Presenter Daniel Radcliffe
Sean Hayes tried his hand at a grand piano, Angela Lansburg was named Honorary Chair of the Annual Tony Awards, and one actor brought the house down when he inferred that Billy Elliot (who had just won an award for a performance) had a really big one.
Uh-huh!
The 64th Annual Tony Awards splashed onto the old boob tube amidst a lot of fanfare, hi-jinks, and a raft of upbeat musical numbers - as die-hard Theatre-goers caught the glamorous upbeat awards ceremony from perches in Times Square.
Daniel Radcliffe strode the red carpet outside of the Radio City Music Hall - much to their delight - too.
Along with actress Katie Holmes, Radcliffe was slated to present a Tony to the prize-getter for Best Featured Actress in a play.
In one hilarious segment, Hayes appeared in a red dress as curly-haired Annie to announce that the popular all-time hit returns to Broadway in 2012.
Bernadette Peters giggled a scant few feet away just below the floodlights as Hayes egged her on.
After referring to her "initials", he proceeded to crack a joke about the oil giant (also BP), which caused the rapt audience to roar in approval.
A low point during the first half-hour (where was the hook, folks?) was an overacted lacklustre performance of "Send in the Clowns" by actor Kirk Douglas's wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who has the distinction of ruining one of the best-known and best-loved stage musical hits of all time.
American Theatre Wing actually bestowed a coveted prize on Jones tonight - which signalled to me (in view of her ragged performance) - that it must have been one of those politically-motivated offerings.
Catherine, that was el stinko, alright!
A number from "La Cages aux Folles" was forced, and dry, and best left in the wings.
The hilarious musical won for best revival this year, however.
“Memphis,” a show about music and race in the 1950s, won for best musical.
David Hyde Pierce won a deserving award for humanitarian reasons.
Jay-Z and Will Smith punched up the electricity in the air when they slipped into their seats.
Talk about mega-star personas gracing the Tony Awards!
Meanwhile, a posse of polished well-heeled members of the Theatre creme de la creme - with noticeably stretched skin - caused eyebrows to raise in the unflattering non-theatrical lighting.
Kristin Chenoweth, a non-talent, made a fool of herself.
With no apparent comedic timing, or flair for the theatrical, the party-crasher obviously made it into the business due to her connections in the industry.
To cut down on broadcast time, clips of winners were flashed at break-neck-speed (with credits in crawl) sidecreen.
This was a novel effective approach the Oscars should take note of.
Some of the gals were knock-outs in designer ball gowns - even without the normally-prerequisite heavy artillery in tow - diamonds, pearls and the like.
Restraint in troubled economic times, or where the meager stage salaries beckon it, underscored that in the Theatre there is rarely a vulgar display of wealth and/or misguided social priority.
Unfortunately, a handful of songs, grated on the nerves.
Some were doomed with poor lyrics, no melody to speak of, and pretty much forgettable chorus lines.
Denzel Washington put in a tasteful appearance in one segment - and surprise - ended up winning for best actor in "Fences".
Scarlett Johansson graciously accepted an award for best performance by a featured actress in a play.
Thirty-nine productions opened on Tin Pan Alley this year which included new shows, stage revivals, and highly-touted classics such as the "View from the Bridge".
When "Red" won for top play, the best quote of the night was offered up.
"To my parents who taught me that a life in the arts was worthwhile," quipped the creative force behind the project which puts the spotlight on one of my favorite American expressionist painters Mark Rothko..
Who the heck is Laura Bell Bundy?
What an annoying squeaky-voiced actress!
In contrast, there were many triple-threat actors at the theatre last night, who confirmed the quality of talent appearing on Stage in NYC productions this year.
The sets this year for the 64th Annual Tony Awards were loud and glitzy, and tarted up with a smattering of dazzling production values, that were effective for the most part.
Some critics were way off their mark in their assessments, though.
One reviewer lauded a performance of "Don't Rain on my Parade."
It was God awful!
But, it couldn't hold a candle to the phony over-the-top acceptance speech Catherine Zeta-Jones pitifully hurled on bemused theatre-guests non-stop until the Theatre Wing handlers were forced to signal the fleshy pushy broad get her fat a** off the stage so the show could - after all - go on!
True to form, it did, without a hitch.
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