Last night I attended a performance of Adrienne Kennedy's 1991 play, Ohio State Murders, starring Audra McDonald. Though produced by Lincoln Center Theater, the play was presented, not at Lincoln Center, but at the renamed and renovated James Earl Jones Theatre in Times Square. The play has four actors, but it's basically a one-woman memory play about a writer recalling the discrimination she and other Black women experienced as students at Ohio State. A focus of her story is the murder of her twin girls by the White professor who fathered them. This is shocking stuff, well acted by the amazing Ms. McDonald and her supporting cast.
The play was the Broadway premiere for the 91-year-old Adrienne Kennedy, whose plays have been considered too surrealistic and experimental for Broadway, though they have been performed in smaller houses and at universities. Ohio State Murders is accessible and powerful.
Swithin, I'm not sure if you're familiar with Mickey Jo Boucher. He vlogs about theater (primarily West End theater) on his You Tube channel MickeyJo Theatre.
In his recent video, he discusses his predictions for the upcoming Olivier Awards as well as saying who he thinks should win.
I've heard great things about the production of Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, and it's nice to see Matt Cole's choreography got a nomination.
BagelOnAPlate wrote: ↑March 29th, 2023, 3:05 pm
Swithin, I'm not sure if you're familiar with Mickey Jo Boucher. He vlogs about theater (primarily West End theater) on his You Tube channel MickeyJo Theatre.
In his recent video, he discusses his predictions for the upcoming Olivier Awards as well as saying who he thinks should win.
I've heard great things about the production of Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, and it's nice to see Matt Cole's choreography got a nomination.
I've seen him once or twice. Interesting predictions. I do hope Katie Brayben and Zubin Varla will win for Tammy Faye.
I heard good things about Newsies as well. I considered going to see it on my recent trip, but I didn't have time. It does have a matinee and evening performance on Sunday, which is unusual for London. It's sort of out of the way, but not that difficult to get to.
The production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! that is nominated for several Olivier Awards is a transfer of the Tony Award winning Broadway revival directed by Daniel Fish that played at Circle in the Square Theatre. It's a bold interpretation of what's considered the first book musical. Without changing a word of Hammerstein's text, it radically alters the show's narrative, particularly in regard to the character of Jud Fry. I saw the Broadway production and loved it. The use of lighting (including some scenes performed in darkness) was thrilling! Patrick Vaill (who played Jud in the Broadway production) reprises his role in the London transfer.
"Lonely Room" with Patrick Vaill as Jud
"Pore Jud is Daid" with Damon Daunno as Curly (a harmless "joke" or suicide baiting? . . .)
Speaking of the Olivier Awards, they are no longer televised on UK TV but instead are streamed. Those of us outside the UK are fortunate in that we can also watch the stream via YouTube. Here is the link. The stream starts at 1:05pm EDT on Sunday, 2 April.
Hoping Tammy Faye wins big, particularly for Katie Brayben and Zubin Varla. Brayben has stiff competition from Mesika and Omole, but Varla, whom I've admired for decades, should be a shoo-in for Supporting Actor in a Musical. Varla is currently in A Little Life; I first saw him as a lad, when he played Jamie in Beautiful Thing.
I liked The Band's Visit; and Standing on the Sky's Edge is brilliant; but Tammy Faye is the best.
Here's what I believe is the complete list of 2023 Olivier Award nominations:
Delta Air Lines Best New Play For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court Theatre Patriots at Almeida Theatre Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Mastercard Best New Musical The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier Sylvia at The Old Vic Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Cunard Best Revival The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier Good at Harold Pinter Theatre Jerusalem at Apollo Theatre A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival My Fair Lady at London Coliseum Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic Sister Act at Eventim Apollo
South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
Best Actress
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Patsy Ferran for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Mei Mac for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Janet McTeer for Phaedra at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Nicola Walker for The Corn Is Green at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actor
Tom Hollander for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Rafe Spall for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
David Tennant for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Giles Terera for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actor in a Musical
Alon Moni Aboutboul for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Arthur Darvill for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Julian Ovenden for South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
Andrew Rannells for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Anoushka Lucas for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Miri Mesika for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Faith Omole for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh & Kaine Lawrence for For Black Boys Who Have ConsideredSuicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Will Keen for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Elliot Levey for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
David Moorst for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Sule Rimi for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace
Pamela Nomvete for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Caroline Quentin for Jack Absolute Flies Again at National Theatre – Olivier
Sharon Small for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Anjana Vasan for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Beverley Knight for Sylvia The Old Vic
Maimuna Memon for Standing At The Sky’s Edge National Theatre – Olivier
Liza Sadovy for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Marisha Wallace for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Sharif Afifi for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Peter Polycarpou for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Clive Rowe for Sister Act at Eventim Apollo
Zubin Varla for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre & Ambassadors Theatre One Woman Show at Ambassadors Theatre
Best Family Show Blippi The Musical at Apollo Theatre Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show at Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe The Smartest Giant In Town at St Martin’s Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Matt Cole for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Lynne Page for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Kate Prince for Sylvia at The Old Vic
Basil Twist for Puppetry Direction for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Costume Design
