worship Esparza. He just got to Broadway and has been in TWO shows. His turn will come but he hasn't, in my view, proven himself yet as a the multi faceted force of nature that you're all convinced he is.

[Ruffian]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 10:36am

So only acting on Broadway counts?

Esparza has been in five shows since he hit NYC, let alone the DC stuff, and he's been versatile in all

If you are not a fan, you are not a fan, but he is an impressive talent

I always point out his work in COMEDIANS, he was scary in that & didnt sing a note

I think he will continue to be sought after for his many talents

As for Michael, I feel the same about him, he's very good

[Ilive4nyc]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 10:48am

I think Raul was robbed, that was the biggest upset for me.
Just my personal opinion though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 5:52pm

Thanks a lot for your input, guys. Your opinions will be well-used.