Theatre Award Roundup

There were so many award ceremonies last week, I needed the Memorial Day weekend to recover. Kristin Chenoweth hosted the Drama Desk Awards on Sunday and broke the crowd up with an original song--"Size Doesn't Matter," referring to the DDs' wide scope of nominees from big Broadway productions to teeny, tiny OOB fare. The composer-lyricist is reportedly a friend of Kristin's and wishes to remain anonymous. She further fractured the audience by going out among them and interviewing nominees and presenters. Strangest moment of the evening--Kristin outragously flirting with T.R. Knight. Did she not know he is openly gay, or was it all part of the act?

The Obies were Monday night and it was great to see people like Andre De Shields and Betsy Aidem, actors who work all the time but don't always win awards, receive Sustained Excellence honors.

The Outer Critics on Thursday was highlighted by Frank Langella's inventive acceptance speech--a long list of left-handed compliments he has received backstage, principally from other actors ("You've controlled your mannerisms perfectly"). He did tell of a dressing-room visit from his mother after a performance of Long Day's Journey Into Night. "You see," she said to her son, "your life wasn't so bad."

--David Sheward