HELLO, DONNA! - Murphy begins performances — Page 17

EthelMae said: "Guess I must be one of the five or so queens the poster here is referring to who posts all the time, so hear I go again!

I love Bette Midler in this role but let's face it no other Dolly, I bet, could get away with saying, "dumplings, lighter than air they are, well, I'll be the judge of that" and then tosses the dumpling into the orchestra pit! This isn't the line in the script and that isn't the stage direction for the dumpling! Also, the other day Bette went crazy with the salting of the beets and is now doing a long thing with David Hyde Pierce with "you hate the beets?, or you ate the beets?..." and him saying "yes, I ate the beets and now I hate the beets!", etc., with the two them trying to not laugh and suddenly it's the Carol Burnett show. Now, again, I love both of them and I laughed out loud but it's not Dolly and Horace having dinner at their table scene.

Donna Murphy does similar business but it's pulled back and it's still funny and, I think, truer to the musical play we're watching.

Now Midler fans come for that stuff and she delivers it and they lap it up as do I. Midler's eating scene in the court scene is hysterical and reminds me of Lucille Ball. Almost channeling Ball. And I love that too.

I guess I'm saying that I'm glad the show can play well with Murphy and that it goes to show that the musical is strong enough to play with most women who have played this part. And so it will with Bernadette Peters."

Ethel; I wasn't referring to you in particular. And I am one of a group of queens myself. But one could just tell when someone is writing something honestly or just trying to stir the pot. I have told you before.. I love Donna in this. But what you described is exactly why Bette rules in this.. and why this production was conceived. She delivers on everything I wanted her Dolly to be. I do love reading when you write about the show because it is coming from a honest and loving place. And again I will say.. I have seen both ladies a few times and with both you get a fantastic show. But this is Bette's show. The only reason it is back is because of Bette. And BTW.... I heard a little rumor of what exactly is going on at the Shubert the week the show goes dark between stars. Lets just say that if true many more will have the opportunity to experience Bette's Dolly .

^^wait... Bette is going to be doing another week or she doing a special concert during that week?

If you're implying Bette might extend her run for another couple of weeks, I would be very disappointed. I think most people who paid a premium to be at her last performance would be very disappointed. Let's hope that's not the case.

What is being implied is a possibly filming Bette's performance - which would be incredible.

DAME said: "jayinchelsea said: "Hate to be one of the only naysayers, and I do think that Donna is an amazing musical theatre actress, but DOLLY demands total star power as well as talent, and sadly Donna doesn't have that, imo. Yes, she worked very hard from the first moment, but the hard work showed. There were some really great moments, but not enough to carry the show. Best example was the title number, which began to feel kind of tired by the third time around. And the laughs just didn't come the way they did with Midler.

I have been watching DOLLY since it opened in 1964, and Channing, Grable, Merman and especially Bailey were all amazing, as was Midler. Hoping Bernadette is that good, not quite sure but hopeful. And this production is terrific in every aspect: design, staging, the incomparable supporting cast right down the line. One of the best musical librettos in the canon, and Jerry Herman's score remains one the greats. But my expectations for Donna, especially after the reviews and the comments here, simply weren't met."





I like Donna but I actually agree with most of what you say . And I would say most people do as well. Except for here. Remember this is BWW and a lot ( not all) of the posters here can't afford a Bette ticket and need to justify themselves . And Donna is terrific . But she doesn't touch Bette. She just doesn't . There are a lot of people outside of the 5 queens that post over and over again here ."



BRAVA DAME! People should know better than trusting opinions of strangers on a message board. I also adored Donna in the show. But Bette is the reason to see the show. And also the Bootleg Betty site has alluded to the filming of Bette's performance for a while now. It sounds like this was planned from the very beginning. I wonder if they will do it like Legally Blonde in which they film in front of a invited audience? I am thrilled. Lets hope it happens.

^actually Netflix is not responsible for the filming of Newsies.

Updated On: 9/18/17 at 04:10 PM

IdinaBellFoster said: "What is being implied is a possibly filming Bette's performance - which would be incredible."



YES!!!!!!!!!!! Let us hope!!!!! (for all of us who cant get to NY to see it).

DAME said: "Itonlytakesajourney said: "I'm not sure if I'm a "queen" of this thread or not, but Donna and Bette both give amazing performances. I'm partial to Donna, but whatever. Theprospect of filmingit with Bette sounds extremely exciting! The show is just begging to be captured in a professional way, not just on bootlegs and choppy curtain call videos."





I would say your one of the Queen Bee's! But then what does that make me? "

Ooh fun! Why have Mean Girls on Broadway when there's us?

"And I should mention, I have no issues with people who were unimpressed with Murphy or found her lacking. My specific issue is with DAME's petty dismissal of our Donna love or our Donna as Dolly love through a silly class-based argument that somehow manages to reframethe overwhelming love on this thread as a threat to Midler's legacy.""



Ha! If you read what I said you would see that I loved Donna as well. I must have hit a nerve with you. The threat to Midler's legacy line did make me laugh.

poisonivy2 said: "If they're really going to film Bette in Hello Dolly! I hope they do so in front of a live audience. So much of the show is about breaking the fourth wall. Filming it with no live audience is like hot dogs without ketchup."





My guess is that is the plan. With pick up shots during the week the show is dark between stars. But is is a guess.

Delete your account.

And it's Dolly, not Angels in America.

Cried your eyes out? Really? Come on.

God, you people are mean spirited.

Zamedy154 said: "Delete your account.

And it's Dolly, not Angels in America.

Cried your eyes out? Really? Come on."

I know this is kind of mean, but this made me straight up CACKLE