Both Broadway and Tony Awards Should Take a Bow

Joshua Henry as Haywood Patterson and the company of "The Scottsboro Boys." The controversial musical had a short Broadway run but will soon be going on tour. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

BY TAMARA BECK

THE American Theatre Wing’s 65th Annual Tony Awards was a sparkling and spectacular infomercial for Broadway, not that the Great White Way needs much publicity these days. Ticket sales for the 2010-11 season were more than $1 billion, and the theatre-going public chose from 42 new productions.

More important, however, than box office grosses, the quality of the product this past season was superb. So much so, that in some awards categories, the losers were at least as exciting as the winners. Of course, one should be prepared for some disappointments – it’s an awards show, after all. The ceremonies, however, were anything but disappointing.

Tony host Neil Patrick Harris was an impassioned and convincing pitchman. A high point of his act was the duet with Hugh Jackman, host of Tonys past. It was full of uproariously funny vaudevillian patter. Though the show was a hard sell of Broadway, it was blessed with a lot more showing than telling. Segments from all the nominated musicals demonstrated the magic of the stage in the best possible light.

Mark Rylance won a much deserved Tony for his role in "Jerusalem." Photo by Simon Annand.

Among the winners was “War Horse,” which trotted off with five Tonys, including one for Best Play. It was not the favorite of this reviewer, however. That honor goes to Stephen Adly Guirgis’ elegiac “The Motherf**’ker With The Hat.” (See review at http://www.bit.ly/jYPDhJ).

Every line in the text of the play whispers that it is a classic new American drama. It also would have been nice if Elizabeth Rodriguez and Yul Vazquez had left with Tonys for Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play and Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play, respectively.

No disappointment where Mark Rylance is concerned. It is thrilling that he took home a Tony – his second – for Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play for his work in Jez Butterworth’s astoundingly-written downmarket drama, “Jerusalem.” He portrays Johnny “Rooster” Byron with all his verve and sinew and was nothing short of brilliant. MR always gives his prodigious all, even in the egregious “La Bete” in which he starred earlier this season. (See review at http://www.bit.ly/kDf6xE).

Bobby Cannavale and Elizabeth Rodriguez in “The Motherf**ker With The Hat.” All three were overlooked when the Tonys were handed out. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Meanwhile, who thought “The Book of Mormon” would win big? Duh, everyone. (See review at http://www.bit.ly/jeTY9w). Out of 14 nominations, it got nine Tony wins, including Best Musical. Incidentally, bravo to Nikki M. James who captivatingly savored her win for Best Featured Actress In A Musical and refused to leave the stage until she finished her thank-yous.

Note to everyone, the little-seen and excellent “The Scottsboro Boys” received 12 nods despite its abbreviated run, and yes, no wins. (See review at http://www.bit.ly/lNqW29). On a happy note, Don Cheadle, who introduced the performance segment from musical, had welcome news for its champions: “The Scottsboro Boys” will soon be on tour!

The biggest winner of the night? Without a doubt, Broadway.

‘City Love Song’: Around Town and Now Around the World

Jack Finnegan has taken his "City Love Song" abroad. Photo by Nina Segal.

Jack Finnegan, an amiable young man, left his job and apartment to become a rover.

He chronicles his wanderings around the United States by rail in “City Love Song,” recently at the Americas Off Broadway Festival at the 59E59 Theaters (http://www.59e59.org). Like his ramblings, the sometimes poetic descriptions of the U.S. cities he visited, drift.

The New York show ended last month, but JF has taken his show on the international. After stops in stops in Rio de Janeiro and Casablanca, he opens in Berlin tomorrow through 21 June. Other stops include:

Istanbul, Turkey: 21-28 June
Cape Town, South Africa: 28 June – 5 July
New Delhi, India: 7 July – 11 July
Shanghai, China: 11 July – 18 July

Visit www.citylovesong.com to learn more about Jack Finnegan and follow his “City Love Song” project.

In 'Love Song,' Imagination Takes Flight

Andrew Pastides as Beane and Zoë Winters as Molly in "Love Song." Photo by Jeff Larkin.

