I don't know... not a big John Simon fan but I do feel in line with his review of Fun Home. From two sources, I have heard that Fun Home and The Visit were the two clear nominees after the first round of TONY nominee voting and that Something Rotten is lucky to be in the race. I do not know but...that is the word from 2 sources.
I have already posted about this so forgive me but I love the underdog story. Why will/can THE VISIT win? For me, this has not been a terribly exciting year for musicals and this is the one occasion that everyone can throw their hands in the air and vote for the most ambitious and compelling work of art. This is a year when voters can honor a disappearing musical landscape on Broadway. I am surprised at the amount of true admiration and support that I am hearing for the show. There is a definite sense that the industy is rallying around it.
I think that every so often people are going to support artistic integrity over commerce. This is the year voters,at least many that I am talking to, are planning on doing just that. FUN HOME does not seem to be connecting with voters and American in Paris is putting every voter I know to sleep. Personaly, I thought the dancing was great, the book and performances generic. Fun Home, was very moving but formulaic with a limited universal perspective. S. ROTTEN was just a silly, underdeveloped grab bag filled with the same joke. Funny to a point but utterly negligible.
I know...everyone (outsiders?) is saying that there is no chance for THE VISIT To take the big one. Maybe that is the truth. However, that is seriously, not what I am hearing. I will not be surprised if this is the year that the voters honor something that truly does not fit the Broadway ideal. WHY? Because people in this industy want to believe in their artistry and intellect. With a bevy of mediocre choices this is the year they can vote for "art".
THE VISIT seems to be one of those shows that people passionately love or dismiss. Maybe I am a chump for getting caught up in the TONY game but I would so love to see this industry give it's top award to the show that reflects ideals of art rather than pandering to the possible lining of their pocketbooks.
Ok, I am going g o. Too long and it is late. I love the show but I love my zzzzzzz's better. Nite.
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