Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Fabrizio2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/20/06
#1Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 6:56pmCould someone let me know what the general consensus was on Pinkins in the show? I saw the tony performance and was amazed by her talent and would like to see her live, I haven't heard much from her recently. I wanted to know what others thought of her and also what people thought of the show in general.
#2re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:02pmI actually just bought the cd today. I really liked what I saw in "ShowBusiness" so I was kind of intrigued by the show. So far I really like it. A lot of my friends saw the Arden's production of it in Philadelphia last spring which I heard was very good. Tonya has been doing a lot though... She performed the role of Caroline in LA and London as well as Radio Golf on Broadway.
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#3re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:04pm
Visit the forbidden site and type "Caroline or Change" to get some nice treats.
The Tony clip doesn't even begin to show Pinkins' fabulous talents.
I never saw the show live but the cast recording and the clips from the show I have seen are enough to tell me that I missed seeing one of the most fascinating performances in recent memory. Pinkins' portrayal of Caroline Thibodeaux is one for the ages.
"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"
#4re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:07pm
Brilliant. Pinkins was totally brilliant. Not even using excessive adjectives here, she really was "brilliant". I will maintain, until the day of my death, that she deserved that Best Actress Tony more than precious little Idina.
Tonya was fierce, extrodinary and inspired. A performance I will not soon forget.
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
#5re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:08pm
The treats on the forbidden site featuring 'Caroline, or Change' are mine. 
I thought her performance in the show was absolutely incredible. I was lucky to see her do it in London three times and each time was blown away by the emotional power she brought to the role. I wish wish wish I could see the show again.
#8re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:22pmShould have been her Tony, hands down !!! An amazing performance !!
#9re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:28pm
Deserved the acclaim of a heartfelt performance, but she was inconsistent and very pitchy.
Last on my list of the other nominees.
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before...
After the Sky.
-Into the Woods (Jack)
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#10re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:37pm
I don't mean to sound snappy and rude (yeah, right!), but guess what? Everyone's questions on anything have been covered on this board numerous times. Seriously. There are NO 'new' questions. 
Hear are some of the previous threads on CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and Tonya Pinkins and others related stuff to the show:
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=947297#3288303
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=920828#3353965
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945809#3257957
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=944895#3240070
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=944366#3229885
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=942953#3214294
...and yes -- there are a few more.
#11re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:43pmIt's the Madame Rose of African American Roles. She was nothing short of genius.
#12re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:47pm
Yes, there have been several threads on the show, but I will go ahead and post here too.
Pinkins was wonderful. Her "Lot's Wife" reduced me to tears. Her Tony Awards performance was not the best that she can do it. I remember reading that she was under the weather and didn't want to do it at the Tonys. The show itself is pretty much a masterpiece. (In my opinion). I am just so upset it closed before I could see it a second time. The score is one of the most perfect scores I can't remember when I have heard such a tight orchestra live at a show. And she was robbed of that Tony Award. Menzel was wonderful also, but that was hands down Pinkins' award. (In my opinion)
Just give the world Love.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#13re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:57pm
Menzel was wonderful also
She was?
Joke aside, the marketing campaign to push Menzel for best actress was way too strong, even more than for Best Musical, as it was assumed by many that the producers of Wicked had already won that (and never counted on the "Vote With Your Heart" puppetry).
The producers of COC had no way to compete with the strength and resources of the Wicked team. One could also say that Menzel's Tony was pretty much their consolation prize that night.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#14re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 9:24pm
I didn't think her Tony performance took my attention at all. I actually did not like it.
But seeing the show in London, she OWNS the role! She's amazing live!
All That Jazz
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#15re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/19/07 at 9:35pmI have the CD, and she is utterly wonderful.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#16re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:41am
The singing in the tony performance was poor, but with reason, but the performance its self was amazing.
Lot's Wife is so powerful, but I Hate the Bus is by far my favorite song in the show. It's full of so much yearing and wanting, and yet all that hope is pointless. SO powerful. And Anika, OMG that girl is a powerhouse, i can't wait for her to come back to broadway.
#17re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:52am
The whole cast was just perfect. I mean, can you get better than Veanne Cox' Rose and Chandra Wilson's Dotty? I think there was some sort of expectation that this show would be received as Kushner's new ANGELS, and it wasn't. It is such an in-your-face piece, utterly brilliant. Jeanine Tesori has never been better and honestly, I can't sing it enough praises. It is nice to see that London appreciated it and even the US West Coast had a much nicer reception to the show than it received in NY.
"Lot's Wife" has to be one of the most brilliant showtunes ever written.
"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"
LadyRosecoe
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/07
#18re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:00amThe Moon, Emmie, and Stuart Trio has become by far my new favorite on this priceless recording. I wasn't so much a fan of David Costabile until I realized what a gem of a song he had. So emotional and you can see it on the site we all know and love.
#19re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:19am
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ri8EA0Jjx1Q
FIERCE
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#20re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 3:04amI have been a fan of the show for some years now and I have to say what a truly remarkable piece it is. Pinkins gave one of the most memorable musical performances I have ever witnessed; she was completely honest with the portrayal and the result was heart breaking.
#21re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 3:59am
Joshy, I have to thank you again for those treats. I can't get enough of them. Thanks!
The Emmie, Stuart, Moon Trio is great. Particularly the way it transitions from "I Hate the Bus" to Stuart's sad soliloquy. My only quibble with the show in general is the cast recording, an extremely high quality recording featuring brilliant performances across the board (sometimes the brilliance of a performance is loss on a recording, this is not the case) and yet they messed up the transitions so we get the last part of "I Hate the Bus" in the "Trio" part, grrr. It really tickles me.
"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"
#22re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 6:10am
TONYA PINKINS WAS ROBBED IN 2004!!!
And I will always stay true to that comment.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
#23re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 6:17am
Lol, I agree, but what can we do? We all know who gave THE best performance in that category and that's all that matters. A statue is not going to change that. Plus, Pinkins has her JELLY'S LAST JAM Tony.
EDIT: Spelling mistake, thanks uncageg!
"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"
Updated On: 12/20/07 at 06:17 AM
#24re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 8:36amJELLY's Last Jam
Just give the world Love.
#25re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 9:00am
A marvelous, understated, and powerhouse performance. Her Lot's Wife was one of the best moments I've ever experienced in a theater (I literally couldn't even move an arm or leg after she did that number). The rest of the company was top notch also (Anika being my favorite in the whole cast). And I just want to mention Chuck Cooper as the bus, who was riveting. That being said, I truly feel that Pinkins was not as deserving as Idina Menzel for the award. Menzel won that award based somewhat on her popularity, but also because of her talent, I hope. Also, I don't think her winning can be seen as a consolation prize for Wicked, because that year the best actress category was the most competitive.
Updated On: 12/22/07 at 09:00 AM
misschung
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/18/07
#26re: Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Posted: 12/20/07 at 9:12am
I think that Tony performance was weak in comparison to what she can do vocally.
Overall, brilliant show, insane talent
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