BY TAMARA BECK

JOHN Kolvenbach’s “Love Song,” is a fantasy which raises a glass to toast [the] “death to literalism.”

JK suggests eschewing pedantry and thinking outside the box but “Love Song,” playing through 7 May as part of the celebration of American Theater called “Americas Off Broadway” at 59E59 Theaters, has an unfortunately blurry premise. Its tantalizing hypothesis squanders this comedy’s genuine charm and whimsy.

An imaginary love, Molly (Zoë Winters), enlivens the drab and withdrawn Beane (Andrew Pastides) and brightens the lives of his sister, Joan (Laura Latreille) and brother-in-law, Harry (Ian Barford).

Beane falls in love with Molly when she appears in his dull under-furnished room as a “fearsome force” who robs him of his second pair of pants. Molly is everything Beane is not – aggressive, unpredictable. She is also, as Beane fully understands, a figment of his imagination. Her energy awakens all his senses, but the hitch in this plot is that Beane has conjured her up as the object of all his affections.

Laura Latreille, Andrew Pastides and Ian Barford in "Love Song." Photo by Jeff Larkin.

Even when she inspires the taciturn Beane to become curious, sensual and talkative, Molly is more like his alter ego than his lover. Joan accepts her brother’s folly rather than have him revert to the sad sack he was. Will having known Molly give Beane the impetus to go ahead and embrace life?

Despite the failings of “Love Song” it is still an agreeable entertainment. And the actors are delightful, ably and credibly conveying the over-arching message of the play – that imagination can make us better.

Visit http://http://www.59e59.org/ for more information about “Love Song.”

If the Brits Can Have One, So Can the Yanks
LATE last year, 59E59 Theaters presented “Brits Off Broadway,” a celebration of award-winning productions from the United Kingdom.(See review: http://www.vevlynspen.com/2010/12/going-fast-if-thats-all-there-is.html).

Andrew Pastides and Ian Barford in "Love Song." Photo by Jeff Larkin.

Now U.S. American theater is the focus with “Americas Off Broadway.” Running through 3 July, it features seven plays, a musical and a revue showcasing the music of Cy Coleman with some very nice Broadway names attached.

“Love Song” kicked off the festivities.
(See video of the 59E59 Theaters at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MnvjA_DPvo&feature=player_embedded#at=12)

The revue, “The Best is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman,” premiered at the Rubicon Theatre in California in 2009. It will run in 59E59 Theater A from 18 May through 3 July.

“The Best is Yet To Come" will be making its New York premiere and features a cast of six award-winning and award-nominated Broadway stars (accompanied by an eight-piece band). The cast is Lillias White, Billy Stritch (also the musical director and conductor for this production), David Burnham, Sally Mayes, Howard McGillin and Rachel York.

Tony Award winner David Zippel devised and directed this revue, which will include favorites from Broadway (“Sweet Charity,” “City of Angels,” “Little Me,” “The Will Rogers Follies”), pop hits made famous by the likes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand, as well as new songs written toward the end of Coleman’s life.

Justin Preston and Marley McLean in “Julia.” Photo by Alex Moy.

Also included on the festival menu is “I Married Wyatt Earp” presented by Prospect Theater Company and New York Theatre Barn. It is based in part on Glenn G. Boyer‘s book of the same name. “I Married Wyatt Earp” runs from 20 May through 12 June. The cast includes Carolyn Mignini as Josephine Marcus Earp and Anastasia Barzee as Mattie Earp.

The Pacific Resident Theatre is bringing “Julia” by Vince Melocchi through 15 May. In this story about love lost 50 years ago at the start of the Korean War, Lou Perino (Richard Fancy) returns to his hometown to try to right the wrong he did when he went off to fight and then to Detroit.

Jack Finnegan (playwright/actor) presents a portrait of our country, constructed from the character of 24 American cities and the land and waters between them in “City Love Song.” This 21st century travelog runs from 3 May to 15 May before embarking on a tour of 13 international cities.

Visit http://http://www.blogger.com/www.59e59.org to learn more about “Americas Off Broadway,” including a schedule of programs.