Posted: 6/27/17 at 3:41pm
Kinda disappointing that Scott Rudin hasn't permitted the Official HELLO, DOLLY! Instagram page to post any photos or any mention of Donna Murphy. Even today when Donna begins her week run for vacationing Bette Midler, they chose to put an ad with the Bette Midler/HELLO, DOLLY! logo. Not a single photo nor mention of Donna anywhere.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 4:20pm
UPDATE: as of 4:18pm EST, the Official HELLO, DOLLY! Instagram page has posted an image of one of the street board stating Donna is HELLO, DOLLY! On the previous post someone commented this oversight so I'm sure that prompted them to mention Donna for this entire week.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 4:31pm
Posted: 6/27/17 at 11:54pm
I thoroughly enjoyed Donna Murphy in Hello, Dolly! She was well received, and I enjoyed all of the principals. The look of the production was great. I don't think anyone would be disappointed seeing Donna instead of Bette. I sat next to visitors from London, and they were super impressed.
Updated On: 6/28/17 at 11:54 PM
Posted: 6/28/17 at 1:07am
I caught Bette about a month ago and Donna Tonight.
The excitement of seeing a superstar in Hello Dolly is ..well exciting. I enjoyed Bette in the role but I felt she was really carried by the amazing people around her; Gavin Creel, Kate Baldwin, David Hyde Pierce, Beanie Feldstein, and the fabulous chorus. She was fine in the role. Kind of what you expect. Bette playing a version of Bette. Nice job. Not a Tony Award winning performance (oh wait) but fine and exciting none the less. I was smiling from ear to ear and had a great time watching Bette.. It was Bette playing Dolly and you never forgot that. But that is a kick in itself.
Saw Donna Murphy tonight. Donna's Dolly was more real, funny, warm, more manipulative and in charge and totally believable. You were watching Dolly Levi up there. Donna sang and danced impeccably and was technically a better Dolly if lacking the superstar excitement of Bette. Donna reminded me of one part Mary Martin; one part Shirley Booth; one part Fanny Brice and one part Zazu Pitts. Donna was a totally belieivable and wonderful Dolly. . Donna owned that stage as did Bette. It was just a different experience; The only thing missing was the superstar excitement of seeing Bette Midler. It was Superstar Bette versus consummate musical theatre performer Donna Murphy. Both are great Dolly's and I'm glad I saw them both.
Check Donna out for a totally interesting and wonderful experience.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 6:20am
I went last night. I've now seen both casts. Here's my review:
http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-divine-miss-murphy-in-hello-dolly.html
Posted: 6/28/17 at 7:10am
Great review!!! Can't wait to see Donna. I am doing back to back in August. Donna on Tuesday evening, Bette on Wednesday. I truly love this production!!!
Posted: 6/28/17 at 7:59am
Wow wow wow, fellas... Donna Murphy's Dolly is a revelation. I LOVED Bette so much in the show when I saw it back in March, but Donna has this magic touch she brings to the role that made me love her even more than Bette. Donna seems much more in harmony with the rest of the cast and she is not as much of a standout as Bette (in a good way). I was completely taken with Murphy, and I will be seeing the show again in July to catch her again.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:55am
goldenboy said: "Saw Donna Murphy tonight. Donna's Dolly was more real, funny, warm, more manipulative and in charge and totally believable. You were watching Dolly Levi up there. Donna sang and danced impeccably and was technically a better Dolly if lacking the superstar excitement of Bette. Donna reminded me of one part Mary Martin; one part Shirley Booth; one part Fanny Brice and one part Zazu Pitts. Donna was a totally belieivable and wonderful Dolly. . Donna owned that stage as did Bette. It was just a different experience; The only thing missing was the superstar excitement of seeing Bette Midler. It was Superstar Bette versus consummate musical theatre performer Donna Murphy. Both are great Dolly's and I'm glad I saw them both."
This is a great review, I completely agree.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 9:52am
Just wanted to say that I also rarely stage door but I was on such a high that I decided to do it if only to express appreciation to this cast.
This was by far the nicest cast I've met. EVERYONE came out, EVERYONE signed, EVERYONE made sure to chat with the people they were signing for and so it was less of an assembly line. And the group at the stage door was also very orderly and all of them seemed like real fans, and not autograph hounds.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 10:07am
RagtimeRay said: "goldenboy said: "Saw Donna Murphy tonight. Donna's Dolly was more real, funny, warm, more manipulative and in charge and totally believable. You were watching Dolly Levi up there. Donna sang and danced impeccably and was technically a better Dolly if lacking the superstar excitement of Bette. Donna reminded me of one part Mary Martin; one part Shirley Booth; one part Fanny Brice and one part Zazu Pitts. Donna was a totally belieivable and wonderful Dolly. . Donna owned that stage as did Bette. It was just a different experience; The only thing missing was the superstar excitement of seeing Bette Midler. It was Superstar Bette versus consummate musical theatre performer Donna Murphy. Both are great Dolly's and I'm glad I saw them both."
I agree with what everyone has had to say about Donna's performance: she gives Dolly something of a New York edge (and accent) -- after all, this is a woman who is hustling for every last dime she can make. Donna was funny, touching, goofy, radiant. And in GREAT voice. I saw Bette and loved her. Now I've seen Donna and I loved her, too. So did last night's audience. Everyone involved in the production was going at full throttle, and it was a total joy. A British couple sitting next to me knew that Bette wouldn't be on, but decided to give it a go. They told me that had the time of their lives. Given the real-life passing of Donna's husband, "Before the Parade Passes By" took on extra significance, and out came my handkerchief. Don't miss it!
