Thanks everybody for reviews and Drama Desk Award Noms. Wish "Annie" was up there with "Henry":-( More nominations coming though. ~~~~~ Sinead Cusack (Mrs. Jeremy Irons, I think)is a formidable actress in this play. Wish I had time to see it. It played at the National. ~~~~~~~ JE is carbon copy of her Mum . Nice pic of the cast. Looks as if they really had a good time... Ya'better help SD pick out his shirts, Donna;-)

(Moon Dreams) They all look so happy! Yes a very nice pic, I'm happy for them all. (I guess Brodie was tired of sporting dip on his face, and opted for a tux, hee hee.) "JG" - Uncle Vanya officially opens on the 30th.

Ann-WITW on the Friday, did you enjoy that play and also did you see any similarity between RH & JE in their acting technique. This is fearfully off topic, but I will reply here, if that's OK. We enjoyed WITW very much. It was very funny-very much ensemble. Lots of laughs! Those old broads really have timing (if you'll excuse the expression--very affectionately meant). I was struck by Rosemary Harris' presence. You can tell she's very experienced on stage. (I also saw her arrive at theatre with baseball cap on her head--at least I think it was a cap like that-I was rather startled to see her on the street :-). In JE's case, I had no idea her voice was so low pitched, very deep. We weren't as close to the stage in TRT as we would have liked. I'm afraid I don't know enough about theatre to compare and contrast their styles. I'm of the "I know what I like" school, and I liked them both, in both plays.

Hello to all. I can answer to of your queries. Yes, Sinead Cusack is married to Jeremy Irons. Yes as well, on the question of the Tonys. The Antoinette Perry Awards, which is the full name for the Tonys, are for Broadway productions. Off-Broadway shows are not open for consideration. According to the Tony by-laws "True West" will be eligible to nominated for Best New Play, as it as never been produced on Broadway before.

Thank you, Saskia! Welcome to our party. :-)

From Robert Osborne's column: Critic's choice: Drama Desk over Outer Circle NEW YORK -- Sally Ann Howes in "James Joyce's The Dead," Philip Seymour Hoffman in "True West," Eartha Kitt in "The Wild Party," Barry Humphries in "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour" and a few others got grand news on Tuesday: Nominations in their individual categories from the Drama Desk for their outstanding work this season on Broadway, nominations none of them received a week ago when the Outer Critics Circle announced its own list of the best in New York theater. That's what makes horse racing, of course, a difference of opinion, but Howes, Hoffman, Kitt, et al. are too good, too award-worthy not to be singled out for mitt-pounding; so this list, to my eyes anyway, seems the much better one. (To be fair about it, Hoffman, along with his "West" co-star John C. Reilly, and Humphries each will receive special Critics Circle citations; none, however, were included in a competitive category.) What's astounding is that Reilly also was a no-show on the Drama Desk's nomination list. He came up with a big, fat zero wh le his teammate and pal Hoffman pulled two, count 'em, two Drama Desk acknowledgments, the first as best actor in a play for his "West" work, the second in the category of best featured actor in a play, the off-Broadway "Author's Voices: Imagining Brad" ... For the record: Unlike the Tony awards, the Drama Desk lumps together both Broadway and off-Broadway work; hopefully, one day soon, the Tonys will realize they're doing everyone a disservice by not doing the same, especially since those once-distinct lines between the two venues get fainter by the minute. The Outer Critics Circle, made up of writers on the N.Y. theater for out-of-town media, also honors both Broadway and off-Broadway but keeps separate the judging of work in those two areas. There are some true eyebrow lifters: Philip Bosco, who gives one of the year's really superb Broadway performances, failed to get nominated for his work in "Copenhagen" by either the DD or OCC. (Does this doom his chances of deserved Tony attention?). None of the many reliables currently cavorting in Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings" (including Lauren Bacall, Rosemary Harris, Rosemary Murphy and Simon Jones) were tapped by the DD; two of them, Harris and Jones, did manage to end up on the OCC list. Likewise, Harris' daughter Jennifer Ehle pulled an OCC nod for her dazzling work in the revival of "The Real Thing" but has been overlooked by the DD. David Suchet, Michael Sheen and Cindy Katz of "Amadeus" are in the same boat, liked by one group (the Outer Critics group), ignored by the other (the Drama Deskers). Ditto Laura Linney in "Uncle Vanya," Blair Brown in "The Dead," Michael Breese in "Kiss Me Kate." Maybe the biggest surprise among all the omissions on the DD list, though, is Deborah Yates. s the musical's "Contact's" spectacular "girl in yellow," Yates steals the show and received love-letter reviews but did not make the DD cut. Nor did Cherry Jones in "A Moon for the Misbegotten," Michele Lee in "Tale of the Allergist's Wife" or Debra Monk in "The Time of the Cuckoo" ... Most sobering is the fact the generally bashed "The Wild Party," produced off-Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club, led the DD nomination list with 13 nods; that other "The Wild Party" done on Broadway by the N.Y. Shakespeare Festival and also critically battered, pulled three. And it's as if the new Elton John-Tim Rice musical "Aida" never happened.

