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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with Charles Isherwood, 'Variety'

Aired June 02, 2002 - 08:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Stars of the stage take their bows tonight in New York at the 56th annual Tony Awards. The ceremony will air live from Radio City Music Hall.

Charles Isherwood covers theater for "Variety" magazine. He joins us now from New York to preview this event. Hi, Charles.

CHARLES ISHERWOOD, "VARIETY": Hi. How are you?

PHILLIPS: This is going to be quite a switch from last year when the producers just raked in all of the awards, right?

ISHERWOOD: Well, it's true. Last year, the ceremony itself actually felt more like a coronation than the usual awards ceremony. There wasn't too much of suspense involved, and this year, there is actually a lot of major categories with, you know, interesting, tight races.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about those tight races.

ISHERWOOD: Well, actually, I think the toughest one to call is probably best play, which is also one of the more important categories, of course. I think the edge, at this point, goes to Edward Albee's new play, "The Goat," which is a comedy with tragic overtones, or a tragedy with comic overtones, about a man whose life falls apart when he falls in love with a goat.

That has gained some momentum in the weeks going into the ceremony, but it's a very tough category because "Metamorphoses," Mary Zimmerman's collection of Ovid myths staged in and around a swimming pool is also sort of a viable choice, and it, you know, got a lot of momentum from September 11 because it was -- it had a lot of resonance in this city after the events of the fall.

But "Topdog/Underdog," Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize winner is also nominated. The fourth nominee is called "Fortune's Fool." It is actually written by Ivan Turgenev, who died over a hundred years ago, so that one will have to be considered a long shot.

PHILLIPS: What about "The Graduate?" When I was in New York, I know it wasn't getting really great reviews, but man, every show was sold out.

ISHERWOOD: Yes, that is one of the -- that is Broadway for you. The biggest hit on Broadway in terms of straight plays, didn't get any nominations. But the fact is that it's not considered a show with any great artistic merit. I mean, I am a critic by profession and I can attest that it's pretty -- pretty lousy.

PHILLIPS: What about best musical?

ISHERWOOD: Best musical is actually another close race. Leading the pack at this point is "Thoroughly Modern Millie." which is sort of a glitzy, old fashioned, very upbeat musical about a young girl who comes to New York in the 1920s, and she gained fame and happiness and -- actually seeking love and happiness, I should say, and finding those.

So, I think that is sort of the front runner right now. But its main competition is a very different show called "Urinetown" which is an unusual title, to say the least. It is a darker, more modest, off- beat show that has a lot of fans, and it has got a good chance to pull an upset.

PHILLIPS: What about "Mama Mia"? That is one that I have really been wanting to see. Maybe because I was a big ABBA fan. I probably shouldn't admit that right now, right? It's not cool around the young kids, but hey, they were great when you and I were listening.

ISHERWOOD: Not at all. Actually, I think young kids are big fans of this show.

PHILLIPS: Really?

ISHERWOOD: Yes. Everybody seems to enjoy it. It is sort of strange. When it opened in London, it became a huge phenomenon, but coming over to America, there was some thinking that it wouldn't catch on because ABBA never really was the phenomenon that it was in other countries. But, everyone seems to love it. This is the real crowd- pleaser in the category. But, once again, I think Tony voters, like to sort of reward things with a little bit more ambition. This show is just there to give everybody a good time, and it does, but I don't think it will win the top award.

PHILLIPS: How has Broadway been since 9/11? Do you think this will be a crucial summer? Have the sales gone down? How has it effected Broadway?

ISHERWOOD: September 11 really, you know, put a dent in the fall season. This whole city was traumatized, obviously, so Broadway was, too. And actually, Mayor Giuliani was very good about getting people excited about going to the theater again, and making -- it is part of one's civic duty to go back to the theater. And New Yorkers did that, but the tourists, I don't think, have come back in the same numbers. In the spring, the box office has been a little bit weak, so I have a feeling that this summer is going to be sort of a testing point to see if Broadway has really recovered 100 percent.

PHILLIPS: Any surprises, Charles, you think?

ISHERWOOD: Surprises tonight? PHILLIPS: Yes.

ISHERWOOD: There is always the possibility that, you know, there will be an upset or two. I think the one sure thing in tonight's ceremony, I would rather predict, which is somewhat easy is that Elaine Stritch will win her first Tony award. She is a veteran actress who has been on Broadway for many years, and she had a solo show this season that got wonderful reception, it just closed last week, actually. And she is nominated in the category of best special theatrical event, and that is one, I think, she can pretty much be writing her speech. In fact, in her show, she said she's had a speech ready about 45 years, so I think it is time...

PHILLIPS: The Susan Lucci of Broadway, right?

ISHERWOOD: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. Charles Isherwood of "Variety" magazine. Thanks, Charles.

ISHERWOOD: Thank you.

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