I like Hal Prince...I like Donna Murphy...but...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:13pm

After listening to Lovemusik I was shocked and a little surprised that between all of the material available and the fact that Hal Prince has worked with Lenya, neither of them could come up with a portrayal that was even close to Lenya's style.

I've loved every thing Murphy has done. Her performance in Passion is one of the best I've seen and she was just great in King and I, Follies, and Wonderful Town.

Here though, her accent is so off, she sounds like she's on an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle. What went wrong? Murphy is usually so throrough in her research, being a method actress an all. I'm just shocked by this less than steller reading of one of my favorite perfomers of all time by one of my favorite performers of this time.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:18pm

Method Actress? So she's in character for the full duration she's at the theater? Or how does that work?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:22pm

No. Its means that she became Lotte Lenya during the entire run of the show -- on and off stage.

That must have been a handful for her husband.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:25pm

At best, her vocal delivery sounded like Lenya with a sinus infection

Think Sanford Meisner Rentboy.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:27pm

Obviously you didn't see the show.

Donna Murphy was no less than brilliant in it and her singing and accent is fine. She is up there with the best lyrical actresses, not just method.

I still haven't forgiven you for sending me off to see that horrible hillbilly diner show, BobbyB, and really have to question your taste and judgment again.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 2:29pm

Lol, that was your choice!

I don't think Murphy's vocals were any different on stage and I know I'm not the first person to bring it up.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 5:41pm

Murphy's performance on stage AND on the recording is nothing short of brilliant. What makes it so fascinating is that she never EVER attempts to imitate Lenya or sound just like her. What Murphy does is try to capture the essence of Lenya as a performer, the intensity, the nuances, and the immense passion for Weill's work.
Her incredible vocal transition from high-pitched Lenya (if you know anything about Lenya's early work, starting with something as popular as her very early recordings of "Pirate Jenny," you'll know that Murphy DID do her research and it shows) to the raspier tone of voice is fantastic.
She approached Lenya as a character, not as a person that lived before.
Just listen to "Surabaya Johnny," the emotions pouring out of her voice are chilling (and watching it in the theatre was so thrilling) and her "September Song" is heart-breaking in so many ways.
Frankly, I don't know what LOVEMUSIK cast recording you listened to, and it is obvious you didn't see the show live.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 6:08pm

. . . and she's an organic actor, she hooks into a character emotionally. To dismiss her as a "method" actress . . . What the hell does that mean any more? Either you're honest or you indicate. Either you work a certain way or you don't. Donna Murphy might go for the jugular, but I assure you she was hardly running around the Biltmore thinking she was Lenya much before half hour or very long after eleven o'clock. She's got one of the strongest techniques in the business.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 6:19pm

Who wants to see a mere imitation anyway? You might as well go on youtube. Let the artist work.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 6:31pm

I'm not asking for a move by move recreation of Lenya, but she could have at least attempted to mimic her vocally with her own stamp on it. I just hear nasal singing and a REALLY bad accent.

Please Note: I adore the woman. I just think she missed the mark here.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 6:43pm

Just gave Surabaya Johnny another listen. Not doing a single thing for me emotionally, vocally, or otherwise. I've given this show several chances. I just think all involved missed the mark here.

I also think trying to put Weill's show specific songs into the plot, as plot songs, fails completely. Sort of along the lines of Boy from Oz, where they sang songs in points in the plot before the song was ever written. I'm a huge Lenya/Weill/Brecht freak. I think they'd have been better off recording the underrated Threepenny revival.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 6:46pm

I was going to buy this but it would bring back bad memories. We had tickets to see this the day we buried Mrs R's mother so we could not go.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:07pm

I couldnt agree anymore with what ray-andallthatjazz86 said. Listening to that CD only proves how well Ms. Murphy actually did her job in this show, and why she was indeed nominated for a Tony for enthralling portrayl of the essense of Lenya. I swear if Christine Ebersol weren't around, that Murphy would have Tony #3 on her mantel right now. I sure hope this is a cast signing of this CD when it is released officially. Murphy, Cerveris, Pittu, Morrison, Blazer, and Sherer all sound absolutely great here...especially the final "September Song" - if Murphy & Sherer dont move you there, then you shouldnt bother breathing! :)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:15pm

I don't think you should have to see a show to be moved by the cast recording. It should be able to stand alone. That's the point of it.

I have seen Lovemusik by *other* means, and I have found it completley boring. I really want to get into it because I like the idea of it, and what they did with it, but it is just boring to me. I want to get the cast recording to familiarize myself with the music better and rewatch it, but as it is, I was more emotionally attached to "110 in the Shade" than this. I found McDonald's performance in that to be downright impressive.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:15pm

Donna was my favorite part of LoveMusik; I thought she was amazing and I actually felt she could have taken the Tony from Ebersole. Her putting on the lipstick at the end is something that I'll never forget.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:57am

If I had been a Tony voter, I'd have given my vote to Murphy without thinking about it twice. Not to say that Ebersole didn't deserve the award.
Audra McDonald did give a great performance in 110 IN THE SHADE but the complexities Murphy brought to Lenya can't be compared.
This columnist puts it best in his review of the cast recording:

Murphy has more to play with, given Lenya's outsized personality, and she makes the most of it. Ms. Murphy, who seems to earn a Tony nomination every time she opens her mouth north of 41st Street, came up with quite a performance; she conveys the essence of Lenya, all right, and she sounds impossibly contrived (just like Lenya). What she doesn't sound like is Donna Murphy. When she steps up to that old devil "Moon of Alabama," or "Surabaya Johnny," you are bewitched.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112991.html

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:39am

No denying she gave a great performance, she just didn't rope me in quite the way McDonald did, but that may have been the production or it may have come from my lack of knowledge about Lenya.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:05am

I'm with ya, RentBoy. I was completely bored by LoveMusik, although I did appreciate and recognize the great talent and effort on that stage. Donna putting on her makeup at the end of the show was chilling. I do believe, however, that if Ebersole didn't win the Tony, Audra would have made Tony history. It's just a more accessible performance than Donna's. Great performances all around, though.

~Steven

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:51am

Rentboy, I don't think it's that Murphy didn't rope you in, I think it's the character. Lizzie is a lot easier to understand and is much more simple a character to travel with in a much simpler and easier to understand show. I found Lovemusik on the duller side save for the actors performances. Audra gave the best performance of her career as of yet in 110 in the Shade, being much more vulnerable than she has ever let herself be before. These women are both my idols, but in terms of acting, Murphy is much more advance. Were Audra to play Lenya, I doubt you would have found the character any more enjoyable.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:52am

doublepost

Updated On: 11/25/07 at 02:52 AM

[SahDu]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 4:51am

Sorry, a bit off topic...but, how do you have the CD already? I had thought it wasn't going to be released until the 27th.
Updated On: 2/15/14 at 04:51 AM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:52am

If you pre-ordered it online at
http://www.sh-k-boom.com/store_cd.html

you probably recieved the CD 2 weeks or so ago. The official release date is this week, yes.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 6:51pm

I don't like the argument that because I didn't like the piece, I don't get what they were trying to do.

I get what they are going for and I don't think it works or is very interesting. Just because someone doesn't like something doesn't mean they don't get it.
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 06:51 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:34pm

Some of us were clearly rooting for Donna through Tony season.

I thought she had Ebersole hands down and was the one who truly deserved that Tony.
Drama Desk & Now Outer Critics Circle! Go Take That Tony, Prima Donna Diva!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 11:58pm

so nobody thinks laura coulda taken the tony if ebersole wasnt there? -awaits rude comments-