Well, dear readers, our Tony Awards Bash was an evening of merriment and mirth and laughter and legs. We had over 750 posts – not quite like the glory days, but fun as all get out, and I think we all know how much fun all get out is. Most of the posting happened before we on the West Coast had even seen the show, but one could get a really good sense of what was happening from the posts. And I was very happy to see that a couple of our wonderful hainsies/kimlets who didn’t want to attend the Bash did, in fact, show up and it was wonderful having them take part. As to the show, it was lots better than the last few shows, but still hit and miss for me. Most people seem to have loved the opening number – I found it not to my liking at all, due to its one-joke idea and the nothing choreography of, yes, Rob Ashford. Some of the attempts at stand-up were not so hot either.
But for once they actually made wise decisions about what numbers to do from the shows. However, the fact that Spider-man and Memphis performed on the broadcast was rather irritating, as many shows over the years that were actually IN the season being represented were prevented from performing. The Memphis number was a bore (and really derivative of You Can’t Stop The Beat), and the Spider-man number did nothing for me except made me want to rip those microphone things off their faces and yell at them that they’re doing a Broadway show not acting in a film. It made me not want to see the show one or even two whits. The Anything Goes number was okay – didn’t really build to anything, but then few choreographers working today know how to build a number like Fosse or Bennett or Robbins or Peter Gennaro or any of the greats. It seems to be lost on the newbies, and I don’t care how much people tell me that Brotherhood of Man gets ovations in the theater, it’s got terrible choreography and worse, ruins the best things about the number, one of which is when the secretary suddenly breaks out into the gospel section. Here you’d never even know that was the intention. Mr. Radcliffe worked hard. The Book Of Mormon number was okay – not a great song, but the actor was very good and it had some amusing moments. The Catch Me If You Can number was not so hot – nothing song, nothing staging, nothing interesting. And the Priscilla number didn’t really come across well on television, especially including Paul Schaeffer and that singer. No, interestingly, this broadcast’s finest moment and one which made my hear soar because it was a real, honest-to-God Broadway musical number by writers who really are masters of the form, and by a director who, while not always a favorite of mine, really did a great job realizing said number – add to that a wonderful group of actors and you had The Scottsboro Boys. I hadn’t wanted to hear the CD and I don’t even really know why, but I made the purchase ten seconds after seeing that number.
The Hugh Jackman/Neil Patrick Harris duet was fun. Some of the speeches were excruciating – that girl from Mormon was the worst of it for me, but all the Normal Heart people were closer runners-up. And then there was Mark Rylance who is simply out of his mind. I really get annoyed that they give major awards out during the commercial breaks. But, thank heaven for small favors, and the show was not the bore-fest of previous years.
Prior to our Bash, I’d gotten nine hours of blessed sleep. Then I did some work on the computer, after which I had a sandwich and onion rings. Then I printed out a LOT of music, after which I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Scanners, a film of David Cronenberg. Scanners is my second favorite Cronenberg film (first is The Dead Zone, third is Pogue’s The Fly). I just love the whole feel of Scanners, and it has one of the all-time great early shock scenes – like the shower scene in Psycho, it is so unexpected and so over-the-top that you spend the rest of the film worrying that their going to do something like it again – of course, they don’t. There is a final climactic duel of Scanners that’s fun, but nothing compares to that initial early scene. The photography, music, production design – all masterful. Cronenberg, in those early days, was just a master and he hadn’t gone over the edge in terms of his weirdness and fetishes. Many people hate the leading man, but I like him and think his rather somnambulistic approach is perfect and just what Cronenberg wanted. And then there’s Patrick McGoohan, who’s just wonderful. Michael Ironside is thoroughly creepy as the villain, and supporting roles are filled with the Cronenberg rep company from back then. I couldn’t believe this had come out on Blu and Ray, but it had, in Germany. I wish I could say it was a great transfer, but alas, it’s not only not great, it’s barely better than the DVD. In fact, I think it IS the DVD upscaled – it has a video look to it, which is a real shame. It would be so nice to have a transfer off the original elements – the film deserves it.
After that, I came to our Bash, and the rest you know. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must try and get another good night’s beauty sleep.
Today shall be spent in making CDRs, Xeroxing music and handing that all out to singers. I also have to do some writing, eat, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up a package or two, pay some bills, and then I’ll be seeing the show I thought I missed last week, which is really taking place this week – Bat Boy at the Musical Theatre Guild.
Tomorrow, I have a work session with John Boswell, then the rest of the week there will be rehearsals with the thirteen-year-old, a dinner meeting with Miss Alet Taylor, and, of course, my book signing on Saturday. Be there or be round.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, make CDRs, Xerox, eat, write, do errands and whatnot, pay bills, pick up packages, and see Bat Boy. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Tony Award moments, from last night and broadcasts past? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland after our wonderful Tony Awards Bash.