WONDERFUL TOWN tour: Anyone Seen It?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 5:55pm

I saw it a few days ago and I did enjoy it. The set was VERY MUCH SO scaled down. There was no city scene in the background. The band's platform wasn't even close to as professional as the Broadway production. Some new direction was installed. But the performances were top-notch.

I'll try to post a full review later.

But if anyone has seen it, feel free to share your thoughts!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 10:00pm

I roomed with the guy playing Robert Baker when we worked at a summer stock company a couple summers ago. He is one of the nicest guys I've ever met, no exaggeration.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 12:33am

Is this a non-equity tour? Who is playing Ruth Sherwood?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 2:12am

Yeah, it's non-Equity.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 2:28am

I don't get why this show would even tour...but I'll be seeing it in Febuary. I know nothing about this show, but I'm looking forward to seeing it. Is it at least a good show? I mean, is the story interesting? or does it come off as 42nd Street with a really boring, bland storyline?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 4:08am

I find it to be a very fun and exhilarating musical with a great score, I do not get the comparison with 42nd street, what do the two of them have in similar? The score is one of Leonard Bernstein's best, and definitely my favotite lyrics for just about any Adolph Green and Betty Comden musical. What I do not get is why this show would tour without a "name" headlining the show. People who have played or sung the role of Ruth include renowned theater stars such as Roselind Russell, Carol Channing, Elaine Stritch, Karen Mason, and Donna Murphy. I love the score but I believe the show itself only works with an actress with great power to deliver a song on stage.

Updated On: 12/9/06 at 04:08 AM

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 9:31am

The tour definitely looked non-equity.

Ruth is played by Deborah Lyn. But I saw her understudy, Kristin Stewart, who was great.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 9:48pm

Anyone?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 2:12am

Rentboy your post made no sense.

"I don't get why this show would even tour...but I'll be seeing it in Febuary. I know nothing about this show, but I'm looking forward to seeing it. Is it at least a good show? I mean, is the story interesting? or does it come off as 42nd Street with a really boring, bland storyline? "

If you know nothing about the show...why would you say that you don't get why it would tour?

What are you looking foward to?

If you know nothing, why do you think you can compare it to 42nd street? (booky by its cover???_

Once again if you know nothing of the show, why would you then say it has a blan story line.

Grrr

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 3:28am

Playa, re-read my post. I didn't say it had a bland story line. I'm not sure if you're familiar with American grammar, but the "?" means it is a question. I was asking if the story is bland. And I know nothing about this show: storyline, music, etc. It didn't do well on Broadway, so therefore, I don't see why it would tour without a known star, let alone a non-equity tour. And who says I can't look forward to seeing the show? It's something new that I know nothing about, so I'm looking forward to discovering the storyline and the music for the first time. I don't see why you're trying to pick a fight, go listen to your emo music and cry about how your girlfriend left you, and then try and fight the machine.


"I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself."

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 6:24am

It did quite descently, especially after Brooke Shields successfully replaced Donna Murphy. It ran for over a year, so I wouldn't rate it as a HUGE flop.

A 2-3 month run IS a flop -- anything that passes a year run did descently.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 10:38am

Does anyone know what musicians tour and which parts are local players? It would be worth seeing it if the lead trumpet tours. I know there isn't anyone in the Schenectady local that can play the book like I heard on Broadway.

also, PLEASE don't tell me they're using any canned parts.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 3:15pm

Is it pretty scaled back?

And either way Brody, it was a flop.

[marypoppsfan!]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 4:57pm

HEARD GOOD NEWS ABOUT IT

[DirectorHaley]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 5:09pm

Haven't seen it yet, but my friend is one of the dance captains, and she's great... and her pictures of the show look great. Rentboy, I know you already got picked on a little so I won't add, but it has nothing to do with 42nd St... at all. It's not my favorite show ever or anything, but it's a sweet story about two sisters who move from small-town Ohio to the big city, one to be an actress, and the other to be a writer. A bunch of great songs, funny lyrics, some wacky dance numbers, and colorful characters. Wonderful Town has a lot of heart, so I'd recommend seeing it, I hope to... and come on, don't hate on non-eq tours...

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 5:30pm

Rentboy, you're totally wrong here.

Do a little research on WONDERFUL TOWN. The original production was a HUGE smash hit. Won many Tonys. and most of all, Roz Russell received some of greatest reviews in history. Her reviews were unbelievable.

The revival also got GREAT reviews, but sadly it couldn't find an audience.

The show is pure classic. Do some research, instead of talking nonsense on a show you know nothing about.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/21/06 at 2:38am

Enlighten me please ljay. Exactly where was I wrong? I said the recent revival was a flop. I don't care about the reviews, it was a flop. I'm not hating on the show, like I said, I haven't seen it, but it's still a flop no matter what reviews it got. Like I said, I can't wait to see it, I'm not bashing the show. Calm down.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/21/06 at 9:46am

Yeah, I'm with RentBoy on this one - I believe he was talking about the revival. Whether or not the show got bad reviews, the revival did flop.

[misto625]

Posted: 12/21/06 at 12:25pm

I think the best performances of the revival occurred when Linda Muggleston played Ruth, not Donna Murphy or Brooke Shields. The tour is very scaled down, but it's a great show.

[shameless]

Posted: 12/21/06 at 12:34pm

I'm not much of a critic, but I saw it last Friday in Ft. Lauderdale and I really enjoyed it. It's a cute, fun show and I thought the cast was great.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 8:18pm

I'm really suprised it's touring actually. I haven't heard much word about it.

Were they selling any merchandise? Updated On: 12/24/06 at 08:18 PM

[cotter]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:41pm

how is the show a flop when it recieved not one but two cast recordings of the same production. I understand they dubbed in brooke but still thats pretty big

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:08pm

By definition a flop is merely a term referring to the economics of a show, if a certain show closes at a loss then it is considered a flop regardless of how many years it ran, how many stars were on it, the number of cast recordings it got, the brilliance of the piece, or whether it got great reviews or not.
Wonderful Town is a great, good old-fashioned fun musical, the revival boasted one of the best comedic performances I have seen when it starred the always-brilliant Donna Murphy, the score is a Bernstein gem with incredibly witty lyrics by the great late Betty Comdem and Adolph Green. Having said that, the revival closed on red therefore it is a flop.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:32pm

But I applaud the producers for taking a risk.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 3/18/07 at 6:03pm

Anyone?