And it's as if the new Elton John-Tim Rice musical "Aida" never happened. Just my luck...that's the one I'm seeing !

Isn't he implying that Aida deserved to have had some recognition from them?

I thought the music for Eldorado was disappointing unlike the Lion King. I will be curious to hear if you liked Aida, Evelyn.

Another excellent review for TRT from curtainup.com albeit one or two quibbles.

I saw the play twice, once in London, and once in New York. I thought it was well-written, well acted and very witty, but I will stand by my initial impression that the underlying theme is incredibly depressing. It's nothing to do with the morality of adultery, but I don't think that glorifying serial adulterers is remotely amusing. I am definitely in the minority here, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

PS, Stephen Dillane was delicious!

Julie, you're absolutely right: you *are* in the minority here.;-)

But not about the delicious part. :-)

He IS, isn't he! Hee hee! :-)

We'll "forgive" Julie her "minority" opinion since she injected some drool into it. ;-)

Found this quote in the London Times: "It's great. It means that there is a real relationship with the audience and that is kind of thrilling." Actor Stephen Dillane, after the audience shouted "Speak up!" during a performance of his latest play, The Independent

*hee hee* That happened opening night at the Albery and we were there.

(Heide)We'll "forgive" Julie her "minority" opinion since she injected some drool into it. ;-) Nevah!

Outer Circle Winners Announced :-( Best Actor - Derek Jacobi (Uncle Vanya's reviews are not good) Best Revival - A Moon for the Misbegotten All winners are at http://www5.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&type=news&code=+95326&selector=U.S.

I forgot to mention, RH and JE can console each other, they were empty-handed too :-( Best Actress - Eileen Heckart Best Featured Actress - Frances Conroy

I have read 4 reviews for UV, and they are not good for either DJ or UV, how on earth did he get nominated let alone win, and the Director was particulary singled out for criticism and he has bee nominated for both OCC & DDA. How could DJ have topped SD, fingers crossed for the TONY nominations on the 8th.

Time Magazine (Richard Zoglin) has a small review of TRT today: In the first scene of this 1984 play, enjoying a somewhat premature Broadway revival, a man confronts his wife with evidence of her affair. In the second scene we learn that the two were acting in a play--yet something very similar is going on in their own lives. The nice thing about The Real Thing is that Stoppard's penchant for trickery doesn't register as mere virtuosity but is integral to his probing exploration of betrayal and trust among married couples. Stephen Dillane heads a flawless, starless cast that has brought over David Leveaux's sharp production from London's Donmar Warehouse and it's a winner. ~~~~~~~~ Can't believe it about Derek Jacobi. Read a review of UV yesterday. His performance was panned. Gaah!!

Flawless cast, yes, but starless cast-not in our eyes.

Friends of NY Theatre Award nominations (FANYs) have been announced and Sarah Woodward has been nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category and TRT Outstanding Revival of a Play. (nothing for JE or SD, quite an odd selection).

Sarah Woodward has been nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category I'm glad she is getting some recognition, I thought she was an excellent Charlotte.

but what about SD & JE, I am getting a little bit worried now about the TONY Nominations on Monday. How important are the FANYs?

Sorry David Leaveaux has been nominated as well.

Here's the full list for the FANYs http://www5.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&type=news&code=+95404&selector=U.S. I noticed that the deadline for voting was March 30. Unfortunately, TRT premiered on March 29 to a lukewarm response from the Silver Fox audience. The cast had not reached its stride yet, nor had they made the subtle changes in pacing that seems to move along the play much better now for the American audience. So presumably not many people saw the production, and if they did, they didn't see the cast at their best :-( I don't know about the importance of these awards. Well at least, there doesn't seem to be a shoe-in for the Tony's, though I was hoping it would have been SD. FYI, Uncle Vanya was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal today. The play wasn't received well, but the reviewer thought that DJ was outstanding. He was not kind to the Americans in the cast (Laura Linney and David Patrick Kelly (he said he talked like a surfer dude)). Yes, and he too was critical of the director, saying that everyone seemed to be doing their own thing. If SD doesn't get a nod from the Tony's, it will really be a dirty rotten shame. It is odd that the director was nominated for the FANYs, and not SD. Fingers crossed!

