[Lynette]

I was appalled at how many of the long list I had not seen. I must be slipping [ or the bank manager has said something] Are we betting?

[Jan Brock]

I was appalled at how many of the long list I had not seen. I must be slipping [ or the bank manager has said something] Are we betting?

I imagine that Macbeth will take some beating in all categories for various reasons. This long-list is mostly just a list of "big names" - this self-perpetuating thing that people who have already won awards get more. The best performance I saw all year was Phil Daniels in Philistines.

[Laughingmonsta]

could someone other than the trolls on here explain how Rent got into the list esepcially as every critic slated it!???

[Lynette]

You're right Jan, a list to drum up some interest and to get the journos to set one against another. I saw Macbeth last night. It was good. I loved Susan Fleetwood, a brilliant performance I thought. Her face is wondrous. Phil Daniles was super, I agree. He won't win though cos he is an ensemble player and they like the up front star performance. Let's see. By the way, I thought PS had a sore throat last night, he was very husky [ and actually coughed at one point near the end and his weariness was I felt not just acting] or is that his way of doing it? He hit the top notes ok but no very often ..I may be wrong. Anyway, anyone who can, send over a packet of strepsils.

[M George]

could someone other than the trolls on here explain how Rent got into the list esepcially as every critic slated it!???

It looks as if every new production got on the list. I'll be worried if it wins.

[Polly1]

You're right Jan, a list to drum up some interest and to get the journos to set one against another. I saw Macbeth last night. It was good. I loved Susan Fleetwood, a brilliant performance I thought.

I know you're not good with names, Lynette but I think you mean Kate Fleetwood!

Haven't seen Macbeth (and not likely to as the only tickets left are going for a fortune on eBay - but that's a subject for another day) so can't comment, but was interested to see that Marianne Elliott and Lez Brotherston were nominated for Much Ado About Nothing but not Tamsin Grieg, who won the Best Actress Olivier (and deservedly so, in my opinion although doubtless there will be some who think her award was another attempt to garner publicity for the Oliviers - which it did very successfully).

[Jan Brock]

You're right Jan, a list to drum up some interest and to get the journos to set one against another. I saw Macbeth last night. It was good. I loved Susan Fleetwood, a brilliant performance I thought. Her face is wondrous. Phil Daniles was super, I agree. He won't win though cos he is an ensemble player and they like the up front star performance. Let's see. By the way, I thought PS had a sore throat last night, he was very husky [ and actually coughed at one point near the end and his weariness was I felt not just acting] or is that his way of doing it? He hit the top notes ok but no very often ..I may be wrong. Anyway, anyone who can, send over a packet of strepsils.

I saw PS last night too, but on "TV" (television) advertising one of those little "brain training" computer games in a wry and avuncular way but sporting the Macbeth Stalin moustache - somewhat unsettling. Julie Walters was in it too - they were pretending to be friends.

Another reason Phil Daniels won't win is that he isn't even amongst the 22 actors nominated. Of those I saw David Bradley was the best.

[josh]

I'm pleased to see all the mentions for The Glass Menagerie, and Masque of the Red Death too. I know it won't happen but I'd love it if Red Death won best play.

[M George]

Are the Evening Standard Awards voted for by the public?

[Alexandra]

Are the Evening Standard Awards voted for by the public?

No.

For God's sake you lot, it is indeed Kate Fleetwood not Susan Fleetwood, and the reason why Phil Daniels won't be nominated for a theatre award is because he didn't do a play (so far as I know). You mean Phil Davis. I realise I'm flirting with pedantry here, but the guy's so good it seems reasonable to make an effort to get the right Phil.