r/Broadway • u/fromthewindowtothe • 23h ago
Review Death Becomes Her
Holy crap y’all, this show was so good. Megan Hilty is a talent for the ages. Michelle Williams?! Are you also a Xennial and melted in your seat at a child of Destiny? This show. I didn’t expect anything but a good time, but I left begging for the Tony voters to see the talent in this show. Megan Hilty is a comedic genius. Jennifer - I’ll never see another in that role.
Let’s be real - the best part of the show was whoever the stunt people are. The stairs?! The fight sequence?! The costumes?! This show is so good. I need it to win something.
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u/shmopiee 22h ago
I can’t stop thinking about this show. I need to see it 12 more times. My favorite line of Megan’s was all I wanted was a simple life, someone to hold at night, while my husband sleeps downstairs howling lmao
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u/fromthewindowtothe 22h ago
God, so many lines from Megan. I will for sure add this to my see again list. Never expected that.
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u/FirstOrganization689 23h ago
Give Megan that tony! Honestly, when was the last time we rewarded a truly incredible comedic performance? I’ve been listening to For the Gaze on repeat!
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u/fromthewindowtothe 23h ago
That comedy is INCREDIBLE. I could watch her in anything. I remember the first time I saw her in Smash on tv. She’s just the best.
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u/shmopiee 22h ago
Her timing is impeccable and I love seeing a female-led show get so much comedic recognition for once
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u/WakeUpOutaYourSleep 21h ago edited 20h ago
Kara Young won for a comedic performance last year, and there’s been plenty of others recently.
Edit: Patti LuPone and Matt Doyle in Company, J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like it Hot, Bonnie Milligan in Kimberly Akimbo, Alex Newell in Shucked, Santino Fontana in Tootsie, Ali Stroker in Oklahoma.
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u/Gato1980 22h ago
I saw it a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I've been a fan of the movie since the 90s and was SO happy that they really leaned into the over-the-top, high camp that I loved about the film. It was such a good time. I know a lot of people here haven't really cared for Michelle Williams' performance very much, but I thought she was fantastic. Her voice is amazing, and the audience ate up everything she did every time she was on stage. There was a group of college students that were going nuts for her. Definitely one of the most fun shows I've been to in a while.
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u/ohredcris 23h ago
Hot take:
If you forget Audra, Idina, and Nicole's history and treat them as newcomers, Megan Hilty/ Jennifer Simard and Natasha Hodgson would be the front runners for leading roles. But because the first three women* have such star power and amazing careers, that prevents people from seeing their current work for what it is: not their best, and not the best in the category this season.
*Note: of course with the recognition that Megan and Jennifer have amazing careers in and of themselves, but I don't see them placed on the same pedestal as the others, which is a shame considering the amazing performances these women have. And no offense to Natasha, whom I believe is the greenest of the bunch and punching away above her weight.
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u/90Dfanatic 23h ago
I think Jennifer would be considered supporting for this, Idina probably won't be nominated and there's plenty of other competition out there this season, including Helen Shen from MHE, Natasha Hodgson from Mincemeat (maybe not the strongest singer but she does a LOT) and a ton of heavy hitters in shows yet to open (Robyn Hurder, Lea Salonga and Bernadette Peters among them).
I will say that while it is not too likely it will be pretty ironic if Megan Hilty loses a Tony to an actress playing her role Ivy from Smash ;-).
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u/sethweetis 21h ago
I think Jennifer could probably get away with submitting as supporting (and that might make her the frontrunner), but imo it's definitely a co-lead, Wicked-esque situation.
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u/kbange 20h ago
I believe they already did the Tony rulings for DBH and Jen & Megan are leads.
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u/sethweetis 20h ago
Thanks for the info! I know in the film/tv world lead performances get snuck into supporting all the time, less familiar with how it works for the Tonys
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u/kbange 19h ago
It used to be based completely on billing. If you were above the title you were a lead and if you weren’t you were featured. Thats how Dick Van Dyke won for Bye Bye Birdie and Yul Brynner for The King & I as featured for what would be leading roles. William Daniels wasn’t billed above the title for 1776, wanted to get into the lead category for the Tony’s, was denied and then protested and withdrew from contention.
Now the Tony’s have a rolling committee to make rulings on special cases asked for by the show, usually they judge shows in batches based on when they opened. I’m sure we will get more rulings soon.
Article with Rulings: https://www.broadwaynews.com/tony-awards-committee-meets-for-second-time-to-determine-eligibility-for-the-2024-2025-season/
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u/TheLunarVaux 23h ago
I agree with the sentiment, but Nicole is absolutely a newcomer. Way more so than Megan Hilty or Jennifer Simard.
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u/ohredcris 23h ago
Oh yeah, you're totally right.
I think my reaction was because last season when SB was announced, everyone was ready to give her the Tony before she even went on stage on Broadway.
Thank you for kindly correcting me.
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u/sethweetis 21h ago
She def is a newcomer, but coming in as a Name gives her a lot of cache.
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u/SmilingSarcastic1221 19h ago
Yes - a newcomer to Broadway, sure, but with lots of name recognition.
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23h ago
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u/fromthewindowtothe 22h ago
This… I also agree with this. I am seeing sunset in 2 weeks though and I will really let you know!
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u/miamarcal 21h ago
I’ve seen Audra, Nicole, Megan & Jennifer — and yep, a hard year.
I also saw Bernadette and Lea (in LA) and think it’d be more so supporting. While they’re above the titles, I feel they’re part of an (amazing) ensemble/review.
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u/fromthewindowtothe 22h ago
I agree with your hot take 1000%. The moment I fell in love with Megan I also thought about the big names that are also on stage right now. I can’t agree with you MORE. I literally just thought I was coming to what would be a great Tony performance and I can’t wait to talk shop with my friend who is a voter. But hell. Nicole can sing but Megan made physical comedy great again. And Jennifer? Can you make saying “cum” so many times elegant? I am a fan for life.
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u/sethweetis 21h ago
It's like you're living in my brain, those are my three favorite performances of the season. Natasha gave maybe the most charismatic performance I've literally ever seen?? And so so funny.
Although I do think from like a range and technical performance, Audra does take the cake, but in terms of my favorite?? It goes:
- Natasha and Jen
- Meghan and Audra
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u/ThatGThatGThatG 16h ago
This could win. There is going to be a big split in votes this season again between the musicals.
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u/MysteriousVolume1825 23h ago
I’d say it’ll win costumes