Complete and utter disaster this evening.
If there were any doubts about how integral to the success of the show Alice Ripley's performance was, they were answered this evening. Jessica Phillips was an absolute abomination in the role of Diana. Embarrassingly bad, and they should be ashamed of themselves for putting this woman on Broadway.
Her acting was so laughable. She played the whole thing like a cartoon, like she was in some parody of next to normal. It was very out of place and off-putting. She made some very, umm, interesting, choices. Among them:
-The line, "Thank you, doctor, but my husband is waiting in the car" was delivered with a British accent. Yeah, I don't understand that choice either.
-During the "What was his name?" exchange, she acted like a spoiled child who had a toy taken away. She stomped her feet and jumped up and down and whined.
Vocally, it was like she was doing Broadway pop, and was performing in Wicked. I kept waiting for her to start riffing on I Miss the Mountains, which by the way, she sang with a smile. Yes, a smile.
Perhaps her biggest offense this evening, however, was that she didn't cry. Not once. Not a single tear at any point. During Maybe, Jen (who sounded under the weather herself) was pouring her heart out to hear, and Phillips just stared back at her. Disgraceful. But I suppose not crying went with her cartoony portrayal. She was giving her co-starts NOTHING to play against, because she was so emotionless.
I wish I had taken the box up on their offer to refund or exchange my tickets, because this was horrendous.
David Stone was there nervously pacing the aisles before the show, not looking pleased at all, surveying the empty seats and return line.
Ripley better hurry back, because the show clearly needs her.
Updated On: 6/9/09 at 10:55 PM
