Winners' Tale
CP's theater critics place their bets on the Barrymores
Mark Cofta: I'd love to see the ceremony clock in at under three hours, but I guess that's the nature of the beast — lots of people to thank.
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Orville Mendoza should win for Adrift
in Macao.
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DF: It's also an interesting dynamic in terms of nominees and voting. We always have hometown favorites alongside intriguing newcomers and even the occasional visitor. (At least now they avoid the icky problem of what to do about touring companies by keeping the awards local — whew!)
MC: I'm torn between rooting for the home players, and feeling good that the awards don't discriminate against visiting talents, though I think some past awards — like Bill Irwin for best actor in Trumbo — resulted from starstruck voters.
DF: OK. I should admit from the start that there are some shows I missed.
MC: I missed a few too, I confess; as a Barrymore nominator, though, I saw plenty of shows that didn't make the cut.
DF: Then there's the other problem — the shows that are nominated that I wish I missed ...
MC: Good calls, but will John Glover (PTC's Some Men) steal supporting actor on star power? Pearce was superb, but John Zak's Caliban (PSF's The Tempest) may win because the role's so challenging.
MC: Just like the Tonys and the Oscars, it's hard not to cheer for artists who have long been deserving, like Mandy, Hazel and Jon. I'd love to see Joe Canuso win for directing Killer Joe, too — not only is he a Philadelphian who's worked his way up through the ranks, but I applaud the small theater companies working in small spaces with small budgets.
MC: I agree, Dreamgirls is the show to beat, and Tony's a lock for Funny Thing. Could Erin Weaver take supporting actress in a nod to her two nominations? (She's also up for leading actress for the title role in People's Light's Jack and the Beanstalk).
MC: All three are richly deserving, but Mendoza's multiple comic characters in Macao were inspired and brilliant. Here's where the Barrymores correctly show they're not just about rewarding locals.
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MC: I find this "emerging theater artist" award perplexing. Haven't Tony and Ben — previous multiple award nominees and winners — emerged already? Given that the Haas really rewards post-emergence, successful mid-career professionals, I agree it's impossible to choose between the two.
DF: Also, please recognize Pig Iron's wonderful Pay Up.
MC: It's nominated for new play, but all five nominees are deserving. Will Adrift In Macao, the weakest of the five, win on Christopher Durang's name? We'll find out Monday night.
Also In This Week's Arts Section
Of course it's in-joking, who are they trying to appeal to, families in the Midwest? It's an industry show for industry folks. It's ALL in joking. The Oscars and Tony also use IN jokes, it just so happens that more people are IN on the joke.
Just a few thoughts on the amatuer hour that is the Barrymore Awards.