Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I- Page 2
Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
#25Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:21am
In fact, re-reading the On The Twentieth Century review, this the ONLY part where Brantley singles out Chenoweth:
"As for Ms. Chenoweth, rebounding brilliantly after having to dampen her natural star fire in a strained revival of "Promises, Promises" five years ago, she uses Lily’s histrionics to create one of the most virtuosic portraits in song ever on Broadway. The vocal vocabulary she deploys here ranges from jazz-baby brass to operatic silver, often in a single number, and she switches among them with jaw-dropping ease. Leading the big fantasy production number “Babette,” in which Lily ponders her divergent choices in art and love, Ms. Chenoweth seems to become an entire epic cast of divided selves. And every perfectly weighted note is set off by an impeccably exaggerated gesture. When Cecil B. DeMille-style shafts from heaven (it’s Donald Holder’s lighting) frame Lily as she contemplates playing Mary Magdalene, the apotheosis is entirely suitable."
I'm going to out on a limb and say Kelli's is more of a love letter than Cheno's.
#26Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:31am
Are we really going to argue semantics to try and determine who received "more" of a love letter from Brantley?
We won't get an idea of how he (and Isherwood) really feel about awards until they give their Tony predictions next month.
I do agree that there's not a chance Twentieth Century beats King and I for revival, though.
#27Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:33am
I think the real race for Best Revival of a Musical is The King & I vs. On the Town.
Freeman5
Understudy Joined: 6/8/09
#28Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:35am
I think the Lead Actress Tony race is thrilling this year. It is possible that Chenowith and O'Hara siphon off votes from each other and Rivera's acting performance will win the award, but then Chenowith's more difficult to deliver performance might sway voters. O'Hara's role is the easiest of the three, but she is so beloved and the role of Anna often wins awards. It certainly will be an exciting Tony night moment, filled with suspense. I'm completely flummoxed as to who the other two nominees will be.
#29Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:38am
So true, Jeff. OTT is the clear winner but I doubt anything will stop the King and I campaign. I'm more interested to see if Ken will get nominated. It's a bit weird to have a whole production contending for many awards and not having your leading man even get a nomination.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#30Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:42am
"I think the grosses will have a larger share to do with who takes Best Actress. Few mention it, but I think Kelli may have won last year had BRIDGES been a hit. She'd have been giving a glorious performance in a fat hit, alongside Jessie Mueller, giving her a run for her money. But she and the score were in an admirable show, contrasted by a wonderful Jessie in a big fat hit. So, Jessie for the win."
I agree but I don't think it's the grosses so much as the show actually still running.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#31Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:45am
I'm completely flummoxed as to who the other two nominees will be.
Who shall those two be?
Kelli Barrett-Doctor Zhivago?
Leanne Cope-An American in Paris?
Erin Davie-Side Show?
Lisa Howard-It Shoulda Been You?
Laura Michelle Kelly-Finding Neverland?
Beth Malone-Fun Home?
Brynn O'Malley-Honeymoon in Vegas?
Emily Padgett-Side Show?
Rachel Tucker-The Last Ship?
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#32Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:49am
Beth Malone and Laura Michelle Kelly
#33Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:54am
"Beth Malone and Laura Michelle Kelly"
That would be my guess as well. The "just happy to be nominated" group.
#34Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 9:57am
I would say Beth Malone certainly takes one of those slots, with the other going either to Laura Michelle Kelly (a recognizable name, got good notices) or Lisa Howard (a hard-working and always reliable performer who finally has a lead role).
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#35Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 10:01am
I'm really really pulling for Howard.
I love her so much. And she truly deserves a nomination for this show.
....but the world goes 'round
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#36Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 10:43am
I would love to see Vanessa Hudgens get a nomination for Gigi, honestly... It may not be but I'd be happy to see her happy... she's so charming in everything I've seen or heard from the show and I'm looking forward to seeing it myself!
#37Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 10:46am
"I would love to see Vanessa Hudgens get a nomination for Gigi, honestly... It may not be but I'd be happy to see her happy... she's so charming in everything I've seen or heard from the show and I'm looking forward to seeing it myself!"
I don't think she will but I'd like to see her get nominated as well. She exceeded my expectations and I really enjoyed her in the role.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#38Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 11:08am
"I would love to see Vanessa Hudgens get a nomination for Gigi"
Me too.
