Donna Sounds Fantastic- Page 2
Donna Sounds Fantastic
Broadway Matt
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/17/03
#25re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:49amDonna absolutely rocked tonight! Maybe not the song I would have chosen for the Tony's but it was easily the strongest performance. All the others were, on the whole, quite disappointing considering that this was Broadway's night to strut its stuff on national TV. I was disappointed that she didn't win Best Actress but the level of her performance should give her plenty to be proud of. Maybe we all should learn to trust her ability to manage her health and energy. Everyone is so ready to crucify her when she takes days off to avoid agitating a sickness. Well tonight showed what kind of stamina a healthy Donna has!
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
#26re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:56amI think she was the gave the best performance of anyone tonight! She was amazing. Not a flat note, unlike Tonya and Idina. Maybe more people will go see that show!
"So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."-Wicked
#27re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 5:35am
I thought Donna was amazing too, but I wish they had let her sing the whole song instead of just part of it. It would have been nice if she would have won, but then I don't begrudge Idina a Tony either.
"My little boy's home from the Big House!" - Angela Lansbury, Blue Hawaii
#28re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:58amAha! I KNEW that was Liz Smith! I loved this performance - it really make me want to rush out and get tickets to Wonderful Town - looks like the best musical on Broadway at the moment. Strongest showing at the Tony's, in my opinion.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#29re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 12:39pmCould anybody watch the tape again for me and say for absolute certain that Donna was not lip synching?
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Sunfish
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/03
#30re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 12:48pmSome SUPERB dancing was cut too. The kind that makes you gulp. This show really deserved the choreography award.
directorkid
Stand-by Joined: 5/4/04
#31re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 12:48pmdonna sounded like crap and she looked like she was ready to die with her back curved and legs wide open
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#32re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 1:03pmWho knew Donna Murphy could rock the house more than Mary J. Blige? I had no desire to see WONDERFUL TOWN and I do now...the producers of that show have done their job.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
junglered
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#33re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 1:35pmI enjoyed this performance and am looking forward to seeing Wonderful Town next weekend!
Tiny_Dancer
Understudy Joined: 8/15/03
#34re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 1:46pmI agree with TV boy. I watched the Tony's with non- broadway enthusiasts and, while an amazing performance it was so out of context that it made me uncomfortable. I wish she would've un- contorted herself at least once.
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#35re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:06pmOK.....Whoa, SHe rocked! A little skinny and gauntly looking but none the less, AMAZING, and WOW how about that dancing im very intrigued by this show now and really want to go see it when i get to the city. " Me tarzan nah nah nah nah"
Me tarzan nah nah nah nah....
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#36re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:11pm
directorkid, Donna was doing something called acting. You should try it sometime. 
CCM '10!
#37re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 3:17pmI have to agree- Donna was on fire last night and I think she gave the strongest female performance out of all the leading ladies up last night. She is so amazing. I want to be Donna Murphy when I grow up. Or Carol Channing. Now that just made my night.
"They hear drums. We hear music."
#38re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 4:11pmUm...wow....see now I thought her voice was good and the dancing overall was good...but it didn't make me want to see the show. And Donna looked like she was trying to impersonate a hunched old woman....it didn't look very appealing...and that last note. Ouch. I was cringing. It wasn't as bad as poor Tonya Pinkins who was totally losing her voice...but man that note slipped halfway through. It was a killer. I thought I was going to have to hit mute in the middle of the Tonys...now THAT would have been a disaster.
Plince! Plince! Nein! T-Rex!!
#39re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 4:49pm
I agree that Donna sounded great (I haven't checked the tape, but I didn't feel like it was lip-synced last night), but the number didn't entice me to go see the show. I've never seen Wonderful Town, but I'm very familiar with the show and I had a big problem with the number the way it was staged. It's more of a directorial thing. Ruth's intent seemed all wrong for the action that is supposed to be occurring at that moment in the show.
Ruth Sherwood is supposed to be attracting customers to the beatnik club, The Village Vortex. That part was evident, but they lyrics and the opening of the song are supposed to be way more comedic. Ruth is supposed to be awkwardly trying to fit in to the beatnik image (hence the rather stilted "get hep! get hep!"), which is met with indifference at first, but as she gathers confidence and momentum, she becomes more of a novelty that attracts the attention of the passersby. Her use of "scat" is written to sound more desperate and inexperienced than accomplished ("that old oaken bucket, tarzan, jane" etc. is not good scat, but it sounds funny), so her fantastic singing didn't seem to really match what was written for the scene. The audience on the street are supposed to be initially amused by this older woman trying to awkwardly imitate the beatnik bohemians, but then it is her unfailing enthusiasm and energy that becomes infectious and win support of the crowd, not her proliferation in performing jazz for which she is supposed to be completely inexperienced. It just didn't make any sense to me. For me, it was a total let-down.
I did like the choreography, though.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#40re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 4:50pmWhy do people think her last note was awful?? I was afraid it would be, but she hit it right on! Am I alone or do others agree?
CCM '10!
#41re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 4:56pmI thought the last note sounded good, too. Unfortunately, I just didn't care for the whole number. What was all that business with "fish" and "bless you"? It was hard to understand most of the lyrics. I supsect they were nothing earth shattering, anyway.
Victoria Grant
Leading Actor Joined: 6/2/03
#42re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 5:55pmDonna has style, class & charisma. I really enjoyed her performance last night. She is amazing. I was disappointed in the fact she did not win the tony oh well !
#43re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 6:00pmI agree, her last note was right on, it was Idina that was a little shaky (though still amazing)
Me tarzan nah nah nah nah....
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
Hank
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#45re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 7:26pm
This is one of those cases of "You gotta see Donna in Wonderful Town" people keep telling me.
Well, I tried a couple of weeks ago. Donna was out and I got refunds.
But hey, I loved her in A Song of Singapore and The King And I, (missed Passion), but I promise: "I'll be there"!
jezzebelle
Featured Actor Joined: 4/19/04
#46re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/7/04 at 8:53pm
Just curious...is there a ensemble number that they could have done that showcased Jennifer as well ? I love her and was a little disappointed I didn't get to hear her sing. For those who you have seen the show, how is her voice ? I know she hasn't done musical theatre in awhile and this is her B-way debut, so I'm intrested in hearing what she sounds like, as I adore her as an actress. Thanks. :)
-Jess
#47re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/8/04 at 2:32pmjezzebelle - Yes, they could have done Wrong Note Rag which features both the women as well as the ensemble and I personally think it's a better song, but I don't know how it is staged in the revival, so maybe it wasn't as visually appealling.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#48re: Donna Sounds Fantastic
Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:13pmYes, I agree...they should have done 'Wrong Note Rag.'
CCM '10!
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