Wonderful Town...Wonderful understudy

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 6:41pm

So I saw Wonderful Town this afternoon. Donna Murphy was out, which was a surprise. I'm not sure if it was her first absence, but anyway, Linda Mungleston(sp?) played Ruth, and was fantastic. She's witty, and funny, had great comic timing. I remember watching Donna Murphy's performance on the Tony awards. Honestly, when I compare that performance to Linda's, there is no comparison. In this case, I think the understudy is better than the main principle actress.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 6:54pm

must...reign...in...sarcasm...

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 6:57pm

Donna M. is terrific, but Linda M is a more natural fit for the role.

[el]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 9:51pm

I agree Linda Mugelston is wonderful in the role. I had seen the show last month. And of course I was disappointed that Donna Murphy was not on that night. (Didn't know that when I called for tickets the night before), but Linda was fantastic and funny. You could tell she has had a lot of practice playing Ruth.

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 9:53pm

She's understudied a few big roles. I remember that she played the Witch in ITW for the last few weeks of its run.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:15pm

i think she's the theater equivalent of the old addage "always a bridesmaid never a bride" or in her case "always an understudy never a lead"

[WiCkEd4LyFfE]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:21pm

Just wondering... Is Wonderful Town worth seeing? I live near the city so its no biggie to get tickets for the end of the summer but i have heard not such great things about it. I have heard that the updated musical is "missing something" What do you guys think?

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:22pm

its ok... a little lovey dovey for me musically tho

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:30pm

Linda Muggleston also understudied Luisa in "Nine." I've never seen her (although I have seen all the big shows she's been in), but I hear great things. Updated On: 8/21/04 at 10:30 PM

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:36pm

I would love to see her perform. I saw ITW with Vanessa. I didn't see Nine, although I wanted to. It closed before I could get up there. Wicked took precedence over Wonderful Town for me.

[AvalonSkysStudios]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 10:39pm

i have seen Linda Muggleston in WT and
she is absolutely worth the ticket.
Donna is wonderful and so is Linda.
Two gorgeously funny and witty entertainers
with such great interpretations of the role
of Ruth Sherwood. Whichever one you see,
you will love it.

Hey since Brooke is replacing Donna, will Linda
still be the understudy for the role.
I hope she does. Donna and Linda just know how to carry
a show.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 11:56pm

All things considered, one might say that Linda Mungleston has been the lead, and Donna Murphy the understudy.

I'm so nasty.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 11:57pm

Naughty Blue Wizard!

I've only seen Linda perform live "100 Easy Ways" when she was at the Chatterbox- she has a great personality and I love her voice. I've seen her in ITW, I can't wait to see her in Wonderful Town.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 12:07am

blue wizard... you officially say the things i think- which could be a bad thing lol

[Spiritoflaw]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 12:22am

I saw Linda this evening in WT and she was really great! Excellent voice, great sense of humor and perfect timing too. I had a chance to meet her and chat briefly, after the performance. She is smart and very sweet. I brought her CD with me and she signed the cover with a lovely personal note. I also met Gregg Edellman and Jennifer Westfeldt and both were very sweet and friendly. So, they all said the show is not closing and Brooke Shields will be replacing Donna Murphy, in late September.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 12:55am

I adore Linda in the role of Ruth. I have the chance to see her two of the six time I've seen the show and she really shines. She has really had practice too, at the talk-back I went to she was asked how many times she had performed the part and I think she said over thirty times. Both of them are great in the show and the audiences seem to really get into Linda's performance. She even got some entrance applause the last time I saw her in it.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 7:48am

Without them necessarily being "better" than (but rather having their own strengths) frequently understudies are wonderful to see...a recent example is Barret Foa going on for John T. in Avenue Q...now a lot of us can't wait for him to go on again.
That doesn't detract from John's brilliance.

Other examples : Clow for Gaines in Roundabout "Company" (he almost played as many times a Boyd it seemed), Sebastian Arcelus for Manley Pope in "Rent", Michael Gruber as the male swing in the recent Jackie Mason revue...lots of others, we all have our favorites.

And there is a prevailing excitement here about Jarrod Emick's understudy in the upcoming "All Shook Up".

Sometimes when the audience groans at an opening announcement of cast replacement, some of us here who know the show, cheer.

Was hoping to see Kevin Spirtas as Peter Allen --- but Jackman is too much of a pro to EVER be out no matter how sick (playing for months with that injured foot all bandaged up).

[IssaMe]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 7:48am

Sorry for the double post. Updated On: 8/22/04 at 07:48 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 10:26am

"Donna Murphy was out, which was a surprise. I'm not sure if it was her first absence..."

Believe me, it was not her first absence.

Updated On: 8/22/04 at 10:26 AM

[BwayLover]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 10:43am

Can you stop being so nasty? The woman is allowed to take time off, even if she was sick at the beginning of the run.

[weeblo]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 11:40am

Saw it Tuesday night -- gee, Donna Murphy was out yet again. I sure hope she gets paid by the show and not a flat rate. Even the staff at the theatre admitted she's never there. Whatever -- fortunatly Linda Muggleston was and she was AWESOME! So was the lady who played Eileen -- I'm in love! At any rate, the understudy, if you haven't seen her, is the perfect cross between Ethel Merman and Alice from the Brady Bunch -- funny, muggy, good voice, and energetic. Thoroughly enjoyed myself and recommend highly. I've since bought the CD -- I actually wish Linda M was on it and not Donna M...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 11:53am

If this is the unofficial Donna Murphy bashing thread - you should be ashamed of yourselves. NO ONE can say exactly what the circumstances of her abscences are and no one has the right to judge her on the number of show's she's actually performed and/or missed.
I am sick and tired of the negative attitude on this board regarding wonderfully gifted individuals. Performers are Human beings with real problems, real families and real dilemnas to deal with, just like each and every person reading this thread. How they choose to deal with them is their own business and they should not be second guessed or judged when you can't possibly know the reasons behind their actions. NOT everything you read here is the absolute truth, so take it all with a grain of salt and try to think the best of someone until you have undeniable proof to the contrary, please.

[weeblo]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 12:29pm

Edna -- great picture!

No judgment -- seriously -- it's just one of those "if I took off as much work as she does, I'd be unemployed" feelings. It just seems when a performer reaches a certain level of celebrity, what accompanies that is a disparate level of latitude in terms of expectation. Some take advantage of it, others don't. In Ms Murphy's case, I truly don't know what side of the line she falls. I just think it's a misnomer to have someone's name as top billing who does not perform with regular frequency. But, I guess that doesn't sell tickets...

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 1:09pm

Redhot......BRAVA!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 3:40pm

Thank you, Possums! I wave my gladioli in your general direction!