PRIMA DONNA - nypost.com

[macbeth]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 7:30am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=16406

So what could be wrong with Donna Murphy? She was brilliant when I saw her a couple of weeks ago, with no signs of being sick.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 7:52am

That is just evil BS!! I can't believe what he said about Linda and the conga line---so not true, nor appropriate. The choreography is the same.

If the MF had seen the Wednesday night show, he might have noticed that Donna sounded a titch denasaled (as in just getting over a bug).

I also find it hypocrotical that KC can miss 2 weeks in a row, but Donna can't miss one week in previews and another week last week---2 weeks all the same.

I guess I now know why (most of?) you hate him. What a pr###!

Updated On: 12/19/03 at 07:52 AM

[actorboy]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 7:58am

Kristin Chenoweth was not out for two weeks. She missed six performances during one week. That was weeks ago, and she hasn't missed since. Riedel mentions this, by the way.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 8:03am

whatever--the point is that he is cruel and way off. People get sick. Do you know how many actors are out right now??

How can he say in one breath that Linda is the perfect physical type for the role (knocking Donna's thinness) and then slam Linda as if she were fat?? Which she is not.

It also ticks me off that he would go after Linda---who is not yet a star and shouldn't have to put up her defenses like that to a tabloid as a star would.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 9:34am

It reminds me of the Martine McCutcheon dilemma from the West End My Fair Lady. She was finally removed from the show, but still handed the Olivier. And rightly so, in my opinion. Regardless of her attendance, I saw her and she was the perfect Eliza Dolittle (though you can't really tell just from the CD). I found her completely entrancing and couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. If you see her in Love Actually, you can probably see why. Poor thing will probably never work in musicals again, but I was glad I was one of the lucky few to ctach her when she was on.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 9:53am

Matt, you're so astute! It is the My Fair McCutcheon syndrome (which I just thought of seeing LOVE, ACTUALLY--in which she is beautiful and charming). I saw the v. first performance -- a Saturday night -- as it moved to the the Drury Lane in the West End -- a July eve when the AC was barely working, and poor Price was in tweed for 3 hours. She was quite magical, and I, too, savor the memory of that performance. Her singing was only adequate, but she inhabited the role so fully, and really connected with Jonathan.

Donna may have the same problems Martine encountered--but Martine was much younger. For some reason, I think age and b'way experience play a part here. That could mean the community as a whole is more forgiving. She's "one of them..." Or they could turn on her. Showbiz, full of the unexpected.

Updated On: 12/19/03 at 09:53 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 9:58am

(Sorry, I started another thread not seeing this one:)

Yes, it's from the venomous pend of Addison de Riedel, but he does raise v. pertinent points -- relevant in that they are about the dollars and cents bottom line that controls all entertainment, the b'way theater, too.

Murphy's track record with showing-up creates a lack of consumer confidence--not good for a show that, unlike OZ or WICKED, is tenatively finding its audience. Riedel is predictably bitchy, noting the absence of kleenex boxes back stage. But if Murphy needs more recoup time, the Weisslers should give her R&R, bring in a replacement, then pull her back when she's ready. Even if then, she must talk-sing the full 8. If this is about her documented "perfectionism," well, as we all know from elementary school, part of being perfect is having zero absences on your report card.

All this gossip aside, it's very sad, because this is a career-making moment for this leading lady. She's about to move into the Buckley, LuPone, Peters (and now Chenoweth) catagory. Yes, she already has Tonys, but she isn't yet a proven draw like those women. This is her time to shine--and prove she is not just a brilliant performer but that mysterious commodity--a star. They are not always the same thing.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:09am

Oh...and Riedel forgets that both Patti Lupone and Lea Solonga won Tony's performing six shows a week.

Of couse, those shows were both hideously demanding vocally...unlike the role of Ruth...but still.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:17am

Auggie - I too saw MFL during that summer (August, I think) and the Drury was dreary. Those Europeans need to work out the AC thing in theatres for the summer. Luckily, they provided the little fans in the programs (I still have mine) as it offered some relief. I didn't care for Jonathan Pryce at all, though. He gave the same performance as always, but with his hands behind his back this time. One fine moment I recall, during the torture montage (fire, marbles, etc) something happened that I couldn't see (I was in the balcony) and both Martine and Jonathan lost it on stage in a fit of giggles. I love it when that happens. And so did the rest of the audience. It was a lovely production that I think should transfer to Broadway. If Cam Mac has any brains in his head, he'd recruit Kelsey Grammer for the role of Higgins.

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:20am

Matt, this goes to show why there are horse races. I would fall into what you termed the "lucky few" who saw Martine McCutcheon in MFL. Found her charmless, humorless and without any musical sense. She and Pryce had no sexual tension on stage. The production outside of Marianne lacked in a quite a number of areas in my humble opinion but that's a totally different topic.

Not a ga-ga fan of anyone these days but I must say Ms. Mccutcheon comes no where near Ms. Murphy in the stage talent department even if the sick days of the two were equalized.

