Darlings, I Really Have To Talk About The 2023 TONY Award Nominations--Even If I Don't Want To!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         Like the Met Gala, which I will report on tomorrow, I have to ask myself--what the hell is happening with culture?  Forget the high prices; that is something else.  But after going over the list of nominees, I have to wonder what the theater is coming to.  Will this period pass as a phase, like the onslaught of the British Musicals, or is this it?  If the latter, we are in deep trouble.

                         Let's look at the nominees systematically, with my thoughts.

                         Best Play                                                                                                                                                         "Aint't No Mo'," by Joseph E. Cooper                                                                                                           "Between Riverside And Crazy," by Stephen Adly Gurgis                                                                           "Cost Of Living," by Martyna Majok                                                                                                           "Fat Ham," by James Ljames                                                                                                                         "Leopoldstadt," by Tom Stoppard                                                                                                                  

                         OK there are two well-known playwrights here--Gurgis and Stoppard.  Who the hell are the rest of these wannabes?  "Fat Ham?"  What the hell?  Another riff on "Hamlet?'  Is it really necessary when Shakespeare did it best?  I am telling you, Tom Stoppard will take it for "Leopoldstadt," as he should.  Class still rules.

                         Best Revival Of A Play                                                                                                                                 "The Piano Lesson," by August Wilson                                                                                                         "A Doll's House," Henrik Ibsen--anyone hear of him???????????                                                              "The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window," by Larry Hansberry 

                        For once, attention must be paid--and that is to Lorraine Hansberry.  She did not just  write "A Raisin In The Sun," and this production has been duly lauded.  Unlike the other two, one which is overdone, and the other a feminist mess.

                         Best Musical                                                                                                                                                   "& Juliet"                                                                                                                                                       "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                                       "New York, New York"                                                                                                                                 "Shucked"                                                                                                                                                       "Some Like It Hot" 

                        Now, this is an interesting category.  Anyone having seen it, as David and I have, know that "Kimberly Akimbo" should take the prize, and probably will.   But since the ads for "Shucked," I have had the feeling this could be a surprise TONY winner.  And Theater Queens past the BabyBoom will have no idea "Some Like It Hot" was done as "Sugar," decades ago, with Robert Morse, Tony Roberts, and Elaine Joyce.  I mean, this young generation knows nothing of value.  They will probably vote for "& Juliet," which is a piece of crap.

                           Best Revival Of A Musical                                                                                                                             "Into The Woods"                                                                                                                                           "Camelot"                                                                                                                                                       "Parade"                                                                                                                                                         "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"  

                           That "Camelot," which has been bastardized by Aaron Sorkin, Bartlett Sher, and Company should get a nomination here is disgraceful.  I will have no part of it.  Hasn't "Into The Woods" been revived enough, darlings?  So it is a slug out between "Parade" and "Sweeney Todd."  Since this is the best rendering of the Sondheim musical since the original 1979  production--which I saw seven times!--it looks like it will take the prize.  Sorry, "Parade."  You had it  in your grasp, until 'Sweeney' came along!

                           Best Director Of A Play                                                                                                                                 Patrick Marber will take it for "Leopoldstadt."  These other nobodies don't stand a chance, so they aren't even worth mentioning. 

                            Best Director Of A Musical                                                                                                                            Michael Arden, "Parade"                                                                                                                                Jessica Stone, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Lear deBessonet, "Into The Woods"                                                                                                              Casey Nicklaw," "Some Like It Hot"                                                                                                            Jack O'Brien, "Shucked"

                             Another interesting category.  Jack O'Brien could take it as a surprise for "Shucked."  But Michael Arden for "Parade" and Jessica Stone for "Kimberly Akimbo" are going to slug it out.  I would be happy if either won.  I could deal with Jack.  But the real crime here is the omission of Thomas Kail, for "Sweeney Todd," who would have won, had he been nominated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play                                                                       The only ones worth mentioning are Sean Hayes in Goodnight, Oscar," and "Wendell Pierce in "Death Of A Salesman."  Pierce will take it.  Who the hell cares about Oscar Levant?  And how come no one else from 'Salesman' was nominated???????????????

                              Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Play                                                                    Jessica Chastain, "A Doll's House"                                                                                                                Jodie Corman, "Prima Facie"                                                                                                                        Jessica Hecht, "Summer 1976"                                                                                                                      Audra McDonald, "Ohio State Murders"

                              Just give it to Audra already; she deserves it.  Jessica Chastain is NOT "the greatest actress of our generation," as the ads keep proclaiming.  No Laura Linney?  Ouch!!!!!!!!!!  That must hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And who cares about Jodie Corman?  Audra will and should win again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Musical                                                                                   Josh Groban, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                             Ben Platt, "Parade"                                                                                                                                          It is going to be between them, with my guess being Groban will take it, so why bother  mentioning the others????????????????????????????????

                              Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Musical                                                                                  Annaleigh Ashford, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                 Victoria Clark, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Same as the above category.  These two will slug it out, but Victoria Clark had better win.  Ashford is no Angela Lansbury, while Groban makes this 'Sweeney' his own.  Clark will and should win, However, Micaela Diamond is nominated here for "Parade," and she may just sneak in.

                              Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Musical                                                                Justin Cooley, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Jordan Donica, "Camelot"                                                                                                                              Again, no one else in this category is interesting. But, really Jordan Donica?  He is not Robert Goulet, and why is he given "I Loved You Once In Silence" to sing?  "Kimberly Akimbo" is fresh, new, and it works. So, I say give this to Justin Cooley .  

                              Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical                                                              Ruthie Ann Miles, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                    Bonnie Milligan, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                          Voters will be torn by these performers. No one else comes close; it will be a slug out. Miles already has a TONY, which may work in Milligan's favor.  However, Merle Louise, the original Beggar Woman in 'Sweeney' was not nominated, and I hear Ruthie is heartbreaking.  So it could be a 'Kimberly'/ 'Sweeney' slugfest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               That is my take on the TONY Awards.  As for the results, we will all find out on June 11, a Sunday at *PM, on CBS.

                                 Pay no attention to anyone else!  You heard it first here, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!