You have a good point about the Silver Fox audience Donna, these are the people's awards I believe. I too have read many review for Vanya and for DJ and they have been bad for both and particularly the Director and leading lady. If that gets nominated I will be amazed. As you say how can the Director, and the play be nominated and not the leading actors, who have both received universally wonderful reviews. Fingers doubly crossed.

I've never heard of these FANYS, and my thought is that they mean nothing. They are just fans who had $250 to plunk down for "membership." RE the Outer Critics and DJ--maybe they are into honoring a "body of work" and not necessarily this specific performance. That always irks me; if they honored people when they deserved it, they wouldn't have to make anything up to them later on! Still feeling good about TONY prospects, but it is a more competitive field than I thought.

It's interesting to note that Amy's View was eligible for a nomination this year but received none, was it nominated for a TONY last year and what about Judi Dench?

I never heard of the FANYs either. I agree with Donna...If voting was on March 30th and TRT premiered on the 29th, it means that the voters saw the play during it's preview performances when the cast was still trying to iron out the kinks. They have quite a mixed bag of nominees with last year's plays thrown in.Don't know how they could ignore Judi Dench, but nice that RH made the list. Tony judges are Broadway producers, directors, fellow actors...folks who are competent to judge peer talent...I hope...

(AnnW) how can the Director, and the play be nominated and not the leading actors Didn't we see something rather similar with 3DOR and the Oliviers? The play was nominated but none of the actors or the director for that matter? Wonder why the play was if the direction or the acting wasn't particularly notable.

Quite!

Here's last year's winners. Ann, Judi did win. NEW YORK (CNN) -- The 1999 Tony Awards, for the 1998-99 Broadway season, were given out at Manhattan's Gershwin Theater Sunday evening. The winners were: Play: "Side Man." Musical: "Fosse." Revival-Play: "Death of a Salesman." Revival-Musical: "Annie Get Your Gun." Actor-Play: Brian Dennehy, "Death of a Salesman." Actress-Play: Judi Dench, "Amy's View." Featured Actor-Play: Frank Wood, "Side Man." Featured Actress-Play: Elizabeth Franz, "Death of a Salesman." Director-Play: Robert Falls, "Death of a Salesman." Director-Musical: Matthew Bourne, "Swan Lake."

Apologies if this has already been posted but according to Curtainup.com Derek Jacobi has won again, this time for the Drama Desk Awards Oustanding Actor and Moon for the Misbeggoten? has again won Best Revival, is this a trend? Stephen's reviews were tons better!!

This should cheer us up! Good 'ol Liz Smith, bless her. From today's column. Great exposure--her column is very widely read, and syndicated in newspapers throughout the U.S. RIALTO RAVES: Four fabulous performances grace the stage at the Barrymore Theatre courtesy of Stephan Dillane, Jennifer Ehle, Nigel Lindsay and Sarah Woodward in Tom Stoppard's bitingly witty and wordy comedy "The Real Thing." Outstanding is the only word for Dillane, who plays a writer not unlike Stoppard himself. Jennifer Ehle, a red-haired beauty - almost as ravishing as her mother, Rosemary Harris - is a knockout as wife and lover. Sarah Woodward is deliciously sardonic. Superbly directed by David Laveaux, this is yet another Donmar Warehouse production, intact from London, making Broadway sit up and take notice. The surprise of the evening? How young the audience was, and how heartily they appreciated the bittersweet humor wrapped in the irony that love is wonderful ... AND WHILE we have Broadway on the brain, there's a new Web site for theater mavens now. The world's most comprehensive coverage of live theater - 1,900 listings across the U.S. Just click on Broadway.com. Welcome to the theater, cyber-ites.

Thanks Mari....Liz Smith is a gem... I have just spoken to the publicists of TRT and SD and JE are taping a Charlie Rose interview as we speak....to be televised probably next week. Let's all be alert on date. ALSO "Breakfast with the Arts"on A&E is still a strong possibility.Have had email from the producer and they are keen on having her on "She's one of the major reasons why P&P was such a success with A&E" . We all know the "other major reason"...but it's nice when Jennifer gets a little credit and not always "the wet shirt".

