Post on the Tony Awards that no one will care about
Just some miscellaneous thoughts on last night's Tony awards, by no means organized in any way:
On one hand most of the acceptance speeches were classy and well-done and it was nice that only one got the "get off the stage" music.
On the other hand, I would've really appreciated Hugh Jackman (or any other talented Broadway veteran, like maybe Julie Andrews or Nathan Lane) hosting because much of the night lacked the fun and energy of the past three years' ceremonies.
The tribute to August Wilson and Wendy Wasserstein was classy and touching and a very good argument for showing ACTUAL scenes from the nominated plays instead of the lame 30-second clips. Seriously, I love musicals, but it really annoys me how the plays get ignored every year, especially since with all the awards it got I would've liked a taste of The History Boys.
SO glad they got rid of the "pop star butchering Broadway classics" that happened in the last two years.
Counting the number of actors nominated who were also involved with Harry Potter was amusing.
John Tartaglia and Rod - as much as I want you to get a real career, I love you and Rod. Never go away.
The opening number, or rather, the lack of one: WTF was that about?!?! Proof that Harry Connick Jr. should have never been put on Broadway. The worst part was the sudden appearance of the 60 presenters, most of them being highly talented people who just awkwardly stood there while Harry couldn't follow the beat. BORING! Sure, Hugh Jackman and the Rockettes may have been cheesy and campy, but it was FUN. Oy. I did however love the brief bit of Patti LuPone getting her groove on with Micheal Ceveris smiling while everyone else looked like Barbie dolls. If only the rest of them were like Patti.
Hal Prince's lifetime achievement award - the bit with the extras and the teeny tiny Phantom bit? Awkward. The fact that Hal himself was in Las Vegas working on his show that starts previews today instead of being there for his umpteenth award? Mad classy. His deovtion to his work shows exactly why he deserves all the awards he's gotten because it's about the work first and foremost before the awards.
Thoughts on the show performances:
Threepenny Opera: I loved how utterly bizarre it looked in RCMH. I know most people were turned off by it but I was simply amused by how weird and different it was because I love crap like that. And Alan and Cyndi are teh hotness.
Sweeney Todd: I know it would've been long, but why didn't they do A Little Priest? I was certain they were going to do that. Anyway, I think they did the best they could at selling the show with the little montage they did, especially Micheal C. with "My Friends," but four minutes in RCMH can't really do justice to this show.
The Drowsy Chaperone: Cute, fun, and Sutton Foster is always a joy to watch, but it didn't quite convince me that the show is worth the hype surrounding it. Then again, it's not the type of show I'd usually go for I think. Still a great number though.
The Wedding Singer: Wow! Much better than I expected! Why do I have the feeling that they picked the best song in the show so it doesn't represent how mediocre the show actually is? But anyway, it was still very fun and energetic and I adored the parodic choreography (and kinda wished they won for it instead of The Pajama Game, but whatever). The only disappoinment was that Amy Spanger wasn't featured, as she is always hilarious.
The Color Purple: Okay, not great. Weren't there any songs they could have done to feature LaChanze? She is the big star after all, and quite a talent. So yeah, didn't convince me it was a show I had to see.
The Pajama Game: YAWN. First of all, Harry Connick Jr. please buy some facial expressions. Second of all, the choreography looked JUST like the same stuff that Kathleen Marshall did two years ago for Wonderful Town. HOW the hell did this show win anything?!?!?! Boring.
Jersey Boys: It was a good performance, I'll grant you that but I was highly annoyed because it seemed to be longer than the others (and I would've much preferred giving the extra time to Drowsy Chaperone or Sweeney Todd), it didn't show how it was more special than all those other Jukebox musicals, and it did nothing to convince me that it deserved Best Musical.
Thoughts on the Awards themselves:
I was very happy for all the plays (especially Cynthia Nixon).
Musicals was another story.
Best Direction oh so rightly went to John Doyle, but after watching the whole show I can't help but wonder if it was merely a pity award.
Best Actress was a strange category this year as all five of the nominees are insanely talented and deserved to win. I am happy for LaChanze because she's had a long Broadway career that's been ignored, so some recognition would be nice. Not lying though, I was really rooting for Patti.
Best Actor was quite a different story. I saw nothing that could've convinced me that John whosy-whatsit deserved the Tony over Micheal C. Yeah, I know Micheal won in 2004 and the Tonys like to spread the wealth, but please. Micheal completely inhabited a highly dramatic, challenging role. John Boy acted like a pop star. So not impressed. And what was up with his acceptance speech? Totally self-serving, he didn't even thank a single person! It souned more like a one-sided therapy session. Ick.
Best Musical being Jersey Boys left me cold. Even though I wasn't really rooting for any of the new shows this year, it was clear to me that Drowsy Chaperone or The Color Purple would have been better, even if they aren't my personal style. Giving it to Jersey Boys felt like Broadway was trying to say "Look, we're straight after all! Really, we are! Look at our manly actors giving speeches about their dads! So manly!" So it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but really I was disappointed mostly by the lack of good new shows this year. Last year all four shows were so good that no-one could even tell what was going to win and the year before was the great Wicked vs. Avenue Q suspense. None of that excitement was there this year.
HOWEVER, that wasn't nearly as bad as the TRAVESTY that was Best Revival. PAJAMA GAME?!?! WTF is that shit about?! It was the LEAST deserving of the three nominated shows. Clearly it was all about money. They picked it because it's what middle America wants to see: fluffy old-fashioned meaningless musical comedy with big-name stars who can't act over a dark, challenging piece of art that breathes new life not into an old show, but into modern theater. RARGH.
