...it's Cerveris, and Connick...yeah... And personally, I am rootin' for Cerveris, his performance as Sweeney Todd was absolutely captivating.
Updated On: 2/24/06 at 11:35 PM
It isn't fair of me to say because I haven't seen Connick in The Pajama Game, just heard all the buzz--and I'm biased anyway because I don't particularly like him--but the Tony belongs to Cerveris as far as I'm concerned. His Sweeney brings me to tears.
You said it perfectly, keaton. I love his rendition of the role. No, neo. I didn't forget John Lloyd Young. I would put him over Connick any day. But, Michael Cerveris is my first. *Ignores last comment. Please no*
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
but the Tony belongs to Cerveris as far as I'm concerned. His Sweeney brings me to tears.
I agree 100%. I also agree with the complexity of the role of Sweeney Todd and the vocal demands of the role as opposed to that of Sid in Pajama Game.
Threadjack...ish. If Manoel Felciano doesn't get at least a Tony nomination for his performance as Tobias for featured actor, I will be devestated. He really deserves the award, he played all 3 instruments and played the role so well, I was so amazed by his performance.
So yes, both Cerveris and Felciano, I feel, should win the Tony's. Updated On: 2/25/06 at 11:45 PM
He HAS to get a nomination at least! I wouldn't put it past him to pull off a win. The guy plays 3 instruments AND acts to perfection! How could he not?
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
JLY, yeah. I say this (again) not knowing much about Connick's performance, but it seems to me the real race might be between Cerveris and JLY--and JLY would definitely deserve it, but it's still Michael for me. I can easily see Michael and Manoel both winning.
As of now, the race is still between Cerveris and Young.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Yes, let's not forget Brantley's love letter to Young:
"Our superstar hero - in this case, the singer Frankie Valli, played by a genuine star-in-the-making named John Lloyd Young - has already scrambled from the mean streets of his youth to the heights of Top-40 glory and started the long, scraping slide downward. But there's this one song, see, that he knows can push him back into the big time, and no one will play it on the radio. So he takes his song straight to the people, and by golly, when he's finished performing it, the crowd goes wild. I'm talking about the real, mostly middle-aged crowd at the August Wilson Theater, who seem to have forgotten what year it is or how old they are or, most important, that John Lloyd Young is not Frankie Valli.
That song, by the way, is "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," an after-shave-soaked lounge ballad that was a hit in 1967 and is not a personal favorite of mine. But that's not the point. Nor is the point that Mr. Young - who has been doing a swell imitation of Mr. Valli's trademark nasal crooning throughout this "Behind the Music"-style concoction, directed with more efficiency than originality by Des McAnuff - has again delivered a spot-on evocation of a voice that continues to dominate golden oldie stations.
No, the real thrill, at least for those who want something more than recycled chart toppers and a story line poured from a can, is that Mr. Young has crossed the line from exact impersonation into something more compelling. It's that sort of melting from perfect wax effigy into imperfect flesh that Philip Seymour Hoffman achieves in the title role of the current movie "Capote."
Inhaling the cheers of the crowd, Mr. Young as Mr. Valli glistens with that mix of tears and sweat, of humility and omnipotence, that signal that a hungry performer's need for approval has been more than met. And everything that has led up to that curtain call feels, for just a second, as real and vivid as the sting of your hands clapping together. ________________________________________________________________
The chief source of fresh air, though, is Mr. Young, who mutates from hopeful teenaged schlemiel to regretful falling idol with a spontaneity that never fades. When this Frankie Valli sings, you sense him channeling all the messy, happy, angry feelings of his life without straying from the required official voice. Like Mr. Valli, Mr. Young has a quirky authenticity that can't be faked or learned. His intense belief in his character shimmers like sunlight amid the fluorescence of "Jersey Boys."
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
I'm also hoping that Sweeney Todd gets the Tony for Best Revival over The Pajama Game. Although I loved them both and enjoyed them both very much, I think Sweeney has the edge.
2 words Juke Box Tony Voters hate that I think they all could win I love a good race It would be great to see a new commer win who's the fourth nominee? thet Tarzan guy?
Tony voters will swoon for Conick and they Love Cervaris They are from the Old school
I seriously have no idea what you just said. Probably due to the random capitalizations, misspelling of both of the actor's surnames, and it just didn't make sense anyway, lol.
I really want to see Jersey Boys, I've heard such great things about it, hopefully I'll see it by May...
Conick got some good reviews, but he hardly got the raves Mr.Young and Mr.Cerveris got. I agree with everyone who says it is between Cerveris and Lloyd Young, and in my opinion, Young is more likely to win the race. I don't think anyone doubted Cerveris could act, he's proven himself many times, but there's nothing I (and usually the Tony voters) appreciate more than a great revelation like Mr.Young is.
I have no doubts that all three will win, but I wouldn't count out some of the new shows opening. Although, all three were given pretty good material to work with. Seems unfair to give Best Actor to someone who isn't working with new material. I know that comment will come back to haunt me, but i stand by it.