Hmmm...not agreeing with several of the winners. I'm just having a hard time with the Tony noms and the shows that are winning things. There are a couple I'm game with. Follies really did have great staging, costumes and lighting...Jan was great. But I've never understood it beyond that. I suppose that could lead to a great show, but it honestly was boring. I have to admit, have not seen Once yet, but the movie sucked, so I'm failing to see the hype on Broadway. Will be seeing it on my next trip out. Everything this year seems thrown in a bag, the bag was tossed around, and we have a winner.
I think it's a bit unfair to judge Once on your opinion of the movie. Was Xanadu a good movie? Was Newsies? I would say that Hairspray the musical's tone is way different from the movie. A stage adaptation is not the movie thrown onstage. Once the musical is the real deal. Do the kids still use the phrase, "Don't knock it 'til you try it"?
Like I said...I have not seen it yet. Most of the movies that opt to give Bway a try are more or less, direct transfers, which suck. And honestly, vice versa. I'm willing to give Once a shot when I get there in six weeks (yes post Tonys). I've seen a majority of the ones nominated and I'm not feeling it. I'm still going with the throw in a bag senario.
Thrilled that ONE MAN won Best Play, Best Actor, and Best Director. I predict that the Tony Best Play snub will result in ONE MAN taking home a lot of awards in other categories. In much the same way that AIDA cleaned up after it failed to garner a Best Musical nomination years ago. Voters may want to do what they can to rectify the error and that will give the edge to this fantastic show in other categories. I for one, think that Hytner more than deserves to be honored for his genius direction.
While I agree with most of the choices, these awards mean very little to anyone -- no more than the Broadway.com awards or the ones here. Most people outside the b'way community have ever heard of them. Producers will only use them if they have nothing else to brag about. (See Ken D and his posting about 'winning' for Best Revivial Muisical from B'way.com)
I agree the original noms were kinda off but most of the winners seem right on. Danny B's roll begins and Congrats to the genius that is Eiko Ishioka. Though ONCE took the big one, I think the TONYS will reward both ONCE and NEWSIES with several awards. As the Outies did.
PS: I saw THE LYONS (finally!) this weekend. Why is Linda Lavin not the frontrunner? I've seen all of the nominated ladies (save for Cynthia Nixon), and thought they were all quite good in their own way, particularly Stockard Channing, but Lavin was just remarkable!
Let's not forget, last year, Laura Benanti won the Outer Critics and Drama Desk awards, but no Tony. The Tonys rarely honor performances from closed shows.
I was looking forward to the fun that would have ensued on the boards had they awarded Best Musical to Spider Man and Best Revival of a Musical to Carrie.
Their winners this year actually aren't that out there, the way they normally are.
jv92: I know!!!! She was so good, right? I've seen all the other female lead performances, and I think her was by far the best. Perhaps because it's my first time seeing her live, but I thought she was just perfect: heartbreaking and hilarious.
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joined:7/31/03
Posted: 5/14/12 at 01:30am