So that's the end of my geeky theater ramblings.
On one hand most of the acceptance speeches were classy and well-done and it was nice that only one got the "get off the stage" music.
On the other hand, I would've really appreciated Hugh Jackman (or any other talented Broadway veteran, like maybe Julie Andrews or Nathan Lane) hosting because much of the night lacked the fun and energy of the past three years' ceremonies.
The tribute to August Wilson and Wendy Wasserstein was classy and touching and a very good argument for showing ACTUAL scenes from the nominated plays instead of the lame 30-second clips. Seriously, I love musicals, but it really annoys me how the plays get ignored every year, especially since with all the awards it got I would've liked a taste of The History Boys.
SO glad they got rid of the "pop star butchering Broadway classics" that happened in the last two years.
Counting the number of actors nominated who were also involved with Harry Potter was amusing.
John Tartaglia and Rod - as much as I want you to get a real career, I love you and Rod. Never go away.
The opening number, or rather, the lack of one: WTF was that about?!?! Proof that Harry Connick Jr. should have never been put on Broadway. The worst part was the sudden appearance of the 60 presenters, most of them being highly talented people who just awkwardly stood there while Harry couldn't follow the beat. BORING! Sure, Hugh Jackman and the Rockettes may have been cheesy and campy, but it was FUN. Oy. I did however love the brief bit of Patti LuPone getting her groove on with Micheal Ceveris smiling while everyone else looked like Barbie dolls. If only the rest of them were like Patti.
Hal Prince's lifetime achievement award - the bit with the extras and the teeny tiny Phantom bit? Awkward. The fact that Hal himself was in Las Vegas working on his show that starts previews today instead of being there for his umpteenth award? Mad classy. His deovtion to his work shows exactly why he deserves all the awards he's gotten because it's about the work first and foremost before the awards.
Thoughts on the show performances:
Threepenny Opera: I loved how utterly bizarre it looked in RCMH. I know most people were turned off by it but I was simply amused by how weird and different it was because I love crap like that. And Alan and Cyndi are teh hotness.
Sweeney Todd: I know it would've been long, but why didn't they do A Little Priest? I was certain they were going to do that. Anyway, I think they did the best they could at selling the show with the little montage they did, especially Micheal C. with "My Friends," but four minutes in RCMH can't really do justice to this show.
The Drowsy Chaperone: Cute, fun, and Sutton Foster is always a joy to watch, but it didn't quite convince me that the show is worth the hype surrounding it. Then again, it's not the type of show I'd usually go for I think. Still a great number though.
The Wedding Singer: Wow! Much better than I expected! Why do I have the feeling that they picked the best song in the show so it doesn't represent how mediocre the show actually is? But anyway, it was still very fun and energetic and I adored the parodic choreography (and kinda wished they won for it instead of The Pajama Game, but whatever). The only disappoinment was that Amy Spanger wasn't featured, as she is always hilarious.
The Color Purple: Okay, not great. Weren't there any songs they could have done to feature LaChanze? She is the big star after all, and quite a talent. So yeah, didn't convince me it was a show I had to see.
The Pajama Game: YAWN. First of all, Harry Connick Jr. please buy some facial expressions. Second of all, the choreography looked JUST like the same stuff that Kathleen Marshall did two years ago for Wonderful Town. HOW the hell did this show win anything?!?!?! Boring.
Jersey Boys: It was a good performance, I'll grant you that but I was highly annoyed because it seemed to be longer than the others (and I would've much preferred giving the extra time to Drowsy Chaperone or Sweeney Todd), it didn't show how it was more special than all those other Jukebox musicals, and it did nothing to convince me that it deserved Best Musical.
Thoughts on the Awards themselves:
I was very happy for all the plays (especially Cynthia Nixon).
Musicals was another story.
Best Direction oh so rightly went to John Doyle, but after watching the whole show I can't help but wonder if it was merely a pity award.
Best Actress was a strange category this year as all five of the nominees are insanely talented and deserved to win. I am happy for LaChanze because she's had a long Broadway career that's been ignored, so some recognition would be nice. Not lying though, I was really rooting for Patti.
Best Actor was quite a different story. I saw nothing that could've convinced me that John whosy-whatsit deserved the Tony over Micheal C. Yeah, I know Micheal won in 2004 and the Tonys like to spread the wealth, but please. Micheal completely inhabited a highly dramatic, challenging role. John Boy acted like a pop star. So not impressed. And what was up with his acceptance speech? Totally self-serving, he didn't even thank a single person! It souned more like a one-sided therapy session. Ick.
Best Musical being Jersey Boys left me cold. Even though I wasn't really rooting for any of the new shows this year, it was clear to me that Drowsy Chaperone or The Color Purple would have been better, even if they aren't my personal style. Giving it to Jersey Boys felt like Broadway was trying to say "Look, we're straight after all! Really, we are! Look at our manly actors giving speeches about their dads! So manly!" So it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but really I was disappointed mostly by the lack of good new shows this year. Last year all four shows were so good that no-one could even tell what was going to win and the year before was the great Wicked vs. Avenue Q suspense. None of that excitement was there this year.
HOWEVER, that wasn't nearly as bad as the TRAVESTY that was Best Revival. PAJAMA GAME?!?! WTF is that shit about?! It was the LEAST deserving of the three nominated shows. Clearly it was all about money. They picked it because it's what middle America wants to see: fluffy old-fashioned meaningless musical comedy with big-name stars who can't act over a dark, challenging piece of art that breathes new life not into an old show, but into modern theater. RARGH.
So that's the end of my geeky theater ramblings.