From today's Playbill.com BROADWAY PLAYS BASEBALL A few pre-season games under its belt, the Broadway Show Softball League officially plays ball May 4, with its special opening day event in Central Park. Among those expected to throw the ceremonial first pitch are The Real Thing's Stephen Dillane, Jennifer Ehle, NIgel Lindsay and Sarah Woodward, The Music Man's Rebecca Luker, Beauty and the Beast's Andrea McArdle, Kiss Me, Kate's Marin Mazzie and Taller Than a Dwarf's Matthew Broderick. The National Anthem will be performed by Annie Get Your Gun's Tom Wopat and a trio of singing cowboys. The Broadway Show League plays on the Hecksher Ball Fields in Central Park at 63rd Street and Central Park West. The day's events begin at 1 PM. The Show League has been playing since 1955. Dan Landon is its current commissioner. ~~~~~~~ Wonder what postion JE and SD will play?Think maybe Harve is in on this one? Oh well...they might not be getting the awards, but no one is asking Uncle Vanya to play baseball;-)

Great news re: the Charlie Rose interview, Evelyn! Those are usually nice and lengthy, 20--30 minutes. He's had Stoppard on a couple of times that I can recall. So glad she's doing this; A&E would be great, too. The baseball thing sounds like fun; maybe Uncle Vanya is umping.;-)

(Mari) maybe Uncle Vanya is umping.;-) Very likely. Umping usually requires overacting, especially when making bad calls. ;-) Can't wait to see the Charlie Rose show...which is...TONIGHT according to the website: http://www.pbs.org/charlierose/ Might be on second after the tribute to the Cardinal http://www.pbs.org/charlierose/show.html

A catholic and a couple of infidels. ;-) Thanks for the head-ups!

Thanks Karen.Will alert the troops.They're going on hot off the griddle...they taped it this morning.

I am really sorry everyone but apparently the Drama Desk Awards have not been made yet, according to Curtain Up the Award winners listed on their site were for The Outer Critic Circle Awards and not Drama Desk Awards as they said, they have posted an apology for the error. So Stephen still has a chance!! and so does TRT.

Is it just me or was anybody else disappointed in SD & JE on Charlie Rose last night? What a hard time they had trying to articulate their thoughts! JE kept slumping on the table. What is wrong with sitting up straight? One of the worst interviews I have seen on Charlie Rose.

(Moon) Is it just me or was anybody else disappointed in SD & JE on Charlie Rose last night? Boo hoo, I didn't see it to know if I would be disappointed or not. :-( I will say that I used to like him as an interviewer, until I got to the point where I would be irritated with his habit of wanting to hear himself talk. Just MHO. I thought he would try too hard to prove to the audience and the interviewee that he was intelligent. I used to want to shout at the TV, "just interview the guest, Charlie, don't try and impress us with how much you know!" Yes, he is intelligent, well educated, and not bad to look at either. Charming and probably a wonderful dinner partner. But he interrupts the guest too often. But I digress, sorry, and this is not meant to start a thread on the merits of Charlie :-) Not sure if this happened during the SD and JE interview. Inquiring minds want to know. And how did they look (aside from the slumping) and could you tell what they were wearing? Bummed, bummed, bummed.

(Moon) Is it just me or was anybody else disappointed in SD & JE on Charlie Rose last night? Very much so. But we didn't see the whole thing. At the very beginning, when he's saying who is going to be on, they showed clips of SD and JE answering different questions very articulately and with no slumping. ;-) Why they edited it down to those pathetic questions, we'll never know. Think we should email the show and ask them to show the entire interview. Donna, I taped it for you. Evelyn and I thought you wouldn't be back in time. What bugs me about Charlie Rose (aside from his interruptions) is that while his guest is speaking he looks like he's asleep.

(Karen) Donna, I taped it for you. Evelyn and I thought you wouldn't be back in time. Mega HUGS and kisses!! (Yes, I got back late, and empty-handed...)

No problemo. Check and see if your PBS station rebroadcasts CR during the day. One of mine shows it again at noon. It was on 3 stations last night; had no idea he was so popular. ;-)

(Donna), I will say that I used to like him as an interviewer, until I got to the point where I would be irritated with his habit of wanting to hear himself talk. He does do that and it is anoying, but last night he really let them talk but they just could not get it together. You will see for yourself. (Karen),What bugs me about Charlie Rose (aside from his interruptions) is that while his guest is speaking he looks like he's asleep. NY is the city that never sleeps. ;-) He does have druppy eyes, I do think he can fix that unless he goes for surgery.

