Wonderful Town 2003 revival

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Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 4:17pm

I recently discovered this show and noticed there was a revival in 2003 with Donna Murphy (and later Brooke Shields). I was wondering, for anyone who saw the revival, what did they think?

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

The revival (and Donna Murphy's performance) was widely praised; however, due to a recurring illness, she missed a great deal of performances. It was discussed widely: in the press, on this and other boards, and within the theatre community. She left the run (I should say wasn't allowed to complete her run) and Brooke Shields was brought in as a replacement. She wasn't Murphy but she was good--and did well enough that they re-recorded the cast album with her and Jennifer Wills. Do a search of these boards if you're interested, as this revival has been discussed in great detail.

I saw it with Murphy and thought it was superb.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 4:42pm

Like the still-running revival of Chicago, Wonderful Town started life as an Encores show and, like Chicago, it featured an on-stage orchestra with the action played before it. I saw it with Donna Murphy and loved it. She was sensational and Gregg Edelman was terrific as the male lead. I liked Jennifer Westfeldt as Eileen a lot less.

This was the show that earned Donna Murphy the reputation for unreliability as she was indisposed for a good deal of the run. Thankfully, she seems to have put that behind her now.

I'm pretty sure both cast recordings are still around - one with Murphy and one with Shields.

Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 4:49pm

Here's a good article to read if you're interested in learning more about Donna's experience with the show, from her perspective. And yes, both cast recordings are still in print and readily available. Brooke's no singer, but neither was Roz Russell, really.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/theater/30murp.html?ref=theater

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 5:35pm

Wonderful Town with Donna Murphy was one of the first shows I ever saw, and I loved it and her.

That's a really interesting article, AC - I didn't realize the production was so troubled, and that she missed so many performances from almost the very start. It makes me doubly glad that I saw her, because it was my appreciation for the great performance that I saw that got me into Passion, then Sondheim, then Bernstein, etc.

Did Donna go on to play every show of LoveMusik, or did she miss any performances of the recent People in the Picture? Either way, I'm so glad her stage career wasn't ruined.

Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 5:43pm

She missed one performance of LoveMusik because she had the flu and another performance had to be cancelled because both she and Judy Blazer were unable to perform and they shared the same understudy (Ann Magnuson). She didn't miss any performances of The People in the Picture. I think that any hit her reputation took during that period in her career has been assuaged, especially after she told the full story in the Times.

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 6:08pm

Oh, good. I was also wondering about something else in the article - it said that the debacle may be the reason she didn't win the Tony that year, but is this because the Tony voters didn't get a chance to see her performance or because they were disinclined to reward her perceived bad behavior?

Idina Menzel won that year, right...hmm.

Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 6:24pm

The answer to that question is probably both, although I've always felt it was simplistic to say that Murphy had the Tony in the bag from the beginning, until Menzel upset her. Murphy won the OCC but Menzel won the Tony and the Drama Desk. The category also had Tonya Pinkins (CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) and Kristin Chenoweth (WICKED), both of whom were considered serious contenders for the award. Also: it helps to be in a hot show; WICKED was hot that year, successful and making money, whereas WONDERFUL TOWN wasn't selling well and had bad press connected to Murphy's absences. I'd say it was one of the tightest races in years, actually, and that Donna's not winning came down to a lot more than missed performances.

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 6:25pm

There was a strong field of leading ladies that year. The lady who should have won the Tony was Tonya Pinkins for Caroline, or Change.

Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!

#10

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 7:05pm

Donna Murphy was absolutely brilliant. One of the finest musical comedy performances I've ever seen. However...

While Kathleen Marshall's opening number choreography was quite wonderful, her work after the opener was lazyy and repetitive. It also didn't help that the orchestra was on stage, taking up a large amount of playing space. Because of that, the staging felt quite flat and cramped. I also hated Jennifer Westfeldt's Eileen. They should have cast a legit soprano. But I found the experience worth it for Murphy.

"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

#11

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 7:14pm

You're right, it WAS a strong year!

I actually thought Jennifer Westfeldt was good too, both on stage and on the recording. Not in Donna Murphy's league obviously, but few are.

Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

Updated On: 8/13/11 at 07:14 PM

#12

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 9:14pm

I saw the 2003 revival twice and Donna Murphy performed (terrifically) both times. I would describe that revival as vibrant. I thought it was energetic and funny, with several fine performances. Murphy was great and her comedic chops excelled, but I also enjoyed both Greg Edelman and Jennifer Westfeldt in their roles. The Tony-winning choreography was top-notch and as I recall I had a lot of fun at this show, which is why I saw it again.

#13

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 9:14pm

#14

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 9:36pm

I saw it once with Donna Murphy and actually went back to see it twice with Linda Mugleston.

#15

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 9:47pm

I had tickets to see this show with Donna Murphy, but she was out (no surprise then) and I got refunds. First time I ever did that, went to tkts and bought something else, I think it was Little Shop of Horrors.
Anyhow, I got to see the show later with Brook Shields, but Jennifer Hope Wills as Eileen really stole my heart. Jenn went on to have a very sucessful four year run as Christine in Phantom of the Opera,
Wonderful Town was a fun show to see, and I especially liked the references to Greenwich Village!

#16

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 11:39pm

Donna Murphy's Performance in this show was devine

#17

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/13/11 at 11:57pm

AC126748, it was Ann Morrison who covered Murphy in LoveMusik, not Ann Magnuson. And the cancelled performance wasn't because Murphy and Blazer shared an understudy. Jessica Wright covered Blazer, and Morrison covered Murphy.

The problem was that since Wright was the only female swing and Morrison had her own on-stage track, if Morrison was on for Murphy and Wright was on for Blazer, there would have been no one to take Morrison's track. They cancelled the show in ordered to rehearse a reduced version that eliminated Morrison's track in order for Wright to cover Blazer while Morrison was on for Murphy, which is what happened for one performance the following day.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 8/14/11 at 11:57 PM

#18

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/14/11 at 12:08am

Small correction, AC: Donna Murphy won both the Outer Critics and Drama Desk awards in 2004.

#19

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/14/11 at 8:36am

This show made me fall absolutely in love with Donna Murphy - I saw it 4 times and she was brilliant every time. Funny, moving, danced wonderfully (She won the Astaire Award that year)and of course sang like a dream. I also really enjoyed Gregg Edelman.

The show as a whole was, as was said before, just a lot of fun.

"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "

#20

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/14/11 at 9:34am

SW: Thanks for clarifying the situation. I can't believe I mixed up Ann Morrison's name--I feel like a bad Sondheim fan!

Theatreguy: I was basing my information off of Wikipedia, which incorrectly lists Idina as the winner. Thanks for pointing that out.

Updated On: 8/14/11 at 09:34 AM

#21

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/14/11 at 10:08pm

I saw Wonderful Town with Linda Mugleston as Ruth and Nancy Anderson as Eileen and enjoyed the production immensely. Donna Murphy's promotional appearances (Regis and Kelly, Tony Awards) were not very impressive to me, so I didn't miss her at all. I do miss this show though, one of my most memorable Broadway experiences.

Dean: Can I tell you something? Lorraine: That depends on what it is. Dean: I think you're really really pretty. Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.

#22

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/31/12 at 8:52pm

Donna Murphy being better than you

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

#23

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 8/31/12 at 9:07pm

The revival did seem to, well, revive interest in the show in general, which is great. It's a small gem--reminds me of some other 50s musicals of the time like The Pajama Game in that, it just works.

To think that Bernstein was called in to write the music in, I believe, a matter of weeks. I always wondered if the team had hoped for a sort of On the Town reprise--they had much of the same team, but Jerome Robbins was unavailable and only came in last minute as a favour to doctor much of the show (and according to one bio, nearly all of the choreography). The 1950s live tv version with Roz is a *lot* of fun--we have some of those 1950s tv musicals on DVD now, I really wish someone would release WT which I find better than most of them.

#24

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 9/1/12 at 12:28am

I saw it in previews before Donna Murphy started developing vocal problems. It was without question a STAR PERFORMANCE! I recall that Ben Brantley was in a state of ecstasy (and I don't mean the drug) when he wrote his review.

#25

Wonderful Town 2003 revival

Posted: 9/1/12 at 12:34am

I think Murphy only started missing shows after the Tony ceremonies.

The odd thing wasn't missing shows she had left the show BUT the producers wouldn't admit it. Her name was in the ads for like two solid months after she left the show....why didn't Equity or somebody step in? Seems like false advertising on the producers' part.

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