Thoughts on the Olivier Awards?

[busylizzie238]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 4:26am

I'm interested to hear what people thought about the Olivier Awards. This was the first one I have watched and compared to the Tony awards it seemed a bit underwhelming? Having Matilda, Phantom, Les Mis and Wicked all perform felt a bit off as they are already long running shows, it seems like there was nothing else to fill the performance slots with. So does this mean they get a slot every year? I understand it can't become the Royal Variety show but it feels like could have done more to showcase the variety in London theatre.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 7:05am

Dire !! The moment you sell your soul to sponsors, you have no value.

[Parsley]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 12:57pm

Dire, incompetent hosts who really cheapened it and made a chunk of it to be very naff.
Made me yearn for the pomposity, but much classier Tony awards

Loved most of the musical interludes but the Masquerade bit was tedious, and yikes Bernadette Peters who is normally phenomenal was poor.



Updated On: 4/14/14 at 12:57 PM

[AnythingGoes23]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 1:39pm

Boring and just didn't feel any excitement.. Where was all our British greats of the theatre world?

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 2:16pm

We probably know already 75% of what is going to be available to be nominated next year.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 3:06pm

Rory Kinnear and Lesley Manville were very worthy winners.

[Hello doll!]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 4:45pm

One word - boring. It lacked any sort of overall enthusiasm. It was dreary and bleak. Recorded it and watched it today. Fast forwarded many of the performances as I felt that there was nothing special or anything that I haven't seen before. Thought the presenters were poor too. It needed a firework up it's ass to get it off to a bang. I didn't think any of the performances blew me away. Gavin was average and when you compare him to the Andrew 'I Believe' at The Tony's and as for 1 of my favs 'Oor Bernadette' what.....I thought you had lost the point at 1 point, by the look in your eyes. I am sad, I know we can do better. I didn't want to know the results, so was careful of news bulletins etc today, however I need not have bothered as the overall news coverage was minimal to say the least. I am away to buy a box of fireworks, to blow the dust and cobwebs off the whole stuffy wuffy blandness

[rockyhorrorfan]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 7:41pm

The presenters were awful. I thought there were sound issues when Gavin performed I Believe and during Masquerade. Strange that they presented Best Actor in a Musical followed by Best Actress (in a Play). Bernadette was awful too.

I'm a bit fed-up of the Audience Award as it's always the same shows that seem to win it.

Hoping we don't lose tv coverage though with the low ratings. I'd still rather see highlights on tv (if well produced) than not at all.

[busylizzie238]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:28am

Gemma Arterton seemed enthusiastic but came across as quite awkward and nervous. Also I thought the categories were quite unusual. If I'm not mistaken each award had only four nominees? And best direction involved both directors for plays and musicals. The thing I found the most peculiar was that plays had awards for best supporting actress and actor, but musicals had only best performance. However I did like the fact that each winner had time to give an acceptance speech, I don't think anyone was cut off like you usually see on award shows.

[WickedGinger]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 8:15am

I was really looking forward to the Olivier Awards this week. It has only really been in the last year that I have kept myself updated with news shows and commenting on people's performances. However, I really felt the whole production lacked 'Ooomph'!

The presenters needed a kick up there back side, with Gemme Arteron slightly better but only passable.

I loved the Wicked performance, however the flow from the outstage presenting to performances outside didnt work. I didnt get the point. I also didnt understand why Bernadette Peters was there? Do we not have any of our own alumni to call upon to perform? In addition she put in a lukewarm perforamcen. Could she not have picked a bettern Sondheim song?

Overall I wasn't that impressed and I have to say I looking for to the Tonys this year to see how it should be done. Lets hope we get highlights on British TV.