Just my opinion. Bulldog. Updated On: 12/19/03 at 10:20 AM

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:22am

To be fair, Salonga didn't choose to do six shows a week, it was a concession to Equity to get her to come over and do the role in the first place. Did she only do six shows when she came back to the role before it closed? (I honestly don't know.)

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:26am

I believe all Kim's played the role 6 times a week with an alternate performing twice a week. I don't know if it was due to vocal strain or a concession to Equity. But then, why would they continue the six a week?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:26am

Not really OT: vocal demands of "Eliza" vs. "Ruth."

Matt: (I did love Pryce, but we won't discuss him here...) In the heyday, Julie Andrews and all replacements did 8 a week of LADY, here/London, amounting to several years. Andrews has admitted it damn near killed her. When it's been done ever since, the ladies haved all had vocal problems, and had trouble with the full 8. (Errico and one more, no?)

Whatever's going on with Murphy, it seems safe to say it's NOT the vocal demands of Ruth--a role written for a non-singer, no matter what Murphy is doing to give it legit musicality. One of the problems with this debate is the role's relative size: No actor must "carry" WT, as one must carry other shows. I think that's gonna hurt Murphy, unless someone finally gets to the bottom of all this. It didn't help having her Times piece appear on a day when she was out -- and NOT discuss her illness. This sort of PR creates a negative Diva profile.

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:26am

Matt, I just read your additional post and Auggie's post too. Makes me wonder whether we saw the same production at the Drury Lane, we all appear to have seen McCutcheon and Pryce. I dunno.

Bulldog.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:33am

Bulldog: several friends of mine agreed with you about Fair Lady. You're not alone. I love Pryce, loved his coldness, actually. We'll take our talk elsewhere.

Would a singer or other musician who posts here discuss vocal demands sometime? A whole thread? I'd love to learn more. To my ears, surely Eliza is as hard or harder than Kim. But the model for the Kim performance schedule was actually Eva in "Evita," no? I thought it was the evolving pop opera diva role thing. And surely Elphaba is on par with Kim, by the way. And Menzel missed but once in SF, and has yet to miss here. She seems to have the Alice Ripley stamina and well-taken-care-of-pipes.
(By the way: people thought it was tacky when LuPone, playing only 6, did a big club act at a place called Les Mouches after the show many weekends...)

But Ruth is simply not up there -- and if it is, then La Murphy should consider more Roz and less Donna at key spots.

Updated On: 12/19/03 at 10:33 AM

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:41am

Michael Reidel is such an A**....did I mention Reidel is an A**. Updated On: 12/19/03 at 10:41 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:42am

My comparison of Murphy and McCutcheon is based on missing perfs due to illness. I would never try to compare the talents of these two as I think there is no comparison to be made. Muphy is a professional and has proven herself so many times. She knows what is expected and I'm sure wouldn't miss so much if she truly wasn't ill. Without enough rest, a cold or flu can take several weeks to shake. Sinus infections are even worse.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:43am

Since I've never played Kim or Eliza (other than in my bedroom), I can't really say which is specifically harder.

For Eliza, one must be willing to make unpleasant gutteral sounds through most of the first act, but then soar into a beautiful soprano for most of her music.

Kim is nearly a constant belt and rarely does anything but sing (except a couple of screams here and there). But the range goes from the cellar to the belting attic.

I did not see Ms. Murphy in WT. I saw Ms. Mugelston. I was surprised, though, at how low in her register the song was. One can do damage trying to push out lower notes just as one can do damage trying to scream high notes. Perhaps this is the problem.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 10:50am

Illuminating, Robbie. I never stop to consider the low note requirements. We hear so much about the "passagio," the vulnerable break between chest and head, where so many scores are placed in post-MIZ musical theater.

So it's "Swing" in particular that taxes the Ruths? The low scat?

[sparky310]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 2:11pm

although Murphy has been ought ill we should assume that she is ill and not listen to rumors..often times created by producers out to get the actor or mean spirited stage hands with jealousy to spread..if she is truly no ill it would be hard to believe that she is missing performances with out due cause..rumors have spread for years about the producers of WT and their not so friendly approach to their performers..of course that is only a rumor..i think we should wish donna well and hope she doesnt havea flu that becomes life threatening....she is a true broadway star...and deserves the tony and more.
GET WELL DONNA

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 2:51pm

Don't discuss Reidel. It only encourages him.

[localonecrew]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 2:59pm

Not to comment on whether her illness is fake or not but donna has always been a royal pain in the ass backstage and a huge prima donna!

[sparky310]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 3:32pm

only curious..but i am going to assume you know that from first hand experience?

[DonnaMurphyRocks]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 5:07pm

Based on what, localonecrew, do you know her personally? She's certainly nice to her fans, and I know that first hand.

As to Michael reidel, what kind of a bitch are you???

Please get well Donna!

[sparky310]

Posted: 12/19/03 at 5:16pm

although i do agree with your comments as i have met ms. murphy and she has alway been exceptionally cordial.could we drop the ..nasty talk..please..not need to attack..everyone is entitled to their opinion...