| You can't win an award that's not being given that season | |
| Last Edit: AlanScott 08:14 pm EST 01/22/19 | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 08:12 pm EST 01/22/19 | |
| In reply to: Merman singing Roses on Kraft Music Hall - Holland 03:37 pm EST 01/21/19 | |
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| The Tonys had some trouble figuring out how to handle score and book in a musical. There were periods when there was an award for score (including a couple of years when that award went just to the composer), but not one for book, and periods when there was no separate award for either. Instead, the authors of the winner for best musical were included among those who received that award. Gypsy opened during one of the periods when there were no award for either score or book. Having said that, it's true that Styne's music for the show was somewhat underappreciated when the show opened. It's a bit amazing now to read favorable reviews for the show that are somewhat dismissive of the music. A lot of the critics felt that the music was good enough but not particularly special. Styne tied with Harold Rome for Destry Rides Again in the Variety poll of New York drama critics, each getting three votes, while Richard Rodgers got two votes for Flower Drum Song, and one vote each went to Marc Blitzstein for Juno, Mary Rodgers for Once Upon a Mattress, and Kurt Weill for The Seven Deadly Sins (seen at New York City Ballet that season). Sondheim did better in the poll, winning best lyricist with five votes, while Oscar Hammerstein, his mentor, trailed with two votes for Flower Drum Song, and there were single votes for Harold Rome, Bert Brecht, and Dorothy Fields (for Redhead). Of course, Gypsy opened too late for the 1959 Tonys. Had it been eligible that season, it would have done very well. Even with strong competition from Gwen Verdon, Merman would have won, the show would have won, and I'm pretty confident that Jack Klugman and Sandra Church would have won. It also would have easily won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical had it opened in time to be eligible for the 1958-1959 season. Truth is that no one cared that much about the Tonys back then. Few people seem to be aware of this, but the Tonys were not considered all that important at the time. I agree about the performance. That's the best Merman televised performance of the song I've ever seen. |
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| Previous: | re: Merman singing Roses on Kraft Music Hall - JereNYC 10:45 pm EST 01/23/19 |
| Next: | Interesting info, thanks Alan. n/m - Holland 10:35 pm EST 01/26/19 |
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