Patti or LaChanze?- Page 2

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:45pm

Why do people always insist that someone should take home a Tony because of "what she's been through!" or "she's worked so hard and never won one!"? The winner of the award should be the actor who, for whatever reasons, has given the most all-around best performance in a musical. That in itself, though, is a bit of a challenge seeing as how these roles are often incomparable.

I'm really tired of hearing that Lachanze SHOULD win over Patti because her role is "more emotional" or requires her to sing more "powerful songs." What kind of criteria is that? Patti Lupone has absolutely REINVENTED the role of Mrs. Lovett for this production (something that has really yet to be done since Angela Lansbury's original performance) and she has been spell-binding the three times I have seen this revival of Sweeney.

In my opinion, Patti SHOULD win and I certainly hope she does. I'm not asking for others to agree that she should take the Tony, but at least give the woman some of the credit she deserves for her work on Broadway right now. Lachanze may be phenomenal, but why does that need to lead to so much disrespect and lack of praise for a true pro who is doing some of the best, if not THE best, work of her career. I'm not going to lie, I had extreme doubts about Patti when the cast was announced for Sweeney, but she has floored me and I took a complete 180! We all know she could have easily simply taken a diva-turn with this role and production, but she didn't. She has given herself over 100% to a new, extraordinary challenge, meeting it with technique and passion.

I think Miss P. should be rewarded.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:58pm

LaChanze

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:59pm

LaChanze character has a lot more emotional depth than than Patti's. LaChanze should win.

[ThereIs1Director]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:05pm

What makes Patti LuPone's recreation of this role any good? She didnt re-invent the role, John Doyle did it for her, and she looks like a Robot out there following this staging. Twice I have seen it on Saturday nights when she has looked like she would rather be getting a manicure than being on stage. I watched her snub a group of girls at the stage door, then Michael had to come out and compensate for it (which he did). Like I said, I like Patti, but in my opinion, she dosen' t deserve to win for this performance. Not to take away her talents, I dont think she ever evolves into Mrs. Lovett...at least the one I know she can be.

Give it To LaChanze.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:13pm

Even thoguth i don't like Patti that much,It's her performance that matters. Now how she acts at the stage door.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:17pm

Yes, we all know Patti is a bitch, but that should have *no effect at all* on how the Tony voters cast their ballots.

[icantbelive]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:19pm

its Patti's year

[SeptemberKel]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:20pm

I'm not into the stage door thing, but every time I've seen Sweeney I've gone with others who are all about it. I just stood there with all of the fans as an observer, and Patti's been nothing but gracious each and every time. More than accommodating and friendly. Maybe I was lucky. Who knows... who cares?

I just think it's a bit unfair because what you call a "snub" by Patti may be called something else if the same conduct occurred by some other performer who has not been labeled "a diva."

Updated On: 6/8/06 at 01:20 PM

[luvwicked]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:22pm

True. Plenty of b*tches have won in the past (Harvey Fierstein comes to mind), and their b*tchiness had nothing to do with winning.

Nevertheless, I think LaChanze should win. She is a beautiful and hard-working performer. Patti LuPone is OK, but LaChanze just does better in her role. I'm not sure how Chita was nominated, and Sutton and Kelli are always excellent. But I think this award belongs to LaChanze.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:23pm

The thing I don't get is this - why did Patti get cast in the first place after the awful concert version she did? I mean - this re-creation is better vocally for her than the concert was, but I honestly would not see it as "Patti's" year. I won't feel slighted at all if she wins - I just feel other performances were better. Plus I hear she has been breaking the fourth wall a lot - does that not count for anything? It's Sweeney Todd, not the Patti Lupone show - she just does not seem to be a "team player" any longer.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:23pm

Chita got nominated for playing herself and singing some song she had sang in the past. WTF????
Updated On: 6/8/06 at 01:23 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:23pm

I'm not going to deny Patti's divaness because its something that her fans come to embrace. She wouldn't be Patti if she didn't have witty remarks and said crazy sh*t every once in a while. Viva la LuPone!

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:25pm

This is laughable. We're now bringing in stage door conduct!

I don't understand.

[SeptemberKel]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:25pm

Hard-working? Sure. LaChanze is hard-working. All performers are.

But, don't imply that Patti isn't because she doesn't leave the stage once during Sweeney. That show has no down-time at all - for any of the cast. And they all have the score memorized and EACH contribute their own instrumental talents to the music. I think I'd qualify that as hard-working.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:46pm

Patti all the way.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 3:55pm

I'm rootin' for LaChanze. Like what LuPone said in an interview, comparing the roles of the lead actresses is like comparing apples and oranges so it's hard to really decide who was best over all because there are things that some performers have to bring to their role that others don't. Chita got to bring her entire life and her whole essence of Chita for her show. The other four women are not playing themselves. In the long run I think it really is down between LaChanze and Patti. Sutton is wonderful but this year I don't think she's got a chance. Sunday night should be interesting.

Cheers,

Christopher

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:04pm

I realy think Patti should win, and I think she will win. As many have said, she complately recreated the role of Mrs. Lovett. She did that. I'm sure John Doyle did help her to delve into the depths of the character she plays, but John Doyle is not the one playing the role. Patti is. I think Patti did a fantastic job in the show, has always seemed engaged and never bored, and gave and all-out brilliant perfromance.

And on a side not, every time I have stage-doored at Sweeney, Ms. LuPone has been very kind to me.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:15pm

I personally hope lachanze wins, but i'll be rooting for all 4 leading ladies

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:25pm

LChanze all the way.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:30pm

Patti hands down.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:31pm

Patti LuPone for the win. Updated On: 6/8/06 at 05:31 PM

[The W.A.N.D]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:33pm

Patti Will win and she deserves to win. Anyone who's seen her will know that all the bull**** isnt true. She is a wonderful person and very nice at Stagedoor apperences.

[cate_w]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:35pm

I think it's Patti's year. Although they are both great.
This is a little off topic, but why is Sutton even in this category? I love her and think she's great in the Drowsy Chaperone, but shouldn't she be in the featured actress category? Her role, while lots of fun, can't even begin to compare to the others.

[quintia]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:47pm

Patti will and deserves to win.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 6:23pm

I think some people are being incredibly rude about the whole situation. Remarks like "I'm going to the awards, so listen out on TV for my scream of disappointment and horror when Patti wins!!!" are just unnecessary and not very nice at all. At whom would you be yelling, Patti? Why would it be her fault if other people thought she gave a great performance? Or perhaps that shriek is for the voters, but then who are the voters any way? And what do the Tonys actually matter? It's a bunch of people's opinions of certain things that rely on many other certain things. Anyway, we all know that the Tonys are no longer a show about "excellence" but rather marketing and politics. Spamalot the best of last season? You have to be kidding me. So let's not be cruel to the performers. All five of the nominees have worked their butts off to be where they are, no one excluded. It's a tough business. The fact that they're on Broadway should be rewarding enough for them.

That said, yes, I do think Patti will and should win. I thought her performance was amazing.