[Mikey]

Now that the stardust has settled on last Sunday's Olivier bash, let's reflect on who won and who missed out. Where I depart from the Olivier Panel's views is in their many awards to the musical Hairspray - how that undoubtedly exuberant, amusing and popular show can be regarded as Best is beyond me. And there's the rub - my dictionary defines 'best' at length as meaning 'most excellent' and popularity has nothing to do with it. But the Olivier panel consists mainly of theatre professionals and when the Award Nominations include so many shows that are no longer running, it seems the panel like to feature a still popular show in their awards because "award winner" looks good on the ads and boosts the Box Office takings. When I was one of the 'amateurs' on the Olivier awards panel a few years ago, we learned how theatre professionals would try to steer us towards voting 'their way'. Certainly the performers in Hairspray give their all in what is fundamentally a made-to-measure audience pleaser. But for quality, expertise and originality, the Donmar's Parade last year was undoubtedly a better musical, the Best musical. And so the Donmar, with 13 nominations, ends up with only one award. We know, you know, and I believe everyone knows, the Donmar with its unbroken record of excellence deserves better treatment. But bigger theatres need bigger audiences and therefore giving awards to the shows which are putting a greater number of bums on seats makes sense to the Society Of London Theatre. But not to me.

[Laughingmonsta]

Now that the stardust has settled on last Sunday's Olivier bash, let's reflect on who won and who missed out. Where I depart from the Olivier Panel's views is in their many awards to the musical Hairspray - how that undoubtedly exuberant, amusing and popular show can be regarded as Best is beyond me. And there's the rub - my dictionary defines 'best' at length as meaning 'most excellent' and popularity has nothing to do with it. But the Olivier panel consists mainly of theatre professionals and when the Award Nominations include so many shows that are no longer running, it seems the panel like to feature a still popular show in their awards because "award winner" looks good on the ads and boosts the Box Office takings. When I was one of the 'amateurs' on the Olivier awards panel a few years ago, we learned how theatre professionals would try to steer us towards voting 'their way'. Certainly the performers in Hairspray give their all in what is fundamentally a made-to-measure audience pleaser. But for quality, expertise and originality, the Donmar's Parade last year was undoubtedly a better musical, the Best musical. And so the Donmar, with 13 nominations, ends up with only one award. We know, you know, and I believe everyone knows, the Donmar with its unbroken record of excellence deserves better treatment. But bigger theatres need bigger audiences and therefore giving awards to the shows which are putting a greater number of bums on seats makes sense to the Society Of London Theatre. But not to me.

why oh why do we have another thread on a topic thats been raging for over a week in the olivier section, it really is begining to peeve me!

[JamesLT]

I don't think it's a case of which show has the bigger audience. Maybe in public voted awards there could be an arguement for that but here you have x amount of people on a panel, seeing x amount of shows. It was a very strong year this year imo and the vote could have gone either way in many of the categories. I had everything crossed on Sunday that the panel would not take against Hairspray because it had done so well in the previous awards and because of it's "popularity" with audiences. Bearing in mind the reviews when it opened, the success in previous awards, with hindsight I'd have been more suprised if they had.

[Mikey]

why oh why do we have another thread on a topic thats been raging for over a week in the olivier section, it really is begining to peeve me!

Sorry to peeve you monsta but I guess you (with nearly 400 posts) are more experienced at finding your way around this discussion board than I am...

[Felix]

I didn't think this year was THAT strong, it was pretty obvious it's either a Hairspray year or Parade year and I was hoping they could share but obviously they gave it all to Hairspray. I mean last year was even more unpredictable! I mean with Caroline, Sunday, Wicked, Spamalot, all very different productions. Oh well... I still wished Parade would have gotten more recognition but... no point sulking ~
Saw Lara last nite at Lauren Kennedy's show and she said she really misses the show! Bless her! I do too!

[JamesLT]

I didn't think this year was THAT strong, it was pretty obvious it's either a Hairspray year or Parade year

Well yes I suppose that's what I meant by strong

[Peaches_dynamite]

Not that Parade didnt deserve win, but Hairspray defiantly did as well.

[Felix]

sorry James, what I meant was... there werent much competition, it was either Hairspray OR Parade and not like a 3-4 strong different shows.
I thought Hairspray deserved to win as well, still very happy but... Parade...

[angelfan]

Well I loved Hairspray and Parade so would've been happy if either had won. Hairspray must have something good about it to have won Tony awards and to have been running on Broadway for 5 to 6 years. I thought Michael Ball was brilliant as was Leanne Jones. It's very difficult to compare a musical comedy with a musical drama. Maybe they should split the musical categories and have awards for musical comedy and musical drama. That way both shows would have won and everyone would be happy.

[JamesLT]

sorry James, what I meant was... there werent much competition, it was either Hairspray OR Parade and not like a 3-4 strong different shows.

It's very difficult to compare a musical comedy with a musical drama.

I agree it is difficult and both areas are equally deserving to be rewarded.