Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
RingOfKeys2
Understudy Joined: 5/18/15
#1Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:58pm
I think it's between these two for Best Leading Actor in a Play. They both gave stunning performances but my gut is telling me it will go to Boyer for Hand to God and Curious Incident will take best Play.
Thoughts?
#2Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:00pm
I would love for Boyer to win, but I do think Sharp will win.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#2Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:15pm
I've been routing for Alex Sharp this whole time.. 
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:31pm
I'd be happy either way,
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#4Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:44pm
I thought Alex Sharp's performance was stunning, and it's such a physical, demanding role. I liked Boyer enough and it's a very good performance but nowhere near Sharp's.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Alex M
Broadway Star Joined: 11/16/13
#5Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:48pm
Personally i think Boyer should win but ill be happy either way.
#6Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:50pm
If I had my way, Alex Sharp, Steven Boyer and Bradley Cooper would win in a 3-way tie. Sharp will probably win though, and I'll be very happy for him.
#7Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:15pm
I thought both were great, but I'd prefer to see Boyer win.
But I'll be happy if either of them gets the award. Two fantastic performances.
#8Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:38pm
I vote for Bradley Cooper. Alex Sharp was amazing too though. I did enjoy Steven Boyer but thought Bradley Cooper and Alex Sharp have him beat.
josiahjosiah
Chorus Member Joined: 4/7/11
#9Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:57pm
Steven Boyer all the way! He's playing TWO roles up there 8 times a week. Sharp is terrific but only performing 6 times a week and acting an illness more than creating a character (or two). Sharp is definitely giving a memorable performance, but Boyer is giving a defining performance which would be hard to match. Hope the Tony voters recognize Boyer this year.
#10Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 12:14am
Boyer gave one of the most genius performances I've ever seen in my life, but I do agree that the momentum seems to be behind Sharp and Curious Incident. Still, either (or Cooper) could win and I wouldn't be surprised.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#11Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 12:27am
Alex Sharp
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#12Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 8:02am
Sharp was incredible, but what Boyer is doing up there, playing two completely different characters at literally the exact same moment, is even more impressive from a technical acting standpoint. Still, I agree Sharp is the clear frontrunner and it certainly won't be undeserved if he wins, even though my vote would go to Boyer. I also wouldn't rule out Bill Nighy as a potential spoiler though--long respected actor giving a spectacular performance in a very acclaimed production.
#13Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 10:22am
'Steven Boyer all the way! He's playing TWO roles up there 8 times a week. Sharp is terrific but only performing 6 times a week and acting an illness more than creating a character (or two). Sharp is definitely giving a memorable performance, but Boyer is giving a defining performance which would be hard to match. Hope the Tony voters recognize Boyer this year.'
^ Exactly! I would love to see Boyer take home best actor and curious incident best play.
Just a peace of my mind.
#14Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 11:11am
Much as I enjoyed Sharp's work (and hard work it is, too), it's basically an actor's trick - and one that impresses the groundlings far out of proportion to its worth (like the famous Rain Man performance of Dustin Hoffman). Many people are in enormous awe of visible effort in performance, loving watching actors play an extreme condition.
No one would say it's "easy" to play such an extreme condition, but it's somewhat like donning an elaborate mask and letting the mask do a lot of the work for you.
For me, Boyer's performance is the greater achievement; he's playing a very subtle young man in trouble AND an over-the-top, id-driven puppet monster. And he makes it look like less effort than Sharp's 6-shows a week, sweaty, superficially showier performance (which also relies heavily on truckloads of tech).
Hairspray0901
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
#15Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 11:33am
I first saw the Elephant Man and was absolutely convinced Bradley Cooper would take home the Tony. Then I saw Curious Incident and was convinced Alex Sharp would beat him. Then I saw Hand to God and thought Steven Boyer was absolutely amazing and has just as good a chance of winning as they do. I'm really not sure who will win. They were all SO good. I'm leaning towards Alex, though.
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#16Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 11:40am
I've angered people, stating that as much as I admire Sharp's performance, I see its design, calculation and machinery (hard) at work. It's a stunning feat of technical wizardry, and deserves kudos. Yes, a Tony. Yet I find myself slightly distanced from the achievement, as watching it I was aware of the acting every single moment. Perhaps that's my issue with any such character, and what it takes to put them across. Ian Barford's performance as his father was the one that moved me to tears. Subjective, all of this stuff.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#17Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 11:45am
I was really expecting Ian Barford to be nominated for awards this season.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#18Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:23pm
This is a tough one. One theory would be that Curious Incident will win in so many categories that it will just carry (the very deserving) Sharp with it. Or might the voters feel Hand to God deserves something and make it Boyer? I'm predicting Sharp. I think Boyer's age may work against him. Wonderful as his performance is, I didn't for a moment buy him as a teenager.
#19Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 8:26pm
I find it insulting to say that Alex Sharp is just "acting an illness" and doesn't create a character. That statement insults his brilliant performance that will deservingly win the Tony.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#21Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 8:47pm
^ SMH, because you are serious.
I saw Taylor Trensch who I thought was very good. But Steven Boyer blew me away. I do hope to eventually catch Sharp.
#22Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 8:56pm
I have not seen Hand to God yet, so I can't comment on Steven Boyer, but what I loved so much about Alex Sharp's performance was the way his performance felt not only genuine, but held it's own in the large spectacle that is Curious Incident. I love performances that transcend and I absolutely believe that is what Alex Sharp is doing as Christopher.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#23Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/19/15 at 10:47pm
I'm in the I'll be happy either way but I want Steven Boyer to win camp. His performance is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.
#24Alex Sharp vs. Steven Boyer
Posted: 5/20/15 at 12:04am
I actually think that Bradley Cooper is the one who DESERVES the award, but it's not going to happen at this point. I'm pulling for Boyer over Sharp, but really only because I saw Luke Treadaway in Curious Incident in London, and I don't think Sharp did enough with that performance to make me forget Luke while I was watching him.