Frankie Bradshaw for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Hugh Durrant for Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
Jean Paul Gaultier for Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show at Roundhouse
Kimie Nakano for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design
Bobby Aitken for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Tony Gayle for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Drew Levy for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Ben & Max Ringham for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Best Original Score or New Orchestrations
David Yazbek, Jamshied Sharifi & Andrea Grody – Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek, Orchestrations by Jamshied Sharifi & Additional Arrangements by Andrea Grody – The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Joe Hisaishi & Will Stuart – Music by Joe Hisaishi & Orchestrations and Arrangements by Will Stuart – My Neighbour Totoro for Barbican Theatre
Daniel Kluger & Nathan Koci – Orchestrations and Arrangements by Daniel Kluger & Additional Vocal Arrangements by Nathan Koci – Rodgers &Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Young Vic
Richard Hawley & Tom Deering – Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley & Orchestrations by Tom Deering – Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design
Miriam Buether for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Tom Pye for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Ben Stones for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Mark Walters for Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Natasha Chivers for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Lee Curran for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Jessica Hung Han Yun for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Tim Lutkin for The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier
TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production Alcina by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House Least Like The Other by Irish National Opera and Royal Opera at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre Peter Grimes by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House Sibyl at Barbican Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Sinéad Campbell-Wallace for her performance in Tosca by English National Opera at London Coliseum
William Kentridge for his conception and direction of Sibyl at Barbican Theatre
Antony McDonald for his design of Alcina at Royal Opera House
Best New Dance Production Light Of Passage by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House Pasionaria by La Veronal at Sadler’s Wells Traplord by Ivan Michael Blackstock at 180 Studios (The Strand) Triptych (The Missing Door, The Lost Room, And The Hidden Floor) by Peeping Tom at Barbican Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Manuel Liñán for his choreography of ¡VIVA! at Sadler’s Wells
Dickson Mbi for his choreography of Enowate at Sadler’s Wells
Raquel Meseguer Zafe for her dramaturgy of Ruination by Lost Dog at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
Catrina Nisbett for her performance in Family Honour by Spoken Movement at Sadler’s Wells
Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre Age Is A Feeling at Soho Theatre Blackout Songs at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs The P Word at Bush Theatre Paradise Now! at Bush Theatre Two Palestinians Go Dogging at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Rebecca Frecknall for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Robert Hastie for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Justin Martin for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Phelim McDermott for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Bartlett Sher for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
BagelOnAPlate wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Janet McTeer for Phaedra at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Tom Hollander for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Rafe Spall for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
David Tennant for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Andrew Rannells for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
As a non-theater-goer, these are the only names I recognize.
BagelOnAPlate wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Janet McTeer for Phaedra at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Tom Hollander for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Rafe Spall for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
David Tennant for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Andrew Rannells for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
As a non-theater-goer, these are the only names I recognize.
Irish actor Paul Mescal received a lot of acclaim for his performance in the movie Aftersun (including a Best Actor Oscar nomination), but his work as Stanley Kowalski in the Almeida Theatre's production of A Streetcar Named Desire is supposed to be amazing.
And (JUST IN) he has won the Best Actor Olivier Award for Streetcar!
Last edited by BagelOnAPlate on April 2nd, 2023, 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
BagelOnAPlate wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 3:39 pm
Irish actor Paul Mescal received a lot of acclaim for his performance in the movie Afterburn (including a Best Actor Oscar nomination), but his work as Stanley Kowalski in the Almeida Theatre's production of A Streetcar Named Desire is supposed to be amazing.
And (JUST IN) he has won the Best Actor Olivier Award for Streetcar!
Yeah, I knew him from Aftersun. I know he also starred in Normal People, which a lot people liked a lot. I believe he's set to star in the sequel to Gladiator.
Swithin wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 6:31 pm
Couldn't watch since I was in Staten Island all day, but so pleased that Katie Brayben and Zubin Varla won Oliviers!
I was surprised that the song from Tammy Faye that was performed at the Oliviers didn't feature Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells.
BagelOnAPlate wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm
Delta Air Lines Best New Play
Mastercard Best New Musical
Cunard Best Revival
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival
Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Ugh, corporate sponsorship titles-disgraceful!
Can't ANYTHING be for recognition of actual merit? Why does everything have to be an advertisement for corporations that have nothing to do with performance art?
I'm not quite as offended about naming awards honoring those who excelled in the field.
Swithin wrote: ↑April 2nd, 2023, 6:31 pm
Couldn't watch since I was in Staten Island all day, but so pleased that Katie Brayben and Zubin Varla won Oliviers!
I was surprised that the song from Tammy Faye that was performed at the Oliviers didn't feature Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells.
There were comments on a UK theater site I frequent that they didn't choose one of the best songs from Tammy Faye. That may have been because Brayben is very pregnant, and (as I recall), most of Rannells songs are duets with her. Zubin Varla, who played Jerry Falwell, couldn't attend the Oliviers due to an illness in his family. I think his big song is one of the best, though I don't think there were any plans to perform it.