Before going there, let me say how good it is to be back. Last week was ca-ray-zee, which is why I have been away from here for so long. My fingers have been itching to write. So, let's get going.
When this post is complete, with all the pics assembled, you will think it was a great TONY Awards show. But it really was not. When one of the highlights is--really!!!!--a sequence from a revival of that least favorite of musicals, "Miss Saigon," you know the show is in serious trouble,
Kevin Spacey was an embarrassment as host. True, he was game enough about all that "closet humor," when, really, who is he kidding? Or thinks he is? Everyone knows, Kev; get over it! Why couldn't they get the Keenan-Bolgers, Jessie Mueller, Audra McDonald--people who represent Broadway today????? Kevin got this job by default, and, I am telling you, I am sure this is not the first time that has happened to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, when Cynthia Nixon won for Best Featured Actress In A Play, for "The Little Foxes," (or, as it is now being billed, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes," for the vast majority out there who are too damned dumb to know she wrote the thing in the first place, let alone even know who she was!) I had some hope for the show. Her TONY was merited, as opposed to a lot, like "Come From Away," which should not even have been nominated! I had to wonder if people are going to be confused about Cynthia, so let me get rhetorical.
Since she and Laura Linney share the roles of Regina and Birdie, in the play, both should have, technically speaking, been nominated in both their categories! Are you with me?
But this might have proved as confusing as when, back in 1959, The Children, in "The Sound Of Music" were nominated for Best Featured Actress In A Musical--even though two of them were boys!!!!!!!!!!! Unless they were capons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, Cynthia won for playing Birdie. I saw her, and let me tell you she nailed her role in all its glory, especially her big Act Three scene, which I am not sure audiences today understand, since I heard quite a bit of laughter during what is supposed to be this tragic woman's breakdown!
Cynthia gave a rousing speech, which I thought would set a pattern for the evening, citing Lillian Hellman's famous speech from the play about those who "eat the earth," and those who "stand around, and watch them do it." Good for you, Cynthia, as a person, and as one of the few well deserved winners.
Even though Spacey flunked out as host, the most thankless job of the evening went to David Hyde Pierce, who, since Bette was not performing, had to represent "Hello, Dolly!" He had to know nobody gave a damn, because everyone wanted to see Bette. And to have him sing some number that was cut in the first place? Why was it even put back--it had no value, and showcased Pierce badly. Why couldn't he have just sung the better known "It Takes A Woman?"
Another well deserved TONY went to hot Gavin Creel in "Hello, Dolly!" I thought he should have won last year, for "She Loves Me!," so I am so happy he won this time!
Now, about "Dear Evan Hansen." No surprise there; it won! And Ben Platt is an engaging young man, and a skilled performer. I expected to be blown away, but the number did nothing for me. Not like when Sydney Lucas sang "Ring Of Keys" from "Fun Home!"
And what the hell is this show about? Nothing presented gave me the slightest clue! I am glad Ben Platt won, but just what does he actually do that makes his performance so definitive? From what I heard, it is not the score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patti Lu Pone and Christine Ebersole showed how to do Musical Theater with their duet, "In Your Face," from "War Paint," which should have been nominated for Best Musical over some of the other crap that was!!!!!!! "Come From Away?" Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patti looked pissed when her category was announced! How could she not know Bette was going to win? It was the surest thing of the evening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kudos to the blue ribbon wearers, standing up for those who need their civil rights protected!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As far as I am concerned, the evening began with Cynthia, and ended with Bette! Hell, they should have been the hosts! In a manner of speaking, they were.
Only Bette could make "Hello, Dolly!" the hottest ticket on Broadway since Carol Channing, back in 1964. Her speech spoke to all of us out there who love musical theater, who have known the show for 53 years, even if just Louis Armstrong's rendition, and her genuine gratitude to her audiences, and for her career. It was the capper of the evening. And she looked great. So did Cynthia, but what was that broken angel wing on the dress, behind her?
Oh, and excuse me! Baayork Lee--yes, Baayork!!!!!!!!!--received the Isabel Stevenson Lifetime Achievement Award. Wouldn't it have been nice to clue in those less knowledgeable as to who she is, and what she has done? And shouldn't she have been allowed to speak about her National Asian Project!!!!!!!!!! Baayork is beloved by the Theater Community--has been for decades!!!!!!--and she should have been allowed to receive this love, and the audience to express it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who the hell puts this show together, because they did a piss poor job! How about Griffin Dunne? Still hot, and he knows what to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be happy to host, Griffin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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