Tony Awards '08: LuPone vs. Murphy- Page 3

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:09pm

Why? Just like Ebersole, Donna got RAVES for Follies.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:10pm

^ Exactly. American - it seems you like making assumptions on performances you haven't seen.

It seems you didn't see FOLLIES.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:12pm

I have seen FOLLIES. Maybe not live, but I have seen it.

Just like Tony judges disagree, I am disagreeing.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:16pm

Umm, FOLLIES wasn't eligible for the Tonys.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:16pm

I have seen FOLLIES. Maybe not live, but I have seen it.

- Oh Lord. I doubt you saw the City Center production on bootleg.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:17pm

Ray-

I wasn't implying that it was.

I was just stating that judges disagree on who should win every year. I just disagree with the majority.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:25pm

You never know, Ljay, he may have Stacey's number.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:28pm

That's true. Stacey DOES get around.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:28pm

So they are bringing Follies back to Broadway?!?!?!?!? Didn't the recent revival flop??????

However, if that is true, and Victoria Clark is doing Sally again, I'd put her on the list too!!!!!!

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:32pm

^ The revival couldn't flop. It was done by Roundabout. The grosses weren't all that bad either.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:36pm

The revival was produced by Roundabout which is a non-profit organization so it couldn't have flopped/recouped. It just is considered the most lackluster, ill-conceived, miscast, misdirected, and terribly choreographed out of the major FOLLIES productions. In my opinion, it was a waste of a revival so it shouldn't stop them from bringing the Encores! production.
And as much as I enjoyed Clark (I thought her Sally was fascinating), in my opinion, Murphy stole the show right from under her every time they had a scene together. I'll never forget the audience reaction after Murphy's reading of the line: "I never dip beneath the surface."

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:41pm

Well, I'm all for it, So I DO hope they bring it to Broadway!!!!!! I LOVE the score and own all "Follies" recordings; however I have yet to see a production of it; so I would LOVE to see this......as well as buy a Cast Recording of it!!!!!!

But I guess the fact that it was revived in 2001 shouldn't matter since "Gypsy" was revived in 2003.

I say bring them Both to Broadway. And my early tony prediction would be for Patti because I think voters will also want to reward her for "Sweeney Todd".

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:43pm

...or Donna to reward her for WONDERFUL TOWN and LOVEMUSIK.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:47pm

Wouldn't they have "rewarded" them with the award at the time, if they wanted to "reward" them for those roles?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:53pm

I was just responding to MTVMANN's comment.

But it still makes sense. They are rewarding them for their efforts, although though were not able to give them the award at that time.

Rathnait, don't get pissy. You knew exactly what we meant and it made perfect sense.

reward: to make return for or requite (service, merit, etc.); recompense

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:58pm

Well, Brian Stokes Mitchell himself says that his KISS ME KATE Tony was given to him because of RAGTIME and I personally believe that Chita Rivera's THE RINK Tony was given to her because she had been nominated a few times before without a win (everyone I know who saw both Rivera and Peters comment on the fact that Peters was the better actress that season).
Murphy wasn't gonna get the Tony for WONDERFUL TOWN anyways, her run was too controversial, that should've been Tonya Pinkins' second Tony. Now, I'd have voted for her this past season, her Lenya was magnificent but nothing compares to her Phyllis. If she ever wins a Tony for Phyllis, it will be for that role alone.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:03pm

I know her Phyllis is amazing.

But those two performances (she did win the Drama Desk for WONDERFUL TOWN...) may give her the slightest edge over Patti.

And I think that that BSM/ KATE/ RAGTIME thing is pretty odd. I feel he most definitely deserved his Tony for KISS ME KATE.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:20pm

I personally believe that Chita Rivera's THE RINK Tony was given to her because she had been nominated a few times before without a win (everyone I know who saw both Rivera and Peters comment on the fact that Peters was the better actress that season).

- We've had this same exact discussion before. But I'll repeat myself. I really think Chita had the harder task that year. Not acting wise. But she had to shine in a mediocre show. Not many actresses do that. She took an okay role in an okay show and just created something spectacular. Granted, it was unfair she lost so many times before. I feel that was Chita's year. Bernadette was blessed with brilliant material... a role that was written to make her shine. Chita had to put even more effort into her role to rise above mediocre material.

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:20pm

Yo, americanboy. I'm saying that in those performances, in those shows, with those specific awards, that would be my... I dunno.

No reason to get pissy. Oy.

Even though I fully 'got' Ebersole's performance in Grey Gardens, and was entirely blown away, something moved me in a more profound way about Murphy's. I'm not necessarily saying one was better, I’m saying that one hit me deeper for any number of reasons (ex – my connection to the piece/character, her new take on the role, etc.).

If Donna Murphy was up for a Tony last season for Follies, I do not think she would have beaten Ebersole. This was Ebersole’s year, and there was absolutely no question about it (at least for me).

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:24pm

"But those two performances (she did win the Drama Desk for WONDERFUL TOWN...) may give her the slightest edge over Patti."

And could Patti's performances in ANYTHING GOES and SWEENEY TODD give her the slightest edge over Donna?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:31pm

Yeah, wizard, I guess.

Although, ANYTHING GOES was quite awhile ago.

None of us really know. We all have our own opinions/ theories.

Updated On: 7/11/07 at 09:31 PM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:40pm

I agree that "Anything Goes" was a while ago and probably too long ago to get a "make up" award, but if anyone remembers it, it would probably be Tony Voters!

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:44pm

Well, Tony voters do seem to miss some pretty obvious things. Like Patti's performance last year... LACHANZE!?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:45pm

Patti doesn't NEED a "makeup award" to win a Tony for this performance (were it eligible).

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:48pm

Rath- Many would say the same for Murphy.