Cruelest Cuts of the Tony Awards Committee

"If/Then," featuring Tamika Lawrence, Jenn Colella, LaChanze and Idina Menzel. Photo from production.

BY TAMARA BECK

WHEN Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff announced the nominations for the “68th Annual Tony Awards” on 29 April, there were serious oversights.

Some fine and/or interesting productions, as well as superb performances were overlooked. First, gripes about the ones that shoulda been named, then predictions about the winners from those that made the cut.

If this reviewer takes it personally, imagine how the casts and creatives on the unacknowledged and under-acknowledged shows feel. Maybe it's just the Tony committee messing with the regular theater-lover's head.

"The Realistic Joneses," Will Eno's comic tragedy and its deserving star, Toni Colette, did not get a mention. (http://www.bit.ly/1x8UT0S) Although the play left a lot of holes in its odd plot points, it was well-staged and wildly interesting.

The acting from the ensemble of Tracy Letts (a past Tony winner), Michael C. Hall, Marisa Tomei (Academy award winner) and the aforementioned TC, was top-notch. The Joneses meet cute, with one couple stumbling onto the other’s property in the dead of night bearing a bottle of wine. Existential issues are then addressed.

Another overlooked drama was "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Do note, however, that Audra McDonald, as Billie Holiday, was nominated in the Best Actress category. (http://www.bit.ly/1jRGDzG; see video above).

Broadway's producers are to be congratulated for taking the chance on so many straight plays, an oft misunderstood and under-appreciated entertainment this season. The applause would be that much louder, though, if unconventional vehicles like “The Realistic Joneses” were in the Tony running.

Other major snubs include “Bullets Over Broadway,” “If/Then,” “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Rocky.” The blow to all is lessened because each got nods in other categories.

Tracy Letts, Toni Collette, Marisa Tomei and Michael C. Hall in "The Realistic Joneses." Photo from production.

For instance, Woody Allen was tapped for Best Book of a Musical for “Bullets.” Also Nick Cordero is up for Best Featured Actor in a musical for his role as Cheech. “If/Then's” amazing star, Idina Menzel, is up for Best Actress in a Musical. The musical's creative team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics) are up for Best Original Score.

Next week: And the Tony goes to ...

The “68th Annual Tony Awards” airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 8 June on CBS. Visit http://www.tonyawards.com/ to learn more about the nominations and broadcast.

Dirty Sexy Rotten Politics in 'The Ides of March'

THE timing of the release of “The Ides of March” could not possibly be a coincidence.

Adapted from the Beau Willimon play, Farragut North, the film opens in the United States today after making its North American debut at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its world premiere at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Brian Prize.

“The Ides of March” more or less chronicles the political baptism of idealistic, young campaign manager Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling). Stephen works for presidential hopeful Mike Morris (George Clooney), is fired and then rehired with a promotion after he learns and applies the tricks of this dirty trade to his advantage.

Underway amid the staffing snafus during a very competitive Ohio presidential primary is the usual political horseplay: backroom deals, backstabbing, blackmail, blackmail in reverse, betrayal, leaks, lies, damn lies and a death – political or otherwise.

No doubt distributor, Sony Pictures Entertainment, is betting that audiences won’t be too disgusted with the current little horse-and-pony show on the road – the one known as the runup to the Republican presidential nomination – to pony up $10-plus for its little attraction. (How many more skeletons are rattling in Rick Perry’s closet).

Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling) finds himself in a political whirlwind in "The Ides of March." Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

GC also gets a producer, director and screenplay credit for "The Ides of March.” Aside from RG he has surrounded himself with strong support, including Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Jeffrey Wright. GC friend and colleague Leonardi DiCaprio is also one of the producers.

“The Ides of March” is rated R for pervasive language.

After the Love Is Gone in 'Marie and Bruce'

Marisa Tomei and Frank Whaley as a bickering couple in “Marie and Bruce.” Photos by Monique Carboni.

BY TAMARA BECK

WALLACE Shawn’s “Marie and Bruce” is an offbeat story of love gone askew in which the titular couple is locked in a dance of regrets and recriminations.

As the play opens, Marie (Marisa Tomei) spews a torrent of nasty at Bruce (Frank Whaley) as he snores beside her. Addressing the audience, Marie announces her intention to leave Bruce.

When Bruce awakens, he phlegmatically answers her jeers with “Well, darling.” It is one of his standard responses to her acrimonious assaults.

Much of the action in “Marie and Bruce,” in a revival by The New Group at the Acorn Theatre through 7 May, is explained by Marie’s expositions. For instance, she describes how her day has passed as she prepares to meet Bruce at a dinner party.

Tina Benko and Frank Whaley as dinner party guests in "Marie and Bruce."

Incidentally, Marie doesn’t understand why Bruce likes parties so much because she really doesn’t enjoy them at all. At this gathering, the scene breaks out into pockets of combative conversation. It becomes clear as the evening wears on that Marie and Bruce are mutually abusive, he passively and she more aggressively.

There have always been couples like this. “Marie and Bruce” is a day in the life of a married pair who take pleasure in torturing each other, repeating skirmishes from the night before and fighting and forgiving the unforgivable things they say to each other.

The cast is rounded out by the host, Frank (Adam Trese), and the dinner party guests : Gloria (Alison Wright), Herb (Devin Ratray), Janet (Tina Benko), Ann (Cindy Katz), Nils (Russell G. Jones) and Ralph (Alok Tewari).

Marie (Marisa Tomei) and Bruce (Frank Whaley) at a café in "Marie and Bruce."

“Marie and Bruce,” niftily directed by Scott Elliot, has a ‘60s scenester quality, particularly during the cleverly staged dinner party scene. On the set by Derek McLane the dinner table moves in a circular motion.

Eavesdropping on the dinner conversations as the table turns lends the play the feel of a weightier, more serious episode of “Laugh-In.”

Visit http://www.thenewgroup.org/index.html to learn more about "Marie and Bruce.”