WONDERFUL TOWN tour: Anyone Seen It? — Page 2

Considering the only way this little know show would play a national tour is by being scaled down, I say good!

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"In replacing the beguiling Donna Murphy, Shields hasn't so much replicated her performance as rejuvenated the role of Ruth Sherwood and the show itself. She hasn't done it, it should be mentioned, through the application of a new kind of show-biz razzle-dazzle; instead, Shields triumphs by taking the show back to its roots. And in doing so, she's found something that Murphy - while excellent in the role - somehow lacked"
-Talkin' Broadway-



"Brooke is a Delight"
-Ben Brantley, New York Times-



"She’s a terrific performer, careful and resilient, with an unerring sense of humor and a style that can make ungainliness graceful and reticence explosive. She is the perfect Ruth, a would-be writer, who sees herself as the Ugly Duckling second banana to her younger, glamorous magnetic sister Eileen"
-Clive Barnes, New York Post-

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It's touring to my school in about a week and a half and I'm on the student production crew so I'll be helping with load-in....hopefully I'll get to watch the show though. When Man of La Mancha came I was on wardrobe so I had to help with changes backstage...no time to see what was happening on stage. Anyway, it's so random that these threads always pop up around the time the show is at my school.

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What was confusing about 'Swing'?

"I wish the set were a little more, I dont know, something, but it was still fun"

You aren't being very precise when it comes to the set! LOL!
Describe it a little more.

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The set was great on Broadway, not very big since they had the orchestra on stage behind the actors though. But it made the "Sweet Charity" set, the year after seem amateur-ish.
"Swing" is just a funny number, because Ruth is an unemployed writer who finds this job giving flyers out to people to promote the Village Vortex, Ruth is not very "hip", she is some kind of geek, unlike her prettier sister Eileen, who gets all the guys. So that's why "Swing" is a funny number, plus "Your favorite dish is fish" quote are just old fashioned funny, cute lines, that now might not be funny anymore, but they worked for me.
The show on Broadway starring Brooke Shields, transfered me to the time the story was really happening. Although this is an old fashioned musical, the story of anyone moving to any big city is something most of us can relate to, in 2007 or 40, 50, or 60 years ago.

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Updated On: 3/31/07 at 02:37 PM

Well, take a look at the reviews I posted up there. She was terrific, I didn't think she was going to be able to pull it off, but she surprised me, and all the NYC critics.

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I saw this production of Wonderful Town because it toured to my school..I actuall helped load it in. Anyway, I thought the talent was definitely there but I didn't especially like the set. I have never seen the Broadway production but I could imagine that it must have been scaled back quite a bit. It was only 2 tractor trailers and they were by no means filled to the brim. It was about a 4 hour load in.

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he did a great job, was very funny as frank

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I'll be seeing this when it comes to Dallas this week.

I saw it on Broadway with Brooke Shields. I liked the show okay, but I did not care for Shields at ALL.

I do, however, love the recording with Donna Murphy.

It's a very, very dated show, but it's still cute.

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I wish I could see the tour cast. I just finished this show at a community college level, and I played Ruth. I've got to tell ya, the role is decieving. Why? It's harder than it looks. While Ruth's songs may have been composed for Rosalind Russel (who I LOVE by the way), in a manner fitting her range, or lack there of, the music is actually very challening, (ie, meter changes that happen like 10 times in a piece, crazy key changes, etc). I loved singing the songs because it gave me an opportunity to play with my range - but that's beside the point. Ruth Sherwood is quite a complicated personality. I studied Donna's performance, Rosalind's, Brooke's, a few others, watched countless hours of I LOVE LUCY and CAROL BURNETT, and researched like MAD to actually give this woman some depth.
So when actresses take on this role, which is tough because this musical is so old, and in 10 years I fear it might be too outdated, I give them PROPS for whatever they do - musically and dramatically.

Plus for Comden (adore her!) to throw in RUTH'S STORIES, the whole scene with Ruth playing out 3 of her stories while Baker reads them, it's like she was saying to herself, "Alright, let's really make this actress work!!! MUHAHAHAHAHA!" She certainly has a great sense of humor that Betty Comden.
But the music is fabulous, the story is great, and HEY - how many musicals are out there that end with the not-so-hot-looking girl ends up with a happy ending?
Not many.

*I'm adding a link to my Myspace music page, where I have a recording of myself and the actress who played Eileen singing the most recognized song from the show, OHIO - ALSO, if you still don't get SWING, just post back and I'll help ya....GREAT number, loved that number! GET HEP!!!!!*
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OHIO from WONDERFUL TOWN!!!

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