Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
#1Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 7:04pm
Surprised that this isn't a board yet.
Ok, guys. Since apparently Bertie is eligible for a Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, along with Billy Porter, this is going be very unpredictable who will win because hands down, one of these 2 will get the Tony. Heck, even I can't choose. So, for now, let's guess who will win.
I know I just said that i can't choose, but for now, I'm just going to say Bertie.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#2Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 7:19pmYou know what, you're right! I have yet to even read the word "Bertie" in any thread on this board! WTH, BWW?
corkystclair2
Chorus Member Joined: 9/25/10
#2Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 7:22pmBilly SHOULD win because of the quality and volume of work that he is doing - he must be onstage as the center of attention for close to an hour during KINKY BOOTS. It's hardly fair comparing the two roles. Is there any precedent for a "leading" role with only 2 songs and 20 minutes of stage time as is the case for Bertie Carvel?
#3Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 7:32pm
Ben Fankhauser and Kara Lindsay were eligible for Best Actor/Actress last year. I'd consider both roles featured. (Neither was nominated, but that was the ruling.)
Two women in the original production of Company were nominated for Best Actress. I would consider Bobby the only leading role.
Leland Palmer as Fastrada in Pippin was nominated for Pippin.
There's lots of precedence for this.
Updated On: 4/26/13 at 07:32 PM
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#4Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 8:23pmWhat are some previous wins for Leading Actor in a Musical where someone that should've been in featured has won, and someone who had more of a 'leading leading' role with more stage time hasn't won - i.e. the Harvey Fierstein year (2003) for Hairspray, beating Antonio Banderas... What about Norbert Leo Butz - I always thought he won the leading actor Tony for a featured role...
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#7Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 9:44pm
Butz' Agent Hannratty was like Galinda to Tveit's Elphaba. Yes its not as much stage time as Frank Abignale Jr. but he is still on stage for most of show, and the focus of the show is him trying to unravel Frank's story.
Fierstein on the other hand although a supporting role in Hairspray, Edna is a heavily featured supporting role. Edna is featured in half of the score and is on stage in some form or another throughout the show. Also Edna is not the antagonist, unlike Miss Trunchbull, which is often a major distinction between a leading actor and featured. Mama Rose in Gypsy being one of the few exceptions.
Bertie being placed in Leading Actor is like Sherrie Rene Scott being put in the Leading Actress Category for Ursula in the Little Mermaid. Even though she stole the show, she only had 2 songs and 2 30 second reprises, akin to Miss Trunchbull, and was placed in the supporting race. Honestly if Miss Trunchbull had been played by a woman or Matilda was instead named Matt, Bertie would not be in this race, and I have a feeling a lot of voters will realize this an vote Porter instead.
#8Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 9:55pmThis is a very poor mistake for the producers and the commitee. If Bertie loses, it's their faults. If he got Supporting, then the competition for that is over. Now, it's anyone's game for these 2 and the actors will have to hope for the best.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#9Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 10:08pmRemember when Yul won for Featured as KING in THE KING & I?
#10Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 10:28pmBertie is the definition of a "Supporting Actor" in this show. And Porter shares te last bow with Sands and is on stage almost as much, so he is the definition of a "Leading Actor". The fact they're in the same category is ridiculous.
#11Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 10:46pmAnnie was originally in the same category as Miss Hannigan, and the villain proved victorious at the Tonys. Annie is clearly the leading actress in that musical, but that didn't stop voters for awarding Dorothy Loudon's delicious (supporting) performance.
#12Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/26/13 at 11:57pmI haven't seen Matilda, so I'm asking: Is Bertie the biggest MALE role, so that's why he's Leading? Could that be the thinking?
"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"
#14Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 12:39am
I just need to say that Bertie is probably the most handsome man on Broadway right now.
Just had to say it.
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#15Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 12:41amWhile I do think that he is the biggest male role. I am not sure that is the reasoning behind having Bertie be nominated for best leading actor. I think that the reasoning is that he won the Olivier for best actor in a musical (the London version of best leading actor since their featured performer categorie is mixed guys and girls.) So, they think that if he could win in it for pretty much the same category in London, then he can win it for the same category on Broadway.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#16Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 3:06amThere's some serious category Freud here!
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#17Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 6:37am
I am all for Billy Porter...hands down. I hope he wins.
#18Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 6:45am
See, I don't get this "Miss Hannigan is a supporting role" talk. Her role dominates the show (if played right) as much as Annie. And she has more stage time than the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
It's like saying Fagan or Nancy in Oliver! aren't leading roles either. The story revolves around Oliver from his POV (mostly), but there are other "principle" roles that qualify as leads. ("Leads" is a plural word. You can have more than one.)
Maria in West Side Story isn't on stage (or screen) for the first 25 minutes of the story. Does that make her a supporting role, too?
You can't measure everything with a stopwatch or a ruler.
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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#19Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 9:05amIn 1976, George Rose won Leading Actor for Doolittle in My Fair Lady. There's precedence for a star turn, no matter what the size, taking the Lead role if it feels right. To me, Bertie feels right as Lead, but to each their own.
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
John Adams
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
#20Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 9:28am
Regarding categorizing the characters of Trunchbull or Hannigan as "Leading" vs. "Supporting", I think both are Leading roles.
If you consider their roles in terms of plot, both characters are the major Antagonist roles to Matilda's and Annie's Protagonists. Neither role "supports" another character's role in terms of plot.
It does not matter how much stage time is occupied, or how many songs they sing. I think of it as being similar to roles in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz". Although the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man are all onscreen for much longer than the Wicked Witch of the West, they are all supporting roles to Dorothy's leading character.
Had she been nominated for an Oscar, Margaret Hamilton probably would have been in the "Best Actress" category. As the major Antagonist to Judy Garland's Protagonist, the WWotW could be considered a Leading role.
As mentioned by others before, the Tony is not about the quantity of physical work alone (i.e. stage time or physicality). How well the role is created/executed counts.
Think about Dame Judi Dench's Oscar for Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love. She was barely even in that picture...
Updated On: 4/27/13 at 09:28 AM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#21Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/27/13 at 9:36amNo. The witch would have nominated as Supporting.
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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.
broadway guy
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/5/11
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#23Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/28/13 at 10:24amYou are probably right but I hope you are wrong.
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#24Bertie Carvel vs. Billy Porter
Posted: 4/28/13 at 12:54pmThe Tonys have done some crazy things through the years. Remember the joint nomination for Ripley and Skinner in Side Show? Ridiculous!
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