Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Riedel: Tony up for grabs
#1Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:06am
He hasn't been even close to right on anything in several months, but here's what he thinks will get the Best Musical nom:
After Midnight
Gentleman's Guide
Beautiful
Two of these three:
If/Then; Aladdin; Bullets
Dark horse: Bridges
Out of the running: Rocky
link
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 4/16/14 at 01:06 AM
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#2Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:11am
"Out of the running: Rocky"
I expect any minute now, Roxy will jump out of bed, still in his nightshirt, bare feet and nightcap with the little pom-pom at the end to say how wrong Riedel is about Rocky, how wrong you are for posting this, how it's the best musical of the season and that you're ALL blocked.
#2Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:56am
The premise of his article is a bit oft-putting:
"The mixed reviews last week for Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway” — once touted by pundits as the show to beat this season (nobody’s perfect) — have upended the field of nominees for that most important of Tony Awards, Best Musical."
I know the show opened, but to say things are upended after the reviews didn't live up to the predictions of pundits seems self-serving, since it seems to leave the shows as sort of a background part of the real equation: the crossfire between pundits beforehand and reviewers afterward. Anyone should be able to write about mixed reactions to a show without making it about invented advance hype and the reviews of shows.
If he was a war reporter, he would talk about the strategy and rumors before engaging in a battle, and then cut to the numbers of body on the ground after the fact, and skip over the actual battle as superfluous.
#3Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 2:31amHmmm... I agree with After Midnight and Gentleman's Guide being locks, but I think Bullets is also pretty much locked in for a nomination over Beautiful.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#4Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 4:26am
Imagine if BRIDGES ends up winning for BEST MUSICAL. I know it's unlikely but I'd love to just see what it does for the show's grosses. It would kind of clearly show what the effect of winning best musical is on bringing in an audience (best musical winners are usually already doing well at the box office so it's difficult to see).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 4/16/14 at 04:26 AM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 6:02am
I'm not sure that would be conclusive. That would only show us how a show with miserable sales does should it win. For me, if I'm not interested, I'm not interested -- I don't care how many awards or accolades something gets.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#6Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:06amKind of funny how quickly he backtracks on the ridiculously effusive praise he showered on Bullets after its first preview.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#8Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:41amHell, he had been showing praise for the show since before that. Remember when he "reported" on the meet-the-press rehearsal numbers and how everyone was going crazy for them? Ugh. And I know it's been said before, but God what a sad slate of musicals for this season.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#9Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 9:42amAlso: I feel like his "industry insiders" are just us.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#10Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 9:49am
I liked Bullets. (I don't usually agree with Riedel, ever, but in this case I did.) I had a lot of fun at that show and thought it was very well executed. (It was sure better than the horrid "If/Then," and the utterly disappointing "Rocky".)
If I was nominating (this isn't who I THINK will get it, but who I'd nominate), these would be the nominees:
After Midnight
Aladdin
Bridges of Madison County
Bullets Over Broadway
Gentleman's Guide
Those would be it. I think After Midnight and Gentleman's Guide are the sure bets right now-the other 3 spots are up for grabs.
#11Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:11amI have a feeling we may surprised by the amount of nominations Bridges receives.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#12Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:22am
I think Dreaming's noms are right on.
But BEAUTIFUL could slip in somewhere.
It's really up in the air this year.
#13Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:37am
And I know it's been said before, but God what a sad slate of musicals for this season.
That is said every season.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#14Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:38amRiedel loved Hedwig off broadway. Both times he reviewed it. Let's see what he says once it opens this month.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#15Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:52am
"And I know it's been said before, but God what a sad slate of musicals for this season."
I could care less about discussing/predicting the Tonys, and avoid threads about it (I'd've skipped this were it not a Riedel column), since what show wins the Tony has no bearing on my life, as I'll only agree or disagree, but not change my opinion about what i enjoyed...
All that said, I'm still not sure how a year with: Fun Home, Here Lies Love, Bridges of Madison County, Beautiful, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, If/Then, After Midnight, Aladdin, Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Hedwig, etc., is a bad season.
I know all of those aren't Tony eligible, but I'm an audience member, not on the Tony committee or a Tony voter.
Certainly there is no clear champion, or a horse race with two real contenders like last year, but there's been a lot of great work this year, and I've had a lot of great nights in the theater at the above.
#16Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:00amI realize it's said every season, but not by me. I loved last season and I've loved a bunch of the seasons lately, but sorry haterobics, but some of the shows you mentioned that are good (HERE LIES LOVE, FUN HOME, HEDWIG) are not eligible for the new musical award, and I don't think BEAUTIFUL, IF/THEN, ALADDIN, ROCKY or BULLETS should be brought up as examples of good musicals, some are very mediocre (I left BULLETS during intermission, a first time for me) and others are half-good. Just expressing my opinion, if you found those shows successful, good for you. In terms of new musicals, I say bring the next season on.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#17Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:05am
Let's also remember that the only way there will be 5 nominees is if there's less than 3 votes separating the 4th and 5th place shows, which is actually pretty unlikely. So more than likely, there will still only be 4 nominees in each of the production categories, even though there could technically be a 5th in all but Revival of a Musical.
My thoughts:
After Midnight
Beautiful
Bullets
Gentleman's Guide
#18Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:14am
"if you found those shows successful, good for you."
I'm not saying they were all amazing works for the ages, but I certainly enjoyed them in the moment and appreciated what went into them. I wouldn't have considered leaving them at intermission, and if someone from out of town wanted to see them again, I'd gladly join them.
If/Then I've attended multiple times (DC, previews, and tomorrow night), and Bridges I will have to see at last one more time before it closes. I couldn't stop listening to the OBCR last night.
Updated On: 4/16/14 at 11:14 AM
Steve721
Stand-by Joined: 2/21/14
#19Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:19amGiven how expensive and risky they are, it is heartening that so many new musicals opened this year on Broadway even if none of them are really great--the art form clearly isn't dead. Having said that, I think Gentleman's Guide is a good musical; it has a fine, witty score, good direction and terrific performances. Bridges is not entirely successful but the parts of it that do succeed--the score, O'Hara and Pasquale--are outstanding.
homeimp
Leading Actor Joined: 10/2/08
#20Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:58amAbout Gentleman's Guide. I didn't think the score was that fine or that witty. The lyrics were better than the music. I did like the trio in the last act. The characters were mainly cartoons. I only liked Jefferson Mays as the nicest of the victims. I didn't dislike the show, but I didn't find it memorable either. I had a pretty good time at most of the musicals this year, but if Gentleman's Guide is indeed considered the best at Tony awards time, then I guess it must not have been that great a year.
#21Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:07pm
"The characters were mainly cartoons."
Isn't that the point?
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#22Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:09pm
"I only liked Jefferson Mays as the nicest of the victims."
Isn't he all of the victims?!
Steve721
Stand-by Joined: 2/21/14
#23Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:20pmYes, the characters in Gentleman's guide are silly and over-the-top; it's a comedy in the style of an English music-hall show. If you were expecting it to be a serious show with realistic characters, then I can certainly understand why you were disappointed. And if you didn't like Gentleman's Guide, I suggest you skip any future revivals of "The Importance of Being Earnest".
#24Riedel: Tony up for grabs
Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:22pm
My predictions:
.A Gentleman's Guide To Love & Murder
.Beautiful
.If/Then
.Aladdin OR After Midnight
