Liars and Saints

  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." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf16i0OT5xA *"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. https://www.youtube.c...

 "Next to Normal" is unusual because it's a musical about divorce. As common as divorce is, it doesn't often get the "pop culture" treatment. Shows like "Parenthood," "The Sopranos," and "Breaking Bad" flirt with the idea of separation--but then the protagonists end up reunited, or semi-reunited, under one roof. "N2N" is pretty brutal in establishing that its two characters are trapped; American family life, which is so often finessed as "good," immediately "good," is in fact a kind of prison in Yorkey's musical. Notice how blunt York's characters can be: Everyday, this act we act Gets more and more absurd. And all my fears just sit inside me-- Screaming to be heard. I know they won't, though-- Not a single word... And notice the wife: It's like living on a cliffside-- Not knowing when you'll dive. Do you know? Do you know-- What it's like to die alive? As flawed as "N2N...

 When I think of the circus, I think of the amazingly tasteless musical "Side Show," which assigns these lyrics to conjoined twins: I will never leave you! I will never go away. We were meant to share this moment. Beside you is where I will stay! To its credit, the Ringling Museum in Florida doesn't shy away from the troubling history of the Side Show. There is an ad for "Bird Girl," whose posture resembles the posture of a penguin. There is also a gigantic man, a woman with unusually long hair, a photo of (yes) conjoined twins, a bearded lady, a three-legged man. When the circus was most popular, in or around the 1930s, you, a performer, would travel all over the country (staying for one day in each new spot with few exceptions). You would eat your meals in a tent. And you would share transit accommodations with aerialists, clowns, lion tamers, strongmen, tightrope walkers. The Ringling has a special alcove that describes the training of clowns and distinguishe...

A few Sondheim thoughts, for Sondheim fans only: *"Into the Woods" will be at Town Hall in several weeks. So we're looking at three major NYC events in the next year (at least): the Doyle revival of "Assassins," the staged reading of "Woods," and the "Company" import. (I'm not sure if "Company" is confirmed yet, but it seems like it's a given.) *If Patti LuPone wins a Tony for "Company"--seems like a given--she will be the first actor of either gender to win a Tony Award for a role in "Company." LuPone will also join the august company of Angela Lansbury, the only actor (at present) to have two Sondheim acting Tonys. (Incidentally, Lansbury recently trashed Ethel Merman in an interview. Basically, Lansbury said, "My Rose was better than Merman's, because I'm a real actress." I guess you can say this sort of thing when you reach a certain age.) *"Into the Woods" is about h...