June Column - Who Needs a Tony??

Look at these lead actress Tony winners. What do you think?


Nina Arianda for Venus in Fur
Audra McDonald for Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

Well, dollcakes, I've never been nominated for any role I've played en mi vida...but I can guess that once you are, you have to keep face and pretend you're happy for your fellow nominees when you know deep down you want to win so badly you'd KILL for it!!! How do you think these two winners measure up? Should some other nominee have won instead? Well...based on watching Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland, I couldn't see or hear a resemblance to the great legend, so I'm sure glad she didn't win! Will have to judge the overall performance for myself next year when it transfers to the Ahmanson for a spring run. Nina Arianda (pictured) seemed so pretty, fresh and vulnerable, I would just love to see her performance - I'm sure she's delectable! And...I adore Miss Audra McDonald. Her voice is one of the very best on Broadway, but she's already won 4 Tonys, so I would have preferred to see Jan Maxwell pick one up for her scintillating performance in Follies. Was also disappointed that Follies did not win Best Revival of a Musical. I've heard bad things about this Porgy and Bess, so I can only imagine that since Follies won Best Musical originally in the 70s, voters decided to pass to something else. Quel dommage!

As far as the overall Tony broadcast is concerned, let's bring back Hugh Jackman as host. He's ever so much more exciting than Neil P Harris! Happy to see Diva Lupone in the opening and so sparkling with Mandy as they sang some cute ditties while announcing Best Revival of a Musical.
Til next year, dolls, remember an award is just an award, it's the performance that will be remembered, not the award! Losers, get your heads out of the oven and smell the roses!
lol
dona


'til July when I'll bring along some fireworks to throw atcha!
xxx

June Column in Two Weeks, Dolls!

John Travolta Should Sue, If You Ask Me......

I'm shocked and appalled - not at Travolta's behavior - at an online newspaper like the Huffington Post reprinting something meant for the National Enquirer. When is all this CRAP going to stop? Is there no PRIVACY any more?


"[Travolta had] a strange demeanor, bloodshot eyes and climbed onto the already setup massage table...Travolta removed the entire sheet from his body, and he claimed the sheets were sticky and could not tolerate the heat...Travolta further indicated that he likes a lot of 'Glutes' work meaning a massage on his buttocks...While [the plaintiff] was massaging near Travolta's buttocks area, Travolta would open his legs and spread his butt cheeks open and had a full erection and would maneuver in a way to try to force Doe Plaintiff No. 2 to touch his anus and around his anus."

Travolta suddenly turned on his stomach with his legs wide open with a full erection. He then tried to force Doe Plaintiff No. 2's hand on Travolta's scrotum. Then, Travolta started to grab, rub and caress Doe Plaintiff no. 2's upper thighs and buttocks....Travolta still had an erection and wanted his abdominals done, but Travolta's erection was in the way and he refused to have his penis covered by a sheet or a pillow case cover."

Are you hot and horny yet? Is this what journalism is supposed to do? What has the world come to!!!!!!!

TraLa...It's May the Lusty Month of May...Any Excuse for a Column

Well, dolls, look what I found (right) at my door step after a bus and truck tour of Camelot - you got it, he played Lance for two years in the Hinterlands; there was nothing to do but do the show and work out at the nearby gym 24/7, looks like. Woa!!!!! He danced in my act a couple of years back, stripped at a lot of local waterholes, as you can see. Stopped by to see if he could get some work, so he's been planting tulips in the backyard and sleeping on the sofa. Just auditioned for Daddy Warbucks in Annie, and it looks like he got the part, so he'll be gone in a week or so. I sure will put him to work for me in the meantime. I'll think of what needs retooling around here, believe me!

tracie bennett as judy garland in end of the rainbow

Let's get serious and onto what's happening on the real show biz front! The Tony Award nominations! So much controversy is surrounding End of the Rainbow and the accuracy of the portrayal of Judy Garland. The last three days of someone's life! How does one know for sure what happened unless they were there? And if something did or did not actually happen, does that action necessarily throw the overall performance out of whack?  From what I've heard Tracie Bennett's work is brilliant. She has been nominated for an Olivier Award and three other Olivier Awards in the past. The actress is certainly no slouch. If she looks, sounds and acts like Garland as we were used to seeing and hearing her, then her work is meritorious. I've heard the score, and she may not have the little subtleties of Garland's voice and phrasing, but she's powerful, dynamic and fully committed, and sends the songs soaring. So, if her acting is as good - and I've heard that it is - then she deserves that nomination! Let's critique the script but not the actress! Thaaaaaank you! Linda Lavin seems to be her chief competition, as her reviews have been stellar for The Lyons. Diva Lavin has won before, but more than deserved an award for Collected Stories when she did that prior to New York! Another fine actress! Divas, divas everywhere!
I've heard Jeff Calhoun's direction of Newsies is super, and he - she? - sure deserves his - her? - nod. Diva? Suuuure! He loves to hold court! In LA he directed such unique renditions of Oliver and Big River at Deaf West Theatre...and his Bonnie and Clyde, which somehow fell apart by the time it got to New York, was thrilling when it first premiered in La Jolla! She told those producers to leave it alone, but they wouldn't listen, Blanche! Calhoun is not to blame!

Watch the Awards televised from coast to coast June 10! I know Don and I will. Hasta la pasta! Gee that's a good idea for a Tony Awards party. And...Diva Peters, sweet little Bernie herself, is getting a special Tony for being charitable.
What did she do, you ask? The Cute Diva wrote too cutesy children's books about what doggies do for an organization she founded with Mary Tyler Moore called Broadway Barks! These divas will do anything to raise a buck or two, what can I tell 'ya! Money's important! I wish I had some!
Remember, June 10!
Signing off for now, and ...  as far as Divas go,
The public agrees:
Dona's # One.
lol