A sunny Tony Awards outlook for 'August: Osage County'; Expect a stop to Tom Stoppard's recent romp
Below, our resident Tonys guru Paul Sheehan gives us his take on the plays.
No surprise that "August: Osage County" dominated the play side of the Tony Awards, leading with seven nominations, including a bid for the top prize. After all, Tracy Letts' three-hour-plus drama about a dysfunctional family has already won the Pulitzer Prize, as well as kudos from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Outer Critics Circle. It is the only American entry in the top race.
As headstrong matriarch and equally determined daughter, Outer Critics winner Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton scored dueling bids for best actress. These two originated the roles in the Steppenwolf Theater production in Chicago last summer.
"The 39 Steps,"Patrick Barlow's fast-paced adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock screen classic won last year's Olivier for best comedy (that's London's equivalent to the Tony), and earned six Tony nominations, including best play. However, the frantic foursome who play all the characters were snubbed, with the other five nods going to the creative team led by director Maria Aitken. Peter McKintosh picked up two nods for the scenic design and costumes that change in the blink of an eye.
Last year Tom Stoppard made Tony Awards history when his sprawling trilogy "The Coast of Utopia" won a record seven awards, including best play. He returns to compete in that category this year with "Rock 'N' Roll," which earned four nods. Just as Stoppard was a bridesmaid with the Gotham critics yesterday, it is unlikely he will win a fifth Tony for best play. However, Rufus Sewell, who recreated his Oliver Award-winning performance as the Czech expatriate, could prevail as best actor as could Sinead Cusack for featured actress. Last year Sir Tom bemoaned the lack of a sound-design category so he must be pleased with the nod for Ian Dickinson in the first year of this award.
Irish playwright Conor McPherson picked up two nods for writing and directing best play nominee "The Seafarer," which also earned nominations for featured actors Jim Norton and Conleth Hill. Norton, recreating his Olivier winning performance as a blind man, is a leading contender in this category.
Last year 7 of the 20 acting contenders appeared in play revivals. This year it is up to 9 nominees. This strong showing demonstrates the strength of these classic works be they comedy ("Boeing-Boeing") or tragedy ("Macbeth"). These two plays each earned six nominations, including best revival as well as a pair of acting nods. Acclaimed Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance scored a lead actor nod for his Broadway debut in "Boeing-Boeing." He recreated his Oliver-nominated performance as the innocent caught up in a sex farce. And Mary McCormack earned a bid as the Teutonic stewardess who lands him.
