Tony Awards demote Angela Lansbury!
Jaws dropped all along Broadway yesterday when the Tony Awards decreed that Angela Lansbury will compete for the award as best featured (or supporting) actress in a play for portraying flamboyant psychic Madame Arcati in Noel Coward 's "Blithe Spirit" at the Shubert Theatre. (Hey, maybe Angie wasn't so surprised — do you think she saw this coming in her crystal ball?)
The original 1941 production pre-dated the creation of the Tonys, so the role wasn't categorized then, but when the play was revived in 1987 at the Neil Simon Theatre, its sole Tony bid went to Geraldine Page for the same role in the lead acting category! And in the 1964 musicalization "High Spirits," Bea Lillie competed as a lead as well for playing the same part.
Angela Lansbury is one of Broadway's queens. Frankly, it's a bit insulting to demote her to the supporting realm. She's won four times in the lead status, all for musicals: "Mame" (1966), "Dear World" (1969), "Gypsy" (1975) and "Sweeney Todd" (1979). If she nabs just one more Tony, she'll tie the record held by Julie Harris, whose five trophies were all in lead, so Harris will really have a slight edge. (Oh, let's be honest. Supporting laurels only count by half!)
However, this might be, come to think of it, very good news for Lansbury in terms of upping her odds of winning. The race for lead actress in a drama is crowded with heavyweight dramatic turns by Jane Fonda ("33 Variations"), Susan Sarandon ("Exit the King"), Tovah Feldshuh ("Irena's Vow"), Janet McTeer ("Mary Stuart") and others. Lansbury's role in "Blithe Spirit" is comedic. Those types of turns tend to do best in supporting at all showbiz awards. Think Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona") and Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite") at the Oscars, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") at the Emmys, Cady Huffman ("The Producers") and Kevin Spacey ("Lost in Yonkers") at the Tony Awards. At the 1987 Tonys, Geraldine Page lost to Linda Lavin in Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound."
Bea Lillie also lost in one of the most competitive categories at the 1964 Tony Awards. While Inga Swenson vied for "110 in the Shade" -- the musical version of "The Rainmaker" -- the two divas in the race were Carol Channing for her triumphant return to Broadway in the smash hit "Hello, Dolly!" and relative newcomer Barbra Streisand in her first starring role in "Funny Girl." Channing, who had twice before contended in this category ("The Vamp," 1956; "Show Girl," 1961), was part of the "Dolly" sweep as the tuner took 10 Tonys. Streisand -- who had lost the featured Tony two years before for her Broadway debut in "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" to Phyllis Newman ("Subways Are for Sleeping") -- went on to win the Oscar for the 1968 film version of "Funny Girl." While Babs would get her revenge on Channing by stealing the film role of Dolly Levi away from her, the resulting 1969 adaptation was a critical and commercial disappointment. The following year, Streisand accepted an honorary kudo from the Tonys but we all know those asterisked awards don't count in tallying up grand slam winners.
No controversy here: The Tonys also decreed that Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks, Peter Stormare ("Hedda Gabler") will compete as featured roles. The smash hit Will Ferrell vehicle "You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George Bush" will be up for best special theatrical event.
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Photo: Shubert Theatre
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I agree that Lansbury's role is a supporting one. i saw this production and she walks away with the show in her entrance alone. She shoudl be nommed in the supporting category simply by definition of what a supporting role is and how the role SUPPORTS the leads the drives the story. Just because she's a "name" doesn't mean she shoudl be in a lead category. Sometimes you truly are an idiot!
Posted by: peter | April 07, 2009 at 06:44 PM
The role of Madame Arcati is most definitely a supporting role. No matter who plays the part, it should always be considered supporting to the lead character of Charles. And I think you're dead on in saying that now she has a chance of winning. There's no way she would have won lead again Tovah or Kristen, especially in a role that isn't lead at all.
Posted by: David R | April 04, 2009 at 10:38 AM
By Frankie: ''[Lansbury] might not even get nominated in the lead actress category which will probably be Scott Thomas, McTeer, Walter, Gugino and Fonda''.
Are you for real? Angela Lansbury received a Leading Actress nomination for her role in critically panned Deuce, though Lansbury and Marian Seldes were praised for their performances. Blithe Spirit is much more popular with critics and Lansbury received nothing, but rave reviews. There would've any doubt about her getting Lead Actress nomination if she was eligible.
To Mr. O'Neill: I hope ''count by half'' nonsense is a joke. Plus, what do you mean by Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally reference? There is a category for Outstanding Supporting Actress/ Actor – Comedy Series at the Emmys.
Posted by: Will | April 04, 2009 at 09:54 AM
I think that it's ridiculous. SUPPORTING or FEATURED actress doesn't mean a LESSER actress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take the Oscars for example! Sorry, but BETTER ACTRESSES tend to win in supporting!
You're as star-obsessed as the HFPA!!!!!!
SUPPORTING actress means a performance, which isn't a central one to the story!!! So I don't think it's something shocking that Angela goes supporting! learn to deal with it!
Posted by: Ross | April 04, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Lighten up folks! I think Tom was just trying to make a joke. Most of us have made similar jokes about the supporting awards, or the Oscars for short films and Sound Mixing.
Sheesh -- its a stupid entertainment award, and everyone is so frickin' SERIOUS!!!!!
Posted by: Scott | April 04, 2009 at 06:50 AM
This is cynical petitioning by the producers. They know that Lansbury has a good shot at winning supporting, and might not even get nominated in the lead actress category which will probably be Scott Thomas, McTeer, Walter, Gugino and Fonda.
Posted by: Frankie | April 04, 2009 at 05:34 AM
i haven't seen the show, so i don't have an opinion on whether Ms. Lansbury should be lead or supporting. BUT:
1) your comment about supporting awards being considered "half" is ignorant and inaccurate. and
2) if she's nominated for featured (which she will be), SHE'LL WIN. duh.
Posted by: richard | April 03, 2009 at 07:53 PM
"(Oh, let's be honest. Supporting laurels only count by half!) "
One of the dumbest things you've ever said O'Neill.
Posted by: BurmaShave | April 03, 2009 at 03:14 PM
That is very insulting. Angela is a legend and a true class act. She should be in the lead actress category.
Posted by: Julie Cannon | April 03, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Tom, you're a one annoying queen! When you finally understand that an award is an award, no matter in which category have you won it. Stop degrading supporting winners!
Posted by: Scott | April 03, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I would suggest that another serious contender is Kristen Scott Thomas in The Seagull.
Posted by: Scott | April 03, 2009 at 12:20 PM