Well, I guess I'll be the dissenting voice here; I thought they did fine last night. They were attempting to address some very intriguing questions, such as: do the playwright's words foster the actor's emotional portrayal, or do the actors need to start from a place of emotion, and then let the words take them where they will. I'm not expressing it very well, but it was, thank God, not the usual talk show fare of "Oooo, so what was it like working with (insert name of once-great but now-has-been actor).';--) I think we (and I include myself in this) are so accustomed to glib 5-second sound-bites spouted by over-rehearsed celebs that anything else comes off as awkward. Stephen was wearing a dark jacket and brown shirt; Jen had on a charcoal gray suit, hair redder than when I saw her a few weeks ago. Donna, I made a copy as well.

(Mari) They were attempting to address some very intriguing questions Seemed to me there was only one question and they beat it to death without imparting anything more substantial (i.e., when you cut through the crap) than "it depends" or "we've tried it different ways" or "whatever works for you." ;-) Will go back and check as it was only 10 minutes. From the opening (teaser) clip, both SD and JE looked all put together. Think by the time that question was posed, they were fed up with Charlie and aching to get out, hence JE's somewhat disheveled appearance and the frustrated look of both.

(Mari) Donna, I made a copy as well. Mega HUGS all around K/E/M for thinking of me. Just as well, I would not have been able to watch. Our PBS station is having their fund drive this week and have preempted his show along with most of their programming. Disappointed to hear their interview was only 10 minutes. With two such intelligent and accomplished actors, and with a combined body of work that could be interesting topics of discussion, I bet they could really give riveting and entertaining interviews if asked the right questions. But thanks again, you have excited my anticipation! :-)

Well, I will also dissent with the Moon and Karen. Obviously they were addressing a difficult topic...as I heard it (at midnight here)...the amalgamating of the methodology of acting (emotions..impulse) and the word of the playwright."Cerebral" as W. Buckley would call it.They weren't rehearsed and didn't have a script.I thought they were brilliant. Not entertainers...not David Letterman stuff. Not many ha, ha's here.Just two very serious actors trying to improve their craft and give the audience their money's worth. Both v. natural, not pretentious. Yes, she wasn't conscentrating on her looks.LOL...the best interview she has given yet.Does v. well , not shy when it comes to talking about her craft...facade comes on when talking about JE.and he has a smile that would melt your toe-nails. In the annals of CR interviews it won't be a #10, but for two unknowns who don't make a career of appearing on talk shows, I was proud of them. IMO

(Evelyn) he has a smile that would melt your toe-nails Pant pant.

Dissent is fine. While I will agree that the CR show is different (i.e., the guests actually converse most times), I saw a frustration on their faces that said, "how many times are you going ask that same question?" or "it's not that black and white?" or "or many different ways can I say this?" Grrr Stripping away the high-falutin' methodology, that's what it all boiled down to, folks. Sorry. I would've rather heard a discussion like the teaser bit implied. Something more on the play, their interpretation of the characters, etc.

I would like to read the book ...was it by Mamet...called "True or False"? I'm interested in methodology...ever since the a recent article in the Observer about CF's training...on Laban etc. You see?...different strokes....etc.;-)

thank God, not the usual talk show fare of "Oooo, so what was it like working with (insert name of once-great but now-has-been actor).';--) I watch Charlie Rose very often and for years now. As much fun as I have doing Top 10 lists, I do not watch either Letterman or Leno, or regular TV for that matter. (Karen), Stripping away the high-falutin' methodology, that's what it all boiled down to, folks. Sorry. I would've rather heard a discussion like the teaser bit implied. Something more on the play, their interpretation of the characters, etc. I agree! They could have talked about what they pleased, yet they lingered endlessly on that unclear methodology. (Evelyn), Obviously they were addressing a difficult topic...as I heard it (at midnight here)...the amalgamating of the methodology of acting (emotions..impulse) and the word of the playwright." Please! That is their bread and butter, what else do they dedicate so much time too? SD had ONE interesting point when he said that the words somehow took different meanings as they changed to a bigger theatre.