"
Posted: 6/28/17 at 12:19pm
Just picked up a ticket from TelechargeOffers for Donna's post-Labor Day run in September. Only $99 for first row, center mezz.
So I'll be seeing Donna several days before I see Bette, but, at that price, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 2:12pm
PepperedShepherd said: "Just picked up a ticket from TelechargeOffers for Donna's post-Labor Day run in September. Only $99 for first row, center mezz.
So I'll be seeing Donna several days before I see Bette, but, at that price, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Also, for those of you who are interested in seeing Donna now through 7/9, there are A LOT of great seats available through Telecharge Offers, using the BroadwayBox discount code HDBOX522. I just bought a ticket for this Friday, 6/30, and I went for the $99 front row center mezzanine. It will probably be on tkts, of course, but I thought it was worth an extra $20 to be able to pick this seemingly perfect seat.
Posted: 6/28/17 at 5:44pm
I was at this afternoon's matinee and fully enjoyed Donna's performance. She's better vocally than Bette but I would have to say Bette's eating scene surpasses Donna's. I might even say that Bette's eating scene surpassed Carol's.
By all means, see Donna Murphy!
Posted: 6/28/17 at 5:54pm
BTW: I found 3 little girls doing their own version of "Dancing" during intermission. I love when that happens!
Posted: 6/28/17 at 6:09pm
Of the Dollys I've seen, I think Klea Blackhurst did the eating scene the best at Goodspeed. She had me dying when well into it (overtly aware by this time that everyone in the courtroom wanted her to hurry up), she shrugged at the court, kept eating (she even pulled out an ear of corn), and then looked up to the box seats in the balcony, and started shrugging and making gestures to them that she was well aware they wanted her to hurry up. I can't even begin to explain how funny she was. Wish it was taped.
Updated On: 6/28/17 at 06:09 PM
Posted: 6/29/17 at 2:08am
Donna was absolutely spellbinding as Dolly Levi. What else can I say about her that hasn't been said already of her brilliant performance?
Posted: 6/29/17 at 3:40pm
Saw the matinee yesterday and was totally wowed by it. Sure I'd like to see Bette, but I suspect some of the reviews above comparing are completely "right on". Donna Murphy is truly wonderful and while it may be a little over the top (like the entire production) she never distracts from the show itself. I saw Dolly, I didn't see Donna Murphy.
One question, maybe someone could answer. The costumes are simply amazing, but when she came out after the court scene for "So Long, Dearie" she was wearing a cobalt blue dress, that was mainly just a skirt that was sort of empire waistline, and the top was a very simple white chiffony like top, that had absolutely no detail or period look. I'm curious if perhaps that was supposed to have a jacket or another layer with it, but it got missed. In fact it seemed her entrance was a little awkward like maybe it was late? Anyone -- is that really what she normally wears.
Posted: 6/29/17 at 4:01pm
" Sure I'd like to see Bette, but I suspect some of the reviews above comparing are completely "right on"."
There is NO comparison. In one your seeing a legendary international superstar giving a star turn and in the other your seeing broadway royalty giving a star turn. Two different beautiful things. Pitting the 2 against each other is stupid . Bette is worth every cent and for many a bucket list event. And Donna as always is wonderful and worth seeing. What a great time to be a musical theater lover. I hope we get more ladies to play Dolly.
Updated On: 6/29/17 at 04:01 PM
Posted: 6/29/17 at 5:44pm
SmokeyLady said: "" Sure I'd like to see Bette, but I suspect some of the reviews above comparing are completely "right on"."
There is NO comparison. In one your seeing a legendary international superstar giving a star turn and in the other your seeing broadway royalty giving a start turn. Two different beautiful things. Pitting the 2 against each other is stupid . Bette is worth every cent and for many a bucket list event. And Donna as always is wonderful and worth seeing. What a great time to be a musical theater lover. I hope we get more ladies to play Dolly.
"
I think we can compare the singing abilities though. Bette Midler at this point in her career is more like Carol Channing -- character singing. She doesn't go too high, or too low. No belting. Donna Murphy at times sounded a lot like Ethel Merman. Very strong, powerful voice.
Posted: 6/29/17 at 6:45pm
poisonivy2 said: "SmokeyLady said: "" Sure I'd like to see Bette, but I suspect some of the reviews above comparing are completely "right on"."
There is NO comparison. In one your seeing a legendary international superstar giving a star turn and in the other your seeing broadway royalty giving a start turn. Two different beautiful things. Pitting the 2 against each other is stupid . Bette is worth every cent and for many a bucket list event. And Donna as always is wonderful and worth seeing. What a great time to be a musical theater lover. I hope we get more ladies to play Dolly.
"
I think we can compare the singing abilities though. Bette Midler at this point in her career is more like Carol Channing -- character singing. She doesn't go too high, or too low. No belting. Donna Murphy at times sounded a lot like Ethel Merman. Very strong, powerful voice.
"
I think you can if you want. If you are that bored. It is kind of silly. But even at 71 Bette sounds a lot better than Carol ever did. And that is not putting down Carol. I love Carol. It is not all about how pretty something sounds.
Updated On: 6/29/17 at 06:45 PM
Posted: 6/29/17 at 7:05pm
Thought I could make the show on July 5, but due to the holiday I'm forced to miss it. Hopefully I'll be able to catch Donna at the end of August.
