Donna Murphy's Wonderful Town

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 1:46pm

Good lord, if this isn't the most hated soundtrack I've heard!!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 1:48pm

You're back? Eesh.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 1:53pm

Ha...for some reason I havent been on in AGES....I forgot my password to get back on, and Broadwayworld wouldnt send it to me...a hint?...then FINALLY they did...lol.....I wont even go into the hit and run accident on Queens Blvd I was involved in...lol

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 2:45pm

I like the OBC recording, and I enjoyed Donna Murphy's performance. I'm guess I'm in the minority.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 2:59pm

Obviously you've not heard Tyne Daly's "Gypsy".

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 5:30pm

I also can't stand that CD, I hope you are doing well!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 6:28pm

She's just not funny in the role. Give me Roz.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 11:39am

To be honest, it was her performance on the Tony's that made me go out and buy the cast album.

It was my first copy of Wonderful Town, but its hard for me, because I like the revival cast album because it is more upbeat, and exciting to me. But I will always go back to Roz for that voice.

BTW, IMO also wanted to note that the Donna Murphy album is SOOO much better than the newer version with Brooke Shields.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 11:48am

I actually saw her in the show and thought she was fantastic, and I love the recording.

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 1:04pm

In fact, I thought Ms. Murphy displayed physical comedic talent. I remember the sofa bed bit and the dance with the sailors being very funny.

[D2]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 1:08pm

You want to see a funny CONGA? Watch this.
Roz

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 2:00pm

D2,

I love that video! I also love the one in the "related links" window of Bea Arthur performing that song.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 2:13pm

Donna Murphy was notorious for the number of missed performances in Wonderful Town. I saw her in late preview and thought she "got through" it all right, but I want someone to more than "get through" a show when they're carrying the lead. My only first-hand knowledge of Rosalind Russell in WT was the television version done in 1959, which I treasure. I don't think anyone has mentioned that there are some clips of Russell from the original Broadway version in 1953 -- no sound, but the clilps are a potent reminder of what a fireball Ms. Russell was on stage. It was part of the tribute to Ms. Russell that was done on some PBS stations late last year and which is on sale through Amazon. I DID have the good fortune of seeing Ms. Russell on stage in the original Auntie Mame -- one of my favorite nights in the theatre, EVER. And I go back quite a few years.

[binau]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 4:16pm

"Donna Murphy was notorious for the number of missed performances in Wonderful Town."

Posting on this forum, I'd never know.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 9:20pm

Quo -- yes, Riedel commented on it every other column or so. It got to be a running joke about the confetti of white pieces of paper falling out of people's Playbills and I don't know how many people I knew who got burned by her no-shows. She subsequently fessed up about her poor attendance, claiming she had been ill during the run. When she did the Weill show with Cerveris, she started to do the same and apparently Hal Prince put his foot down and told her show up or ship out. She showed up.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 9:28pm

Having seen Ms. Murphy twice, I can attest that it was one of the best musical theatre performances I've ever seen.

[rwlevin]

Posted: 2/4/10 at 6:56am

I'm so tired of Riedel et al constantly making fun of her for missing so many performances. It was widely noted at the time that Ms. Murphy had the flu during previews and anybody who's had the flu knows it does a number on your body and your voice. I was very lucky. I saw the second preview right before she got sick and I thought she was wonderful. And while she is no Rosalind Russell, let's face facts-who is?

[morosco]

Posted: 2/4/10 at 1:04pm

Murphy's Law / mûr'f?z law
-noun
Murphy's Law is the facetious proposition that the performer you're hoping to see in a show will be out the night you attend said show.

[D2]

Posted: 2/4/10 at 1:22pm

I saw Murphy at both Encores and in the Broadway production. At Encores she was brilliant - she threw herself into the role with brilliant comedic energy and force.

On Broadway, (and very early in the run, too) she, as Ed mentioned, "got through it," playing it very, very carefully and never seeming to have the joyous abandon she displayed at Encores. That's why I preferred Brooke Shields in the role - she just went out on that stage and appeared to be having the time of her life.