Profile for Peter Barker

"I think there should be a rule that only members of the cast can appear in any musical performance for the nominated shows. It's very misleading. And let's face it, Keyes' and Jay-Z's fanbases weren't ever going to be tuning in to the Tonys."

I am a fan of theater, the Tonys, musicals, and music. Right now Alicia Keyes represents all four. Your comment regarding fan bases is insensitive on many, many levels. 

 

Kad said: "This is a very weird and off-feeling ceremony."

The Tony Awards used to feel special, like Great Performances or Live From Lincoln Center. This is like watching Glee.

MCfan2 said: "The dancing in the Chita Rivera tribute was great, but I wish they hadn't had dancers dancing and Chita on the screen and people talking all at the same time. It was difficult to focus on any one thing."

The best way to honor Chita Rivera might have been to simply show a clip of her performing. 

Whoever made the decision to film the music numbers so close should be punished. Cabaret was weak.

Dan6 said: "Trying to put myself in the position of someone who hasn’t seen any of these shows, W4E was the first performance that made me think I wanted to see it."

I agree. This was the only performance that had a sense of theater. The rest were variety show segments.

The filming of the music numbers completely loses the scope and scale of being on stage. Too many intrusive camera close-ups and zooms. I'm disappointed. 

The sound is flat and the energy is low.

That was the weakest opening I've ever seen.

BroadwayNYC2 said: "“When Pearl Bailey was cast inthe role of Dolly Levi, rather than address any racial/social issues,producer David Merrick simply turnedHello, Dolly!into an All Black extravaganza. Pearl Bailey won a special Tony Award. The year was 1967.”

the fact you think this is GOTCHA"

If that's your reaction to a nearly sixty year old theater fact, that's on you. 

Race, racism, colorism. If some of the commenters here were part of a pre-announcement viability focus group, Audra in Gypsy would never happen. The speculations about the direction this production might take raise a few interesting possibilities, but I say scrap all that and open the musical with a giant mirror,  a la Cabaret.

When Pearl Bailey was cast in the role of Dolly Levi, rather than address any racial/social issues, producer David Merrick simply turned

kcohen626:

Thanks for the review. I've only seen a few theater 'concerts' and they all live or die by how well the performer reads the room and engages the audience. Short of Judy Garland clawing her way on stage for a duet, it seems the reopening of THE PALACE (edit) won't be fondly remembered. 

Wayman_Wong said: "''As atwo-time Tony Award winning theater actor ...''

Platt haswon only one Tony Award: for ''Dear Evan Hansen.''"

Yes, he was only nominated for Parade. I stand corrected. 

 

Has anyone actually seen the concert? I'm curious how he engages the audience and if his banter between songs comes across as relaxed and natural or more scripted and rehearsed. As a talented and two-time Tony Award winning theater actor, he ticks all the boxes that most people want from Broadway performers. It's a shame that his offscreen persona overshadows this. 

 

I love a good vibrato but that was Sean Hayes Promises Promises level. Too much and it gives concern for his technique.