The Tonys
Posted by Maggie
June 11th, 2007 at 10:38am
In Special Events
As I’ve mentioned before, the Tonys are cheesy and weird and great. This year, I’d seen a whole bunch of the shows (at least one in every category, except for Special Theatrical Event), which made me feel like a real insider. However, there wasn’t much excitement — Coast of Utopia and Spring Awakening pretty much cleaned up. The only category where I had a strong opinion (Best Featured Actor in a Play) went to my favorite — Billy Crudup in Coast of Utopia — in the first ten minutes of the broadcast, so everything after that was a little bit of a let-down. Other thoughts:
- Whoever wrote the patter needs to learn how to EDIT. I could not believe how turgid each of the presenters’ speeches were. Where’s Bruce Vilanch when you need him?
- No host. Still felt long, though.
- There is officially no way that Viva Laughlin is as great as I want it to be, but I’m still going to watch every single episode.
- Why weren’t the Tonys broadcast in HD? CBS? American Theatre Wing? What are you hiding?
- David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane) won Best Actor in a Musical, in what (to me, at least) was a huge upset. I’ve seen Curtains, and let’s just say… it stinks. What about the adorable young lad from Spring Awakening? He got naked on stage! Does that mean nothing nowadays?
Sometimes I think I know a lot about theater and I’ll want to show off. Then this will happen. “That’s Audra McDonald. She’s won, like, a million Tonys.” “Oh yeah? What did she win for?” “Oh. Hm. Um…… Look, there’s a dancing chimneysweep!”- An entertaining pastime: Figuring out the tenuous connections that the presenters have to the world of theater.
That pretty much sums it up. I really wish High Fidelity had stuck around and gotten nominated, not because it was good — it was, quite possibly, one of the most misguided shows I’ve ever seen — but because I want to share the experience with the television viewing public as a whole, and you people in particular, because I believe you would appreciate it ironically, which is the only way to appreciate it, frankly. Hey — look at this, if you dare.
Seriously, who wrote that script? It was TERRIBLE. Some of the presenters were visibly trying not to laugh at the lines. (I’m looking at you, Bebe Neuwirth. By the way, you look FANTASTIC.)
Re Audra McDonald, off the top of my head: Master Class, Ragtime . . . did she win for Kiss Me Kate? Okay, now I have to look it up. No, she did not. She won for A Raisin in the Sun and Carousel. Huh. She rocks.
That boy from Spring Awakening is NAKED?! I really must see this show. And I will continue hoping that the entr’acte is “Barely Breathing.”
Also, how great was Eddie Izzard introducing the special theatrical event? I LOVE HIM.
Well, maybe cause I’ve become obsessed with Spring Awakening but the Tony’s flew by for me. awkward intros but since they were usually from theatre vets, they seemed to adlib them with some humour and seemed looser than the other award shows. Still, the speeches were actually pretty great (Julie White, Mary Louise Wilson, John Galagher Jr. Bill T. Jones).
But yes. Raul Esparza WUZ ROBBED. Company was one of the best things Ive EVER seen and Raul anchored the whole show.
Anyways, Was that the whole pilot for Viva Laughlin? It sure felt like it. It’s going to be WEIRD. cant wait!
Only naked? In the original Wedekind play he masturbates on stage.
Yes. That happens too. Not while he’s naked, though.
Even if Curtains didn’t suck hardcore, I can’t possibly imagine David Hyde Pierce’s performance coming close to Raul Esparza’s in Company, like Vance said. His rendition of “Being Alive,” which they excerpted the other night, is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen on stage.
I wish “The Apple Tree” had been a longer run, so we could’ve seen Kristen Chenoweth perform!