MICHAEL RIEDEL : LOST LACHANZE She's got Donna Murphy syndrome — Page 2

Donna Murphy is one of the best Broadway singers there is and very beautiful, too.

I saw her in King & I and the quality of her singing and performance blew me away it was so terrific.

And what she did as Fosca on my Passion OBCR was brilliant for both singing and acting.

I listen to Passion all the time. It's about my favorite CD of the moment; the singing, score and lyrics are superb.

I do not recall Donna Murphy having this kind of reputation. During her run with "Song of Singapore," Murphy was not attacked by newpapers and audiences. The only reason Murphy has this reputation is because Riedel is friendly with Barry Weissler.

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I think someone on this board or allthatchat said that Weissler was friends with Riedel. It would make sense considering the space he gives to their shows...today there was something about the 10th anniversary of "Chicago."

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Updated On: 8/4/06 at 11:16 AM

Well, SONG OF SINGAPORE was a little Off Broadway show, and that was before the age of the internet and Broadway gossip columns. Murphy has always had a reputation for being a little neurotic. I've known people who've worked with her who think she is a genius but a hypochondriac. I also have a friend who jokingly laughs that in twenty years of theatre going, he's yet to catch Murphy in a show - that she was out of HELLO AGAIN, SINGAPORE, PASSION and WONDERFUL TOWN when he saw them.

I do agree that Michael Riedel made the situation worse, I'm just saying that I had heard the Donna Murphy attendance issues way before WONDERFUL TOWN. Murphy is not a total victim here.

I know what "Song of Singapore" is, and I know that there were no message boards at the time of the show; however, there were newspapers, which would have reported Murphy's absences had they been a big deal.

As for her being a hypochondriac, I have read that she is a perfectionist...and frankly, I don't care if she is a hypochondriac...every time I have seen her (5 times in "WT", 3 times in "TKAI," and 1 time in "Passion), her performance has been incredible.

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The attendance issues do go back to Song of Singapore. It's part of the reason why Murphy is not on that cast recording.

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I think Donna's track record was pretty good when she was in the King and I. She was in the 7 times I saw it.

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Lane had some pretty damn good excuses to miss performance of "The Producers." I believe he developed polyps and wasn't able to sing well. And I could be wrong, but I don't think he missed any performances of the return engagement. I also haven't heard of any excess absences from "The Odd Couple."

None of us know these performers personally, so we believe what we want to believe.

I am choosing not to believe Lane, as he has had a history of missing performances.

As for LuPone, I recall her demanding 6 shows a week for "Noises Off." If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time someone on this board got their facts wrong. I did not say she demanded no matinees of "Evita"...sorry if my post was worded poorly.

As for using other performers' records to defend Donna Murphy: I was trying to show that considering some of the other "diva-like" behavior people on this board have accepted, Donna Murphy should not be crucified the way she has been.

I do not deny the fact that Murphy was absent...I am merely stating that I am choosing to believe her story because she has been a Broadway professional for nearly 30 years.

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Updated On: 8/4/06 at 12:47 PM

As for LuPone, I recall her demanding 6 shows a week for "Noises Off."

What, you recall her demanding to you that she perform 6 shows a week? What do you mean "I recall her demanding..."? It may have been in her contract, it may not have been. More than one person on here stated that they saw her perform on matinee days.

I do not deny the fact that Murphy was absent...I am merely stating that I am choosing to believe her story because she has been a Broadway professional for nearly 30 years.

And what does that make Patti LuPone?

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Updated On: 8/4/06 at 12:51 PM

I saw Brooke Shields...she isn't have the actress Murphy is, and I think she was wrong in "Wonderful Town."

Wrong by showing up?

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Well if you're not there to play the role, that doesn't make you more right for the role than the person who does show up to play it.

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Bashing poor Nathan---I travel from out of town to catch his shows, and I've yet to miss him. And as far as I can tell, he hasn't missed a third of any of the shows he's been in. And he's been in quite a few shows....

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