Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
SharoninB
Understudy Joined: 3/4/15
#2Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 12:50am
My theater friend who is usually picky about performances on Broadway; she told me that Ken Watanabe deserved his nomination, he won't win, but he deserved it.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#2Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 12:54am
I think so. He brought a lovable naivety to the role that I haven't seen before. I thought he was lovable aloof. Which was a nice counter to O'hara's stern/smart Ana.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#3Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 12:56am
yes.not crazy about his accent choice and had trouble like many others understanding some of his vocals, his acting and chemistry with Kelli was outstanding
SharoninB
Understudy Joined: 3/4/15
#4Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:58am
"My theater friend who is usually picky about performances on Broadway; she told me that Ken Watanabe deserved his nomination, he won't win, but he deserved it."
I hope he extends his time in The King and I glad everyone though he is great
theatreguy12
Broadway Star Joined: 4/20/15
#5Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 4:09am
It sounds like there are aspects of his performance that are very good, but it's interesting that with so many people saying they were unable to understand what he's saying/singing, that that would override the positives. Especially with so many other actors on Broadway doing smash up jobs in their shows this season.
Is it because the show is so beloved and he's starring opposite someone who everyone loves too? So they're just giving him a nod to complete a trifecta (two leads and the show).
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#6Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 8:26am
Personally, I was impressed by his ability to reshape a character that was so indelibly performed by Yul Brynner that it seemed graven in stone. Wantanabe produced a well-rounded and carefully considered characterization, with a lot of subtlety, humor and pathos, and I thought he had chemistry not only with Kelli but with all the characters he came in contact with, from his children and wives to the English diplomats. And I saw him early in the run.
In my opinion, a lot of the people who had difficulty with his accent are perhaps lazy listeners - the same kind of audience members who never see Shakespeare because "it is too much work." You do have concentrate when Ken is speaking but I tend to do that with all theater! And yet I am one of those people who can't understand rap because it is incomprehensible to me. So - to each his own, I guess.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#8Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 11:32am
In my opinion, a lot of the people who had difficulty with his accent are perhaps lazy listeners - the same kind of audience members who never see Shakespeare because "it is too much work."
A thousand times this and to everything else Wonkit said. Watanabe is a marvel, and it'll be a bloody shame if he doesn't win.
#9Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 11:43am
If Best Leading Actor in a Musical wasn't so crowded this year, Ken would've gotten the Tony in the bag.
#10Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 11:49am
I suspect that second to Brynner, it'll be Watanabe's King that generates the most attention and discussion in the future, not Lou Diamond Phillips's. It'll be a wildly divisive place in theatre history, but how the feeling will tip may depend on how the cast recording turns out.
Streganona
Swing Joined: 3/7/15
#11Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 12:43pm
"I suspect that second to Brynner, it'll be Watanabe's King that generates the most attention and discussion in the future, not Lou Diamond Phillips's. It'll be a wildly divisive place in theatre history, but how the feeling will tip may depend on how the cast recording turns out."
I'm afraid that what I love most about his performance won't be captured on the cast recording. Singing is definitely not his strength in the role of the king! Even though my mother and I had seats to the extreme far left of the orchestra (the dreaded l00's), we were both delighted and emotionally moved by his interpretation---and this was early in the run. His king is a very complex human being. We believed in him as a man who is truly torn between the old traditions (what he feels is expected of him as the king) and his yearning to embrace the new. Even though every word of "Is a Puzzlement" wasn't clear, he embodied the meaning of the song throughtout his performance. And I will happily trade perfect diction for the opportunity to see a King who conveys the contradictions and conflicts not just in that one song. He is playful and affectionate with his many children and seems spontaneous in those moments. He seems very young in some ways (his oldest son is in some respects actually more mature). The scene beginning with "Shall We Dance" is highly emotionally charged, and I think it's because of Ken's conviction and charisma....not how well he dances the polka! Even though I've seen the movie and several live productions of this play, I still held my breath in suspense, as Ken conveyed the anguish of the king as he confronted Tuptim. His death scene is very moving, with so much emotion conveyed through body language, so that even if his diction is not absolutely clear (and we had no problems), the emotional content of the scene is crystal clear. Yes, he deserved this nomination but that may not be apparent based on the cast recording alone.
Updated On: 5/17/15 at 12:43 PM
mc1227
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/07
#12Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 12:56pm
I definitely believe his nom is deserved, his portrayal was strong, charismatic and believable. That being said, his diction and accent kept the performance from being outstanding enough to win. And no, I am not a lazy listener. I went into the theater knowing this was an issue with many posters so I specifically tried to be more attentive to his words but to no avail.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
Streganona
Swing Joined: 3/7/15
#13Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:29pm
"I definitely believe his nom is deserved, his portrayal was strong, charismatic and believable. That being said, his diction and accent kept the performance from being outstanding enough to win. And no, I am not a lazy listener. I went into the theater knowing this was an issue with many posters so I specifically tried to be more attentive to his words but to no avail. "
You make a good point. Also, there must be some people in the audience who are not familiar with other productions or cast recordings. Anyone (a child, for example) who is discovering King and I for the first time can't "know" what he must be saying because of familiarity with the text. And having to ask, "Huh? What's he saying?" certainly makes it harder to lose oneself in the performance. As I wrote earlier, I think he's wonderful in the role but I love his performances in movies like "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Last Samurai" so I am a longtime fan. And in the interests of full disclosure, I'm also an English as a Second Language teacher so I'm used to "listening" for meaning beyond pronunciation.
#14Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:37pm
In my opinion, he not only deserved to be nominated, he should be a contender for the award. I would vote for him ahead of Michael Cervaris. I'm not seeing Something Rotten until this Saturday, so no take on BDJ as yet, and I have no plans to see American in Paris at present so no opinion as to Fairchild either.
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.
#15Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:46pm
Absolutely he deserves it,and deserves to win. One of the best male acting performances I've seen in a musical for years.
With regards to his accent I agree about the possible lazy listeners comment
followspot
Broadway Star Joined: 12/27/11
#16Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:52pm
Absolutely. Complex, moving performance. He would get my vote for the win.
"Tracy... Hold Mama's waffles."
mc1227
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/07
#17Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 2:05pm
Fairchild is outstanding in his dance and energetic in his acting. For a first time Broadway performance, it is great. I won't see the others before Tony time, so I would give the award to Fairchild over Ken if it were just between the 2 but I enjoyed both very much.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#18Tony nom for Ken Yes or No
Posted: 5/17/15 at 3:21pm
Without having seen the other performances this season, I can't say he deserved it over another actor. Of the ones I've seen, yes, he deserved it over Gallagher because Gallagher didn't have much of a character to play and didn't live up to the promise of his early scenes in OTTC. And as much as I enjoyed Zhivago, I wouldn't have given Tam Mutu a nomination either unless it was a much weaker season because his singing was spectacular. If I'm just going off of Ken's performance, I think he deserved a nomination. Second to Ruthie, I thought he gave the strongest performance in that cast and contributed greatly to making that a wonderful night at the theatre. Again, I had no problem understanding him.