#39Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 11:22am
"Are we really going to argue semantics to try and determine who received "more" of a love letter from Brantley? "
Sorry adamgreer. It wasn't my intention to argue semantics or say who got a better review. I was merely trying to make the point that if you're going to claim that somebody's review is "not in the same vein" as someone else's, you better have read both recently. I hate when people make claims based on memory rather than the information in front of them.
#40Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 11:30am
In terms of Best Actress, this has to be the most interesting since Cheno/Idina/Pinkins slogged it out.
#41Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 11:39am
^^Actually, Donna Murphy won all the precursors that year. I'd say it was a Murphy/Menzel/Pinkins race. I do want to say in terms of reviews from the Times, it was Murphy and Chenoweth who got the most praise from Brantley (wasn't he a bit cool on CAROLINE, OR CHANGE?).
That review for Chenoweth on the Times is a love letter, the review for O'Hara on the Times is a love letter. I imagine Rivera will get her love letter too. It's an exciting race! I do hope we get two fantastic performances in the "happy to be nominated" slots. Malone sounds like she's terrific. I do find everything about FINDING NEVERLAND so offensively tacky that I hope someone like Erin Davie, Lisa Howard, Leanne Cope, or Vanessa Hudgens gets in over her.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#42Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 11:55am
I would put my money on The King and I taking best revival. While i enjoyed Chenoweth's performance, I personally found O'Hara to be much better.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#43Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 12:17pm
In terms of the Best Actress in a Musical Tony race of Chenoweth vs O'Hara, I think many are discounting voters knowledge of the actresses roles in the actual mounting of the production. Kristen Chenoweth has been working on getting On the 20th Century mounted for the past over 5 years now, while O'Hara was tapped by Sher to lead the production a about 2 years ago. The difference is that Chenoweth has been completely working the community to get this production of the ground, mentioning it in nearly every interview she has done over the course of the past 5 years. She has even had Hugh Jackman attempt to sell the production, so she could play Lily. O'Hara on the other hand had very little to do with the production outside of being Bartlett Sher's golden girl.
Regarding the other 2 slots assuming Rivera, Chenoweth, and O'Hara are locks in the other 3, I wouldn't discount Side Show's Padgett and Davie. In all honesty I don't see them nominating Davie or Padgett without nominating the other so I think the other 2 slots with being Padgett and Davie or Hudgens and Malone.
Honestly I think Reidel's omission of On the Town, says wonders about the validity of the story. There is no way voters are not going to take into account the producers extreme attempts to keep the show aloft compared to the nonprofits that are the King and I and On the 20th Century. Also regarding the productions themselves I think I would rank the productions as following:
1)On the Town
2)On the 20th Century
3)The King and I
My reasoning is that I think producing a successful production of The King and I is a cakewalk compared to On the Town and On the 20th Century. Fluff doesn't age well as most of the reviews of On the Town and On the 20th Century stated, thus in my opinion the success of their productions deserves to be rewarded more than that of a musical that is much easier to mount. I do not mean physical issues such as cast size and scale, but rather more technical book issues, which On the Town and On the 20th Century both have.
#44Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 12:56pm
^I've said it once and I'll say it again, the award for Best Revival of a Musical is never given for the original material, it's given for the revival.
lynnetoomey
Understudy Joined: 5/8/09
#45Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 1:01pm
Riedel has reached a new low this week. To not even MENTION "On The Town" in this horse race is inane. This is going to be a fabulous three-way slugfest. Each of these shows is going to have large blocks of passionate voters. I'd put my money on "OTT" by the slimmest of margins.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#46Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 1:05pm
^What do you expect from a theatre "journalist" who doesn't know the lyricist of "It Might as Well be Spring"?
#47Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 1:07pm
None of Riedel's columns are written without considerable bias.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#48Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 1:26pm
He's also still the same guy who famously predicted that Bullets Over Broadway was gonna be the SMASH HIT OF THE SEASON last year!
#49Riedel: Tony race heats up as Neverland fades, and Twentieth Century butts heads with King and I
Posted: 4/17/15 at 1:44pm
I'm completely flummoxed as to who the other two nominees will be.
---
Well, we have:
Rivera
Chenoweth
O'Hara
I predict:
Beth Malone-Fun Home
Laura Michelle Kelly-Finding Neverland or Leanne Cope-An American in Paris
***AAIP will get a lot of LUV when the nominations come out so they may include her***
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
