In Honor of the Tonys

Top 10 Performances of 2007-2008

Obviously these are just my opinion, but I have to add the fact that of all the plays and musicals which opened this season, there was only one I missed- Cymbeline. Yes, I even saw Glory Days. So, Cymbeline aside, I give you my top ten performances of this Broadway season:

1. Cheyenne Jackson in Xanadu.
There is not one of the four actors to have played Sonny Malone since the show began previews that I have not witnessed. Yet, hands down, of all the performances I've seen in every musical and play this season, none has been more impressive than Cheyenne's. If you don't believe me the best way to determine it would be to go see the show yourself. If that's not possible- listen to "Don't Walk Away" on the cast recording and try not to be amazed. He simultaneously oozes charm, sings up a storm, and gets every bit of humor out of the role without overplaying it. It's one of the best performances I've ever seen in a musical.


2. Mark Rylance in Boeing- Boeing
I love a good farce, but I also recognize that a good farce is almost impossible to pull off. Yet, Mark Rylance (who also played the role in London) does so in a seemingly effortless manner. He never stops. Even when he is not the focus of the main action, his character is so well perfected that he is never 'off'. Personally, I could watch his performance again and again and never stop to be impressed by his ability to serve as the glue that keeps this farce together. Without him as the anchor it would be easy to watch everyone go too far over the top. He maintains a character that is so unlike those around him that you miss him whenever he is not at the forefront.

3. Kerry Butler (right) in Xanadu
She's faced four leading men. She spends most of the show moving flawlessly around on roller skates. She knows how to perfectly mock an Australian accent. She rides a Pegasus. How could she not be on the list?







4. Jenna Russell (right) in Sunday in the Park with George
Two acts = Two characters for Jenna, and both of them are played to perfection. But, it is her portrayal of Dot which really struck me. From the moment she began the musical's title song I was hooked. She made Dot into a strong woman and played some of the show's amusing lines without making the audience lose respect for the character before them. No one could doubt her affection for George or that she understood how he worked and that they could not be together. By the time "Move On" came in act II, I knew I could not imagine someone else playing this role anymore.







5. Mary McCormack (left) in Boeing-Boeing
Playing Gretchen the German Stewardess calls for someone with boundless energy and no fear of going to extremes. You cannot get farther from her character on the new television show In Plain Sight. Whether she's rolling around on the floor, yelling, or confronting Rylance about the bag he is carrying, McCormack is always bringing the audience to tears of laughter.

6. Jim Norton (left) in The Seafarer.
I didn't enjoy The Seafarer as much as I enjoyed Shining City, but Jim Norton's performance was a stand out. I spent the entire play marvelling at his ability to play both blind and drunk convincingly without making me feel as if I was watching a comedy. He gave his character layers, and his chemistry with the rest of the cast was perfect.






7. Kate Fleetwood (left) in Macbeth
I have never been a big fan of Shakespearean works, particularly when places in a modern context. Yet, in this season's revival of Macbeth I watched Kate Fleetwood's performance bring Lady Macbeth to life. She was able to handle the material with ease and to completely embody the character. I doubt I will ever forget the image of her walking across the stage with blood covered hands. Not to mention, she was stunning in all of her costumes.
8. Marisa Tomei (2nd from Right) in Top Girls
I didn't know what I was going to make of Top Girls when I went to see it. It's complex, to say the least, but I loved it. Most of all though, I loved Marisa Tomei. Over the course of the three acts she played multiple characters, though it was her work in the first and third acts which I favored. In the first act she tackled a real life historical figure, which can be daunting in itself. But, in the third act, as the sister of Elizabeth Marvel's character she truly comes alive. Going from a chatty world traveler to a hard working divorced mother of a difficult daughter (played by Martha Plimpton), Tomei transitioned perfectly and by the end had of the play had me wholly rooting for her. I feel her performance is one of the most overlooked of the season.

9. Jimmi Simpson in The Farnsworth Invention.
Another much overlooked performance was Simpson's Farnsworth in The Farnsworth Invention. He held his ground valiantly against Hank Azaria in the competition over who could first invent what we know as the television. He deftly handled all of Farnsworth's up and downs from his disappointments to the loss of his son to his occasional drunken episodes. As the season unfolded, Simpson's was one of the first to catch my eye.









10. Laurie Metcalf in November.
Whoever cast Laurie as the President's lesbian speech writer who just adopted a foreign baby and wants to get married to her partner, was brilliant. Metcalf never stops bringing the show to life and serves as the perfect foil for Nathan Lane's overblown and not-too-bright president. Oh...not to mention seeing her in a wedding dress with sneakers and looking blissfully excited while nursing a cold is comedy gold.