Jan Maxwell got the Tony in her bag?

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:34am

Just saw LEND ME A TENOR tonight, and Jan Maxwell was just terrific. I'm assuming she's a strong contender for Best Featured Actress in a play this year?

Overall, the show was very funny. I'm glad I got to catch it so soon after opening.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:35am

I doubt she can nab a Tony for supporting actress this year against Jessica Hecht. I still feel VERY strongly that she deserves the Best Actress Tony for her performance in THE ROYAL FAMILY, though.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:40am

She's fantastic, I hope she gets nominated.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 4:15am

That category is going to be tough this year. I don't think Jessica Hecht takes it that easily. She will have some serious competition from Jan, Alicia Silverstone, and Viola Davis.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 4:20am

I liked Maxwell in ROYAL FAMILY but absolutely positively fell head-over-heels in love with her performance in TENOR.

Silverstone and Hecht were both strong in their respective productions (random side note: wouldn't it be amazing if the nominating committee recognized Metcalf for BBM? Not gonna happen but that would make me happy.) but Maxwell all but stole the show in TENOR and she's hardly onstage. I hope she wins for TENOR..she really deserves it.

PS the wording in the title of this thread makes me laugh.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 4:26am

^ BBM isn't Tony eligible. :-/ I wish it were.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 4:31am

Oh right!! I totally forgot!

That makes me sad. I'm still really upset we'll never get to see what Cromer and the cast could've done with BROADWAY BOUND. Too bad; I enjoyed BBM, particularly Metcalf's really excellent performance.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 8:40am

Maxwell is phenomenal in 'Lend Me a Tenor' and 'The Royal Family'; I'll be surprised if she doesn't get double Tony nominations (for Featured and Leading). As fantastic as she is in her debut scene in Act I of 'Tenor,' she's gone for much of the rest of the play (what a waste).

Here are two factors that could affect whether she wins: One, where are the Tonys putting Viola Davis ('Fences')? She's billed above the title so it's assumed she'll be Leading; but in the original production (1987), the role was played by Mary Alice, who won the Tony for Featured Actress. Two, I think there's another actress from 'View From the Bridge' who's a stronger contender than Jessica Hecht for Featured, and that's Scarlett Johansson. Maxwell has a flashy but small comic role; Davis and Johansson have much meatier and more substantial dramatic roles.

If Davis is put in Leading, that improves Maxwell's chances in Featured. Also, Maxwell's performance is still on the boards; Johansson's is not (did enough Tony voters see her?). And if Hecht and Johansson were to both get nominations for Featured, would they split votes? That could help Maxwell.

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 08:40 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 9:47am

Wait a minute. Both Johansson and Hecht were above the title. Were they both petitioned and approved to be considered as Featured? (Why would the producers do that, and keep them in competition with one another?)

As great as Hecht was in VIEW, she provided the exact same characterization as Beatrice that she did as Blanche in BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS. I felt that the performance worked better within the confines of BRIGHTON BEACH. Her characterization felt out of place alongside Schreiber and Johansson's more naturalistic performances in VIEW.

My opinion aside, I do find it odd if the producers intentionally stuck them both in Featured, when they were already in competition in Leading to begin with.

Maxwell is divine in her limited stage time in TENOR. I think she may win this year, not just because of her performance, but because it is "her time," as they say. An oftentimes underrated, devoted, consistently-working New York theatre actress who has yet to receive her due. I, too, hope she is nominated for both THE ROYAL FAMILY and TENOR, would LOVE for her to win for both, but more realistically, I would be thrilled to see her win for her small but memorable performance in the currently running TENOR.

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 09:47 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:05am

"Both Johansson and Hecht were above the title."

Only Johansson & Schreiber were above the title.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:07am

Yes, the producers of A View from the Bridge successfully petitioned to have both Hecht and Johansson placed in Featured Actress.

I suspect Maxwell will get a double nomination and win for one of them, though I'm not sure which one yet.

The wildcard will be Viola Davis- her role is definitely a featured one, but she is billed above the title. Her placement will be crucial.

And yes, this thread title made me laugh. It makes it sound like Maxwell is sneaking around, stealing Tonys and putting them in her handbag.
Updated On: 4/10/10 at 10:07 AM

[Mystic Pasta]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:14am

Jan Maxwell gets my vote for a Tony award for her stunning performance in Lend Me A Tenor. I hope Ken Ludwig writes a new play following her character's journey after leaving Cleveland. Can't wait to see what Jan's next role will be. She could read the phone book (do they have those anymore?) and I would be happy.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:47am

Why isn't Brighton Beach Memoirs Tony eligible?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:52am

It didn't run long enough for the producers to be able to invite the Tony voters.

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 11:13am

Jan deserves nominations and wins this year. I have yet to see her in Tenor (maybe next weekend), but I LOVED her in Royal Family. It feels like it was so long ago though, and I hope that doesn't hurt her chances for being nominated for that. Talk about a talent though!

[TBone]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 11:17am

I'm so excited to see this tonight!!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 11:32am

"Both Johansson and Hecht were above the title."

Only Johansson & Schreiber were above the title.

Jordan, on the title page inside my Playbill, Hecht is above the title along with Schreiber and Johansson.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 11:37am

Viola Davis is below the title in Fences.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:27pm

I ADORE Jan Maxwell and think she should be nominated for both performances, but she has tough competition in both categories.

Of course I haven't seen Fences or Enron yet, but I'm suspecting the nominations will look SOMETHING like this:

LEAD ACTRESS
Jan Maxwell - The Royal Family
Laura Linney - Time Stands Still
Valarie Harper - Looped
Linda Lavin - Collected Stories
Carrie Fisher - Wishful Drinking

F. ACTRESS
Jan Maxwell - Lend Me a Tenor
Alicia Silverstone - Time Stands Still
Rosemary Harris - The Royal Family
Viola Davis - Fences
Marin Mazzie - Enron/Scarlett Johanson - A View from the Bridge/Sarah Paulson - Collected Stories

Personally, if I NEVER hear Jessica Hecht do that Brooklyn accent again, I will die happy.