2009 Tony Awards: My Recap

Okay, so I came a little late to the 2009 Tony's...I didn't see Bret Michaels get creamed by the set in the opening number because I've been battling a nifty bit of insomnia. Here's my rundown on how I thought the evening went (from the perspective of a home viewer in Georgia).

First off, I didn't expect Liza at the Palace to beat Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America for the Award in Best Limited Engagement. I expected the liberal leanings of the theatre voting lobby to easily shoo this performance to victory. However, when I said that I didn't expect Liza at the Palace to win, my friend Kate immediately responded with the accusation, "You didn't expect Liza Minelli to win a Tony Award?" Well, when you put it like that, it does sound a little foolish.

As was to be expected, Billy Elliot: The Musical walked with practically every award that it touched, coming to a grand total of ten for the evening. I couldn't watch the kids accept their awards because it made me uncomfortable not being able to know if they won for being the best performers the year, for their novelty, because they were little kids, or some bastardization of these reasons. They are impressive dancers, but are they the "Best Actor" of the year? Not in my opinion. Further, I find the music to the show forgettable, so I'm glad it shared the award for Orchestration with Next to Normal. Also, I didn't think they're performance was that great. I thought that the staging was awkward and compressed and that, out of context, this number lacked any of the emotional heaviness that usually makes it a compelling end of the first act.

Also, whoever presented the award for Best Featured Actress in a Play was an ass. He starred in A Man for All Seasons (I think it was Frank Langella). The category he would have been nominated in had occured immediately before his presentation. However, he hadn't been nominated. He spent about five minutes talking about not being nominated, took out his Oscar acceptance speech, and a press clipping that was a full page ad for the show in a major newspaper. Deprecating jokes can have their place, but this just seemed bitter and churlish.

Further, the sound for the Guys and Dolls revival performance of "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" had sound issues (as did the beginning of the song from Next to Normal, it seemed). So, Benny sang the song with a handheld. Frankly, if Guys and Dolls continues to be revived and the show continues to be nominated for Tony Awards, can it please choose a different song to portray. Perhaps one that features the leads (Lauren Graham, we love you!). Or any of the leads.

My last complaint goes to the strange acceptance speech given by Alice Ripley. Congrats on the win, but this was just strange:



I loved the performance by Next to Normal. Congrats to Angela Lansberry for tying the most Tony Awards (excluding special awards) ever won at 5 last night for her Blithe Spirit win. I thought Neil Patrick Harris was great as a host (and if you like B'way showtune spoofs, listen to his closing song here.) And congratulations to Hair for an appropriately sexy and rocking performance and win for Best Revival. I leave you with their performance.