My,my this is one tough crowd. I will put my vote in with Evelyn and Mari. They are both not used to doing publicity so I thought they did very well. I don't think either of them are extroverted, talkative people and both seemed at ease, hence the slouching. Just because they are actors does not mean it is so easy to articulate what they do. Instead of finding fault with Jennifer and Stephen, perhaps CR should have asked a wider range of questions. I do have to say that every time I have seen or read anything about SD, I like him more and more. He's dreamy, she's creamy. :-))

While I may be critical, I do think what was aired was poor, and I'm not blaming SD and JE as CR's comments/questions were inane for the most part. He was totally unbriefed about Jennifer's background apparently. Stephen's final answer after going over and over the same territory finally said *something* and that was about how they had previously subordinated the words to the relationship they were trying to convey and, now, they had a better balance. But like I said, everything boiled down to that anyway. Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation. Oh well... In the opening segment (Jen's hair is neatly coiffed in that), they say: SD: But I like the fact that he inhabits a world in which his love is the most important thing and that's sort of hard to do in your own life (cute little smile beneath fingers covering mouth) JE: I think what's beautiful about it is that it's a sort of...it makes commitment and trust and the openess and some kind of sacrifice that it involves...it makes it sexy and romantic which I think is a difficult thing to do. BTW, I have emailed the show to ask if they would consider airing the entire interview. charlierose@pbs.org

Contact and Copenhagen and have won the 2000 Drama League Awards for best musical and play, respectively. Kiss Me, Kate Won the prize for best revival. Boo hoo, another loss for TRT. Full story at: http://www5.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&type=news&code=+95496&selector=U.S.

(Karen)BTW, I have emailed the show to ask if they would consider airing the entire interview. Thank you. I also think CR cheated us out of "Tom Stoppar's remarks about TRT" which he said we would hear "later". Never happened. I doubt CR will do this. LOL... this is not only a controversial play...it's also a controversial interview;-) Pause:...Now let's all go back to Oprah....

I saw Tom Stoppard when he was on for SIL. Wonder when he talked about TRT? Did CR have TS on when the play opened? v. possible. You could check with the show to get a transcript, which are for sale, but you have to know the airdate.

I saw Tom Stoppard up , close and personal last June when he addressed the Friends of the Donmar after a TRT performance.Very witty.I don't know if CR had him on, but he certainly mentioned his forthcoming clip... "later on ". (I like the way SD pronounces his name...Stoppard We seem to go for the first syllable) Good idea, I'll inquire.Surely they must have someone who keeps an archive.

Competition is hotting up for Best Actor Tony Nominations, as The New York Times says "Tough Time for Nail Bitters" ...Another category to watch is the best actor in a play, mainly because of the strength of the competition .... SD., Gabriel Byrne, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Philip Bosco, Michael Crumpsty, Sir Derek Jacobi and Patrick Stewart...." and I have also seen Michael Sheen and David Suchet mentioned and only 5 names allowed. It seems to be nominated will be a great honour let alone winning!!

AAAAGH - did you read the smarmy review by John Simon? http://www.nymag.com/page.cfm?page_id=2948 He corrects grammar, but then doesn't get the dialogue right. Simon refers to the scene where Henry, as a child, was taken to a concert in Covent Garden. Yes, the written play refers to Callas, but the performance refers to Kiri Takaniwa (sorry if I misspelled, maybe Simon will correct me). You got THAT wrong John! Now, can we trust the rest of your review???

From today's Dallas Morning News: The Real Thing, Copenhagen and Rose also won acclaim and awards. This time, however, each is something really special. It's as if the Brits had sneaked in a single commando unit and won the war. Where was Paul Revere when we really needed him? The revival of The Real Thing, like so many other top-of-the-line London shows these days, originated at the tiny Donmar Warehouse. Its stars aren't nearly as imposing a pair of names as Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, who played the leads when Tom Stoppard's comedy-drama debuted on Broadway in 1984. But Stephen Dillane and Jennifer Ehle make The Real Thing the smartest, sexiest play in New York. Mr. Dillane is known in this country, if anything, for the movie Welcome to Sarajevo. He also happens to be the premiere Hamlet of our time, as he proved in Sir Peter Hall's 1994 London production. The same qualities that made him a surpassing Prince of Denmark render him ideal for Mr. Stoppard's playwright-hero - mercurial intelligence, blistering intensity and stiletto wit. Ms. Ehle, the daughter of theatrical diva Rosemary Harris, is a star among the Jane Austen set, for whom tapes of her Elizabeth in the BBC's Pride and Prejudice are first-line collectibles. For The Real Thing, she has bobbed her hair and wears it auburn, making her look like a softer, sexier Gillian Anderson. The Real Thing was Mr. Stoppard's bid to be taken seriously as a writer about emotion, specifically romantic love. It's full of clever tricks - there are no fewer than three plays within the play and sometimes you can't tell whether you're in one of those or in the main plot - but something deeper as well. Mr. Dillane and Ms. Ehle make the bubblies in the Stoppard champagne fizzier, give the heat in his passion more sizzle. Under David Leveaux's direction, they make The Real Thing a show you could watch every night for a week and still hope you could nab another pair of tickets. Joan Marcus / DMN Philip Bosco (left), Blair Brown and Michael Cumpsty spar in Copenhagen. Copenhagen plays the same sort of role in Michael Frayn's career that The Real Thing did in Mr. Stoppard's. Mr. Frayn is a very prolific writer, turning out volumes of magazine stories and novels in addition to many plays. But in the public mind his name means only one thing - Noises Off, the funniest backstage farce of our time. Until now, that is. Although it engages in some Stoppardian ironies and shifts of time, Copenhagen is serious stuff. Its three characters were all real people. Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg were two of the greatest physicists of the 20th century. Their insights paved the way for nuclear energy and the atom bomb - which is what gives the play its force. Heisenberg (Michael Cumpsty) visits Bohr (Philip Bosco) and his wife, Margarethe (Blair Brown), in their Denmark home after his country, Germany, has invaded and occupied theirs. The Bohrs distrust this intrusion by an enemy who used to be like a son to them. What is his motive? And upon that question the whole play revolves. Copenhagen could easily seem like an intellectual exercise, ranging as it does from scientific and philosophical issues to world politics. But it keeps its issues clear and personalizes

