What a waste of money and time...Wonderful Town 10/2

Just got in from tonights performance. I went in hoping I would love the show, but it just seemed to lack in every area. Brooke gave a ok, but very lackluster performance. In fact most of the performers except Edelman, lacked that special something. I found myself more interested in the backdrop than the characters during most scenes. If I hadn't had a visitor from out of town with me I would have left at intermission. The fact that Brooke got a standing ovation confirms my belief that people will stand for ANYTHING these days.
I am very happy that we had student rush and wouldnt suggest that anyone pay full price to see it.

i paid 26 bucks to see that show. if i paid more then that, id be pissed. but the good thing was i saw linda instead of donna, ad it was jennifer w's last performnace.

It was great in January but then again it didn't have brooke shields...::shudders with the fact of thinking what has this world come to::

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I really liked Donna in this show. 'Course she's always great. Jennifer Westfeldt bored the crap out of me. She just didn't project any energy beyond the first row and it fell flat whenever she had to take focus. Edelmann has got a great voice but, again, I found his performance flat and unmoving. Other than Donna, I found the whole thing to be very underwhelming.

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A poster over at that other place had a very interesting opinion on Brooke Shields and new Eileen, Jennifer Hope Wills. I found it a detailed, thorough analysis and I'd be curious to read more feedback about Shields' take on the role. Anyway, check out the link below:
Talkin' Broadway - Wonderful Town

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I can't vouch for Jennifer Hope Wills' Eileen, but I was glad and relieved to read, at least, that in the coloratura section at the end of "Conversation Piece," that Wills was singing the actual notes. I was terrified for her predecessor during that section and nearly snapped off the armrest.

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My God. Give the two new ladies a damn break! They had like 2 weeks to practice for this. And they just started. Obviously, they will grow into their roles! Brooke sounds like she's going to be great, once she's more situated!

I don't think anyone is saying that Brooke Shields or Jennifer Hope Wills are unprepared or that people are trying to come up with excuses for them. But actors who are put in to a show that is already running get far less rehearsal time as compared to when a production is opening from scratch. Musicals tend to rehearse anywhere from four to eight weeks before starting previews. By comparison, Shields and Wills probably got two weeks of rehearsal and one put-in rehearsal. It's just natural that they might take some time to really feel situated in their roles...regardless of what an audience is paying.

And meanwhile, by posting the Talking Broadway rather positive critique of their performance, I was just trying to point out that while you didn't enjoy what you saw, Renee, someone else did.

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hey you have your opinion I have mine. And by the way I had NO IDEA that BOTH actresses were brand new. I thought Brooke did fine. I think the entire show was bad. (music,direction etc)

Updated On: 10/3/04 at 11:55 AM

Amy!

Where have you been?? I've missed you!

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LOL @ Amy.

Personally, I think the score is good. It's more of a laidback simple Bernstein, and the lyrics are pretty good. The score isn't amazing. But it's obviously not bad.

I Agree. The score is really growing on me. Donna's "Swing" blows me away. And I'm crazy over her "One Hundred Easy Ways".

Again, i haven't seen this incarnation of WT, but there is no amount of rejearsal that is going to make the inept, adept. Time does not give you talent.