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Tony Awards

 As the big night approaches, here are a few somewhat neglected Tony performances (plus an explanation of why they are historic):


*"Kiss of the Spider-Woman." Chita Rivera was in her sixties, and she had recently survived a traumatic car crash. Of course her dancing was wonderful. But she also *sounded* great. Special extra credit for the particular way she alluded to Molina's "slice of hell."


*"Everyday Rapture." This show was not supposed to make it to Broadway, but it became something like the little engine that could. So many cabaret acts are forgettable. But Sherie Rene Scott proved to be a true artist, digging into the story of her abortion, her sexual attraction to Mister Rogers, her strange Internet feud with a little gay prepubescent theater critic. Scott had never found material worthy of her intellect--so she eventually wrote the material on her own. A terrific literary work.


*"Side Show." Everything about this song was absurd--but it's exciting to see someone holding her own against the world-devouring Alice Ripley. This was the dictionary definition of an 11:00 number. The thrill was in wondering whether Ripley would shred her own vocal cords. (We now see her suffering from permanent damage.) Hair-raising theater.
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