Sweeney, Nine, and Awards

Well, it's been a busy weekend despite numerous client cancellations, and I'm not just talking about the never-ending reading and discussion question postings for class, over the weekend, not only did I see Sweeney on Saturday, I also went to Nine on Sunday.

Sweeney was, as expected, fabulous. Other than one emotional slipup, David Hess was as fabulous as I expected in the role. The real surprise was Judy Kaye. I fully expect to be struck down by lightning when I finish typing this sentence, but she was even better than Patti. She really was Mrs. Lovett on all levels, while Patti, although fabulous, had more of an air of Patti playing Mrs. Lovett (which fortunately, is not there with her Mama Rose and should result in a Tony this time). All I have to say is, a pox on the Sun-Times! The show is fabulous, and holds up extremely well. You've got until Sunday, go see it.

Since I've got obligations pretty much every weekend until the end of June, Sunday was really my only chance to go see Nine. My companion didn't want to go, so I went by myself and had a great time. Porchlight is now back in my good graces. This was a completely professional production. The stage was sparse and uncluttered but fully effective. While some of the fake Italian accents bordered on grating, all the performers were excellent, particularly Jeff Parker as Guido, Heather Townsend as his wife Louisa, and Marie Svejda-Groh as Claudia, who delivered a gorgeous "Unusual Way." Also entertaining was Danielle Brothers, as Lilliane, the role Chita played in the revival a few years ago. She wasn't as affected as she was playing Ada in Flora, but then the part didn't call for that like it did in Flora. She looked the part and was fabulous. It's a very short, but powerful show with gorgeous singing and music (no novocained trumpet players this time). I can see how the original Broadway production trumped Dreamgirls and how the revival trumped the Bernadette Gypsy. I can't wait for the movie.

More awards nominations have been announced, both the Drama League and the Drama Desks. The Drama League only nominated play, musical, revival play, and revival musical, and then has one category for performer of the year. Young Frankenstein and Xanadu are both in the musical category, along with Adding Machine (the one to beat) and Cry-Baby, but not Little Mermaid or In The Heights, which is in danger of getting Grey-Gardens-ed. Of course August: Osage County is the play to beat, although I would like to see The Receptionist take it. However, Grease was not in the revival category, although the three suspects were, with South Pacific my prediction to win. When it comes to the performer category, pretty much anyone that was in anything during the year is nominated, so Jane Houdyshell has her nomination for The Receptionist, and Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler are nominated, but Max and Laura from Grease are not. That Best Revival Tony for Pajama Game is going to prove very expensive for Kathleen Marshall's career. Patti of course is the one to beat, but with so many performers, it's always a toss-up. Last year it should have been Brian F. O'Byrne for his performance across three plays in Utopia, but ended up going to Liev Schreiber for Talk Radio, even though he didn't win anything else all season, with Best Actor going to Frank Langella at the Tonys. Then the Drama Desk award nominations were announced. Young Frankenstein got knocked off its pedestal by A Catered Affair, which got 12 nominations. YF was ignored for Best Musical, with Affair being joined by Xanadu, Adding Machine, and Passing Strange. Again, Heights is losing out on a lot of momentum and is in danger of only taking Best Actor at the Tonys. This time Cheyenne got a nomination, along with Mary Testa (in the supporting category) but Kerry and Jackie Hoffman were out. Sierra Bogess got a nomination in the leading actress category, but otherwise Mermaid was shut out, and Grease was completely shut out. The surprise was Matty M. getting a nomination in the leading category for 10 Million Miles, the show's only nomination. Unfortunately, but consistent with the other awards, he did not get a nomination for South Pacific, which is not speaking well for his Tony chances. We'll have to see what removing Adding Machine from the mix does for the Tony race, although while the show has been nominated for musical, score, and book awards, no one in the cast has gotten a nomination yet, so its absence may not have that much of an impact other than allowing Cry-Baby a shot at a nomination if it can capitalize on Heights' pre-Tony's absence.

Lastly, the case recording of Make Me A Song is out today. Hopefully it will find its way to emusic by the time my downloads refresh next month. I got all of Bea Arthur last week, although I'm a little irritated because some of the tracks have some static that sounds like the mp3's were made from a dirty disc. I can't tell if it's from the performance, maybe the piano player or Bea flipping pages too close to the mike, but it happens in random places. Still, it's a very funny and entertaining recording. I still need to get the last track of Evil Monkey Man, which I'll do next month and then start working on the NEO concert recording if Make Me A Song isn't available. Oh, the new Madonna CD is out today, and while it does have too many guest rappers, it's still excellent. That's it for new. I've got Les Miz on Saturday, good or bad that will be an experience.