| re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 08:18 pm EDT 05/08/15 |
| In reply to: | If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ShowGoer 02:01 pm EDT 05/08/15 |
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| Re your second paragraph: Which two shows are you identifying as the "two clear frontrunners"? Because it's not clear to me that there are two frontrunners. It seems to me that The Visit, whatever its artistic merits, is an extreme long shot to win, while any of the other three could win. | |
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| re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... | |
| Posted by: | ShowGoer 02:08 am EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - AlanScott 08:18 pm EDT 05/08/15 |
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| Something Rotten is a good old-fashioned crowdpleaser, no question - this season's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Drowsy Chaperone, Aladdin, Full Monty, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, etc. etc. I have yet to read one cogent article or even Intermet posting, let alone a persuasive one, that makes the case that it is a serious contender for Best Musical in this busy and extremely good season, just because it's feel-good, makes people laugh, and has good production numbers. The artistry of the other two shows you don't mention is undeniable, and the race is between An American in Paris and Fun Home. | |
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| re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 08:18 am EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ShowGoer 02:08 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I didn't like Something Rotten! at all, but I think it has a fair shot at winning the best musical Tony. I think the reasons you cite as why it won't win sound more like the reasons why you don't think it should win. I'm not saying that I think it will win — I have no idea which show will win — and I'm certainly not saying that I think it should win. Just that I think it might win. | |
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| re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 03:14 am EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ShowGoer 02:08 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I am surprised you describe this as a extremely good season. My general sense is that most people consider it an off year. From purely a Tony perspective, I think all of the choices have their fans (very enthusiastic ones) but they also all have shortcomings that keep them from being especially strong contenders. Hence the "anyone's guess" nature of a lot of the handicapping. The Visit is not selling tickets and is limping to the awards; it will have limited appeal hampering it even were it to win (which I think it will not because I think any sentiment for it can be satisfied by giving Chita an award, which I think may well happen.) Something Rotten has a lot of fans, but I agree with your comments about it and wonder if something that is that silly is going to feel like the show to bestow the award on. I think the odds are a bit better than you do. American in Paris which also has a lot of fans but the appeal is not well rounded-it is mostly related to the dancing as is its "artistry.". I think it is a derivative work, with exceptional execution, and that is compelling only to a subset. And Fun Home (my choice) is divisive and lacks broad appeal. It may have enough of a constituency to win, but it is not a foregone conclusion by any means. So does the crowd appeal/touring potential of Rotten or Paris prevail? or is it the artistry of Fun Home going to bring in enough votes? Or will it be the sentimental favorite that takes home the prize? As I said, I think it is anyone's guess, but whatever wins, I think it will end up being another Gent's Guide or Memphis, not another Book of Mormon. I think the future life of two of these shows will be hurt by the unique qualities of the Broadway stars (Visit and Paris), and two will have trouble finding an audience (Visit and Fun Home). I think Fun Home ends up in regional theatres, and I think Paris drifts away once the dancing becomes more earthbound. That leaves us with Rotten, and I think you are underestimating it. I still give the edge to Fun Home, but I think the general consensus on the season is that it was miss-able rather than extremely good. | |
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| re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... | |
| Posted by: | lordofspeech 02:23 am EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ShowGoer 02:08 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I think it's politically incorrect to note that FUN HOME is hamstrung by its brilliant style and its integrity in adhering to the cartoon-ness of its source material. The eldest girl's 11:00 number is about non-communication in a car, the father's big number is about inability to fully embrace his emotional life, and the mother's arid lament. The goods are delivered, but they're about unexpressed lives, under-expressed emotions. Affecting as that may be for some, I miss the kind of mastery other composers have been able to bring to unstruck sounds. This Nearly Was Mine, Every Day A Little Death, How to Handle A Woman are, to me, examples of songs that give the audience fullness even in their expression of things-that-are-missing. I didn't hear or feel that in FUN HOME. Though the direction was masterful, the material, for me, like the essential material in PASSION, just never let me in to the beating of those thumped-down hearts. The exceptions (the song about "Joan" and about the "Ring of Keys") were great, but they weren't numbers for either the father or the most grown-up of the three girls. | |
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