Thanks for that Sue, what a wonderful review.

Sorry as I was cutting and pasting, I hit the submit button by mistake. I was trying to delete the Copenhagen part. Anyway, if you want to read the whole article it is at http://dallasnews.com/entertainment/73988_BRITISH06.html

Very nice article, Sue. That writer knows the material and the actors, something we haven't seen in anybody else's writeup. Liked the info about Dillane's Hamlet being so acclaimed. No one here would know anything about it. Also, the mention about JE being a "star among the JA set"!! ;-)

Thanks Sue... I like this part too... Re: JE for whom tapes of her Elizabeth in the BBC's Pride and Prejudice are first-line collectibles. He must be the same reviewer who always says about any costume drama... "...but don't expect a Pride and Prejudice". P&P is his hallmark.....

(Sue) Mr. Dillane and Ms. Ehle make the bubblies in the Stoppard champagne fizzier, give the heat in his passion more sizzle. Under David Leveaux's direction, they make The Real Thing a show you could watch every night for a week and still hope you could nab another pair of tickets. My sentiments exactly :-)

Re: the Charlie Rose interview (which I missed, unfortunately) -- didn't it air on the day Cardinal O'Connor died and/or include a segment about him? Perhaps the producers decided to cut down the JE/SD interview to accommodate the newsier O'Connor story. There's a big article in today's Boston Globe about Tony contenders and tipping ("mooting"?) TRT for best revival. Wasn't able to find the article on the Globe's web site, but among the glowing quotes are: "...Stoppard is very much in the English tradition of playwriting, and the casually handsome Dillane and irreverently beautiful Ehle are excellent representatives of British acting styles." Also includes a large photo of JE (the one in the black dress).

I have finally been able to digest your great TRT discussions here and read the stunning reviews. I am, of course, still kicking myself for being too ill to join you at the Donmar last June AARRGH! But this is making up for it. Thanks everyone. Busy catching SD in the AK preview trailers. Anyone else seen them? Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

There is an article on the Tony noms tomorrow and it looks like SD and JE should be nominated. It would be interested if JE and RH are competing against each other;) Here's the link:

Okay, here's the link;) http://cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Arts/05/07/tony.advancer.ap/index.html

Thanks Laura....I'm not banking on it... Not that JE doesn't deserve it,but I have little faith in the system.

You can listen to the Tony noms being announced at: www.tonys.org The suspense is killing me!

At what time will they be announced?

The Tony nominations just came out. Unfortunatley my line got corrupted during the broadcast, so I didn't hear the IMPORTANT nominations (actor, actress). But so far, the TRT has been nominated for: Best Revival Director Featured Actress - Sarah Woodward

YES - both SD and JE got nominated!!! So did RH. Yippee!!!

Yipee Yipee 5 nominations, wonderful, they must all be thrilled, now I can relax. Where are you Evelyn , bring out the champagne!

