Leading Actor in a Play- Page 2

[jnb9872]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:03pm

I expect Cranston, Rylance and McKellen to be the most solid locks, and will have my personal hopes for Shalhoub and O'Byrne (who might have had the least-expectedly challenging role of all of them once MULLINGAR reached it's delightfully oddball conclusion. He won my heart with that performance, even if I doubt he'd win the Tony with this competition.)

Washington was much better than I expected, given that age difference, and under no circumstances would I feel this to be a fame-based nomination; he'd earn it if he cracked this field, but I don't think he's quite a lock yet. Let's see how Radcliffe is reviewed.

Quinto (like Cherry Jones), to me was secondary to that Gentleman Caller's scene. I will be much more passionate in hoping for Celia and Brian to be nominated than Zachary, and would not be crestfallen if he fails to crack the nominations. This is truly a competitive year the likes of which prove a nomination is surely an honor to the lucky five.

Updated On: 4/20/14 at 06:03 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:08pm

I think the nominees will be:

Cranston (and I think he'll win)
Ian McKellan (Godot)
Zachary Quinto
Daniel Radcliffe (runner up)
Denzel Washington

Those are who I think. (I could envision Stewart getting nominated in place of Quinto.)
It's a highly competitive year-I wonder if they'll petition actors from Act One into featured.

But Cranston's performance-as amazing as Radcliffe's was-stands out. Radcliffe was amazing-he wasn't over the top or ridiculous. He was very, very good. But, his role felt more supporting in an ensemble-I think his nomination will be his reward. (He should have been nominated twice before so this is as much political as anything.)
Updated On: 4/20/14 at 06:08 PM

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:08pm

Even though he's in my line-up, there's no way I'd consider McKellen a lock, because he's probably going to be splitting votes with Patrick Stewart, and they have been praised fairly evenly. When you have such an esteemed, well matched pair sharing the same productions, which one do you vote for? It's not as if McKellan has some great advantadge over Stewart in terms of theatrical reputation. Both are theatrical knights and among the best classical English stage actors.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:10pm

I think there's a general consensus that, of the four performances the two of them gave, McKellen's in GODOT was easily the most memorable. I don't think both will crack the field, given the competition, and give McKellen the advantage for that while Stewart very well could make it but I think is slightly more likely to be beaten out.

Updated On: 4/20/14 at 06:10 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:13pm

Cranston
Quinto
Radcliffe
Rylance
Washington

Dark Horse:
O'Bryne

[Playbilly]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 7:33pm

Does anyone know the rules? Can they nominate 6 or more in a good year?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 7:38pm

If Radcliffe wins in the Leading category, I'll be happy to eat my hat. He's giving a fine performance, and he's getting great reviews, but I would give the award to Rylance, Cranston, Washington, or O'Dowd before Radcliffe. Voters would, too.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:25pm

Voters would, too.

Congrats on your new position as Tony Voter Spokesperson.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 12:41am

Would love to see Radcliffe nominated. Mainly because I'm still a little upset from the HOW TO SUCCEED snub.

I think it's Cranston's year, with Rylance winning featured for Olivia.

Posted: 4/21/14 at 12:58am

I'm not sure about Radcliffe. His reviews are good, but many of them make him sound like a featured/supporting player, not an out and out lead. Even the New York Times, who found him convincing, said "he often registers as just one of many vivid portraits in a gallery of oddballs".

Not convinced the Tonys actually like him either. He'll be fortunate to get nominated, but I don't see him winning. Especially in what sounds like a supporting/featured turn.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 8:30am

I could see Radcliffe being nominated, at least from a political angle- he's a big-name, recognizable actor who has made a point to return to the stage repeatedly in varied types of work.

A win seems extremely unlikely when he's up against folks like Cranston (who is carrying his show on his shoulders).

[PJPan]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 8:43am

Which is a shame, if that's how it plays out. McKellen was fantastic in "No Man's Land" - truly a wonderful stage actor.

[PJPan]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 8:44am

I felt similarly - to me, he was the weakest part of the ensemble. I was surprisingly affected by Brian Smith (the Gentleman Caller scene stands out this season to me). I feel the ladies and Smith have excellent chances to be nominated.