Home > Theater Reviews > Archives > 2007 > June > 10 > Entry
And the Tony goes to …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday night’s Tony Awards confirmed what true theater believers have been saying for years. American theater is smart, relevant and teeming with fresh ideas.
With multiple wins for Tom Stoppard’s sprawling “The Coast of Utopia” trilogy (seven Tonys ) and the glorious alternative rock musical “Spring Awakening” (eight), there was evidence that the art form is experiencing a renaissance.
“Now let’s have no more nonsense about the state of the American theater,” said “Utopia” director and Tony winner Jack O’Brien of the ambitious project, which was produced in repertory at Lincoln Center Theatre. O’Brien even hinted that the New York landmark should be rechristened the national theater.
“Spring Awakening,” Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s bristling and energetic makeover of German playwright Frank Wedekind’s 1891 classic of teen angst, won best musical, plus awards for best original score and book and an acting award for John Gallagher Jr., who plays the character Moritz — the one with the spiked hair.
“Musical theater rocks,” said Sheik, picking up his award for best score with co-winner and lyricist Sater. “I am so, so proud to be a part of the American theater,” Sater said in a heartfelt speech, collecting his medallion for best book.
Michael Mayer, the show’s director, praised his parents for accepting him. “I’m one of the lucky ones. I had parents I could talk to,” Mayer said. In “Spring Awakening,” a group of teenagers are vilified by parents and teachers for trying to express their pent-up sexual feelings. Mayer, who is openly gay, said he once awoke to find a copy of Judy Garland’s “Judy at Carnegie Hall” on his pillow.
The awards ceremony, presented at Radio City Music Hall, brooked few surprises, although the cast of “Spring Awakening” performed a raucous medley that didn’t flinch from using the “B” word from the show’s big song, “The B—— of Living.”
The message of acceptance reverberated throughout the three-hour broadcast, and the night was delightfully sprinkled with quirky diva performances and acceptance speeches. “I’m over the hill in the show of a lifetime,” said Christine Ebersole, who won best actress-musical for “Grey Gardens.”
“This is for the Edies,” she said, referring to her character. “May they live in our hearts for ever.”
The show never lacked energy, but it’s true wake-up call came from “Grey Gardens” star Mary Louise Wilson, who won in the featured actress category for her portrayal as the aging Big Edie Beale. “Everybody’s been so articulate,” Wilson said. She then leaned her head back and let out a roaring whoop that sounded like a hog call.
Among the memorable moments, Ben Vereen saluted his “godson,” Atlanta’s Usher, for making his Broadway debut in “Chicago.” Ebersole warbled Little Edie Beale’s fashion manifesto from “Grey Gardens.” “Spring Awakening” choreographer Bill T. Jones literally danced on stage. Best actor-play Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon”) gave a passionate speech about the majesty of theater. And best actress-play Julie White (“The Little Dog Laughed”) lost her stuff — “I can’t feel my hands. Is that a bad thing?” — then rebounded to give one of the funniest speeches of the night.
“I played a hideous agent, and my agent has never been hideous — to my face,” said the astonished winner.
“Let’s talk about the people who are not here,” choreographer Jones said in what seemed poised to be a political tirade. “Some above. Some probably below. Anyway, you know who you are.” Jones concluded by thanking his lover. “I am a happy man.” Making an appearance to plug his show, composer John Kander said: “Our show ‘Curtains’ is a kind of valentine to the world of musical theater that Fred Ebb and I were allowed to live in for 40 years.”
Scooping up his award for featured actor in “Spring Awakening,” quavery-voiced John Gallagher Jr. quoted his character Moritz: “Truly, truly, truly, heaven must feel like this.” Film star Billy Crudup, who won for his featured performance in “The Coast of Utopia,” seemed grateful just for having his name pronounced correctly. (It’s “crude-up.”)
The show opened with the cast of “A Chorus Line” singing in front of Radio Music Hall — and continued with a clever conceit from “A Chorus Line,” now in revival on Broadway: The musical’s domineering director character (Michael Berresse) calling places and announcing presenters as if they were trying out for his next hit, The Tonys.
In the pre-telecast, Bob Crowley — who won for scenic design of both a play (“The Coast of Utopia”) and musical (“Mary Poppins”) — said that he must have “swallowed” the Blarney Stone . “I’m completely gob-smacked,” said the British artist who took home a Tony for last year’s “The History Boys.”
Among other important winners: Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” won for musical revival, and, in an upset, David Hyde Pierce beat Raul Esparza to take the best acting award in a musical for “Curtains.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Theresa
June 11, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
About that last sentence - David Hyde Pierce won best actor in a musical, not Raul Asparza.
By Theresa
June 11, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
O.K., when I posted that earlier comment, the article stated that Esparza had won the Tony. It’s now been corrected, leaving no valid context for my email. Glorioskies.
By Marilyn
June 13, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
Frank Langella’s acceptance speech was so eloquent that I’ve searched in vain for a transcript of them. If anyone knows a source, please pass it on. Thanks.