SubscribeTonys 2008: Can Patrick Stewart 'make it so'?
It is no surprise that celluloid superhero Patrick Stewart ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," "X-Men"), could be boldly going where no man has gone before: that is, to finally break the Tony Awards curse that has befallen "Macbeth." Since the Tonys began in 1947, five other actors — who all received Tony nods, if not wins, at some point in their career — have played the Scottish king on Broadway, but none has been nominated for that performance.
Those who found that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown were: Michael Redgrave (1948); Paul Rogers (1956); Philip Anglim (1981); Nicol Williamson (1982); and Christopher Plummer (1988). (The less said about the mess that was the Kelsey Grammer led production in 2000 the better.)
However, Stewart, a respected British stage actor, picked up both an Outer Critics Circle nomination and a Drama League nod this week for his work. And he is likely to be recognized by the Drama Desk next week, which has nominated him twice in the past as best actor and gave him a special award for his solo performance in "A Christmas Carol" in 1992.
Last year, Stewart won the Evening Standard Award for the London run of the Scottish play. While he was nominated for the Olivier Award –- the English equivalent to the Tony –- he lost to another Shakespearean actor, "Othello" star Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The highest hurdle for Stewart could be the bias against the Bard on Broadway. The classically trained thespian made his Broadway debut in the 1971 Royal Shakespeare Company production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." While that show won director Tony Brook a Tony, it is one of the few Shakespearean productions to take home Broadway's highest honor.
For more on how Shakespeare has fared less than thee well at the Tony Awards CLICK HERE!
Of course he can! I have seen the play and it is wonderful. Everyone in the cast is very talented and it was a pleasure to see such a wonderful production.
Everyone involved deserves an award.
Posted by: Gail Dowle | May 04, 2008 at 09:08 AM