Here's the list of the major noms. GREAT NEWS. I want a mimosa and I want it now! Kate, Music Man, Wild Party Lead 2000 Tony Noms 08-MAY-2000 It's great to be a revival. Kiss Me, Kate leads the Tony Award nominations with 12 nods and The Music Man coming next with 9. An original musical, The Wild Party, made third with 7. Dirty Blonde garnered the most recognition for a play with 5 nominations. Several special awards will be granted this year with Dame Edna, Eileen Heckart (for Excellance in Theatre), Encores!, agent Sylvia Herscher and producer T. Edward Hambleton being honored. A list of nominations follows: Best New Play: Copenhagen by Michael Frayn Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear The Ride Down Mt. Morgan by Arthur Miller True West by Sam Shepard Best New Musical: Contact James Joyce's The Dead Swing! The Wild Party Best Revival of a Musical: Kiss Me, Kate The Music Man Jesus Christ Superstar Tango Argentino Best Revival of a Play: Amadeus Moon for the Misbegotten The Real Thing The Price Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Gabriel Byrne, A Moon for the Misbegotten Stephen Dillane, The Real Thing Philip Seymour Hoffman, True West John C. Reilly, True West David Suchet, Amadeus Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play : Jane Atkinson, Rainmaker Jennifer Ehle, The Real Thing Rosemary Harris, Waiting in the Wings Cherry Jones, A Moon for the Misbegotten Claudia Shear, Dirty Blonde Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical : Craig Bierko, The Music Man Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kiss Me, Kate George Hearn, Putting It Together Mandy Patinkin, The Wild Party Christopher Walken, James Joyce's The Dead Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Toni Collette, The Wild Party Heather Headley, Aida Rebecca Luker, The Music Man Audra McDonald, Marie Christine Marin Mazzie, Kiss Me, Kate Best Direction Of A Play : Michael Blakemore, Copenhagen Peter Hall, Amadeus James Lapine, Dirty Blonde David Leveaux, The Real Thing Matthew Warchus, True West Best Direction Of A Musical : Michael Blakemore, Kiss Me, Kate Lynne Taylor Corbett, Swing! Susan Stroman, The Music Man Susan Stroman, Contact Playbill On-Line will publish a complete list of nominations momentarily. --By Robert Simonson and Christine Ehren

Evelyn, you really need to have more faith;)

Audra McDonald is a fave, I see her getting it for Marie Christine. JE and RH are up against each other, interesting;)

what do they mean Dirty Blonde garnared the most nominations for a play, TRT also had 5 nominations!

Bring on the bubbles!! Also from the Tonys website, interview with Rosie O'Donell Tonys.org: Will you have this year's nominees on your program? Rosie: Yes. In the week before the Tonys we'll have all the nominated musicals performing. The week before that we'll have as many of the nominated actors and actresses as we can. I'd say, get those VCRs ready!

Mimosas coming up!!! Yipee. Really didn't expect it, gang.This is the icing on the cake. Drama Desk awards can stuff them up their*** Now watch the newspapers about mother/daughter combo. Am off to send JE congrats on TRT Home Page.They're distributed to the cast daily. C'mon and join me.... http://www.therealthingbroadway.com/ click on Message to the Cast!! Thanks everybody....a two chardonnay day!

I noticed the Tonys website has some TRT pics that I haven't seen before. Just click on gallery and then TRT.

Great news! I have never watched the Tony Awards before, this will be a first. When is it?

Forgot to say....Thank you Harvey....I know you're in there someway

They're on in June, Moon. Rosie O'Donnell is hosting. They almost stopped televising the Tony's a few years back because viewership was so low. However, they are fun. Last year, Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews came out singing! (JA got a BIG standing ovation.) Rosie is fun as well, she's a definite theatre lover.

Thanks, Laura. I sent my congratulations, Evelyn.

I tried to send a message as well, but I keep on getting an error message:-( I filled in all fields, I can't imagine what I might be doing wrong.

The Tonys will be on June 4th.

The message board is probably jammed, Tineke...keep trying!! Big night for the Donmar and Sam too. Plan to email Rachel.They must be ecstatic.Big year for the Donmar. Oscars and Tonys.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Laura)They almost stopped televising the Tony's a few years back because viewership was so low. Hey, those Tonly guys aren't so dumb, Laura...Mother/daughter competition helps heightens the show's publicity. (Cynical evelyn strikes again!) ~~~~~~ Thanks Moon...but there is a big contingent who has recognized her talent including the recent Telegraph article..."Would someone pl. write a part for JE..."This will help now. Also "Sunshine" opens on June 9th. Of course the downside is that she will go into hiding....just like you-know-who...

Evelyn, I demand you to stop being so cynical!!! NOW!!!! Have faith!!! She'll sit with her mum and dad, and when they announce the noms for Best Actress they'll show each other kissing and hugging;) Have faith!!! please????

We have lots of reasons to tape the show....someone we know is going! I'll let her give details..... evelyn,....who is doing a "one-man Macarena"