Wonderful Town

Posted: 12/19/04 at 1:38pm

I saw it yesterday and really enjoyed myself. I was somewhat dissapointed that Brooke Shield's character, Ruth, didn't have a really big belty number or something for her to really show off anything, but she is hysterical! Her acting is right on, and Jennifer Hope Wills is phenomenal as Eileen. It was really hysterical and it was definitely worth my $54 a ticket from TKTS... especially for 8th row Orchestra seats. It was really intimate settings and I adore Brooke now more than ever. Her voice, although slight weak, matched the songs sung, and her acting was just perfection.

Anyone have any opinions on this?

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 1:40pm

I was somewhat dissapointed that Brooke Shield's character, Ruth, didn't have a really big belty number

What about 100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man? Or maybe that's not really a big number. I've never seen the show, only heard the music.

[CJR]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 2:00pm

The role of Ruth was actually written for an actress who's not a very strong singer.... so while Donna Murphy may have played the role originally (and wonderfully, when she was there), it's more suited for someone like Brooke.

I think she got quite the chance to redeem herself in this role, especially after the catastrophe that was Brooke as Rizzo. (I hear that her Sally Bowles wasn't much better, but I didnt see that) I had a newfound respect for Brooke after seeing her in WT.

Posted: 12/19/04 at 7:52pm

That song is hilarious, Mythus, but definitely isn't a showstopper, I thought. It's hilarious because Brooke just does such a hilarious job with the role. She is just truly hysterically funny, whimsical and honest.

It was definitely a very good show, and I wish I had seen Donna Murphy in it as well to compare, but I recommend this show to anyone... however, it wasn't a show that I went out of the theatre humming songs because they didn't connect together much (which could be a reason to like it, however).

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 7:55pm

I saw it with Donna Murphy and, of course, I absolutely adored her, but I've heard rather glowing reviews of Brooke Shields and am debating over whether I should see it again. I probably won't. But still. There is debating.

Posted: 12/19/04 at 8:01pm

You should, keaton!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 8:07pm

"100 Easy Ways" definitely IS a showstopper in the right hands (eg Rosalind Russell's in the original cast).

[kjklo]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 8:39pm

It's a showstopper (or it can/should be) but it's definitely not a "big belty number." First of all, Russell couldn't have handled one, and secondly, those types of numbers weren't deemed essential in a Broadway show the way they seem to be now. I don't think it takes away from the brilliance of Bernstein's score though.

[Chip1012]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 8:42pm

When I saw Donna in Jan "One Hundred Easy Ways" was a big belty number.

[Kelliexo90]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 8:48pm

I absolutely loved this show! I saw it just last weekend and had lots of fun. Brooke really was great, as was Jennifer Hope Wills. I thought 100 Easy Ways was really great with the way she did it. And I did notice there was no big belty numbers which actually I think made it better because it focused more on acting than singing. Not saying that having a showstopping singing number is bad, but it's just a switch from other shows on broadway today which try and get the highest possible note they can out of their leads. Anyway, I loved it. And whoever was debating, go see it again!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:01pm

Donna Murphy certainly stopped the show with it. Amazing. I wonder if Brooke is really good, or if people think she's good because they expected worse.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:31pm

Is it selling? Is Brooke bringing them in?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:36pm

The numbers have improved -- attendance has been in the 70s, so at least it's doing better than break even -- but Brooke hasn't exactly set the box office on fire.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:37pm

Well; at least she shows up. Anyone read the NY times article today?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:40pm

REBA would set the box office on fire...

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 11:52pm

Reba is wrong for this.

[JMVR]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 2:22am

First of all, Brooke is really, honestly good in this show. She is very humble about the whole thing, i.e. no Lookk at me and adore me poses or anything like that.

Second, I loved her in it, it's a fun evening of theater, nothing pretentious but clean, old-fashined fun. Brooke is NOT setting the box office on fire, but everyone in that show would be unemployed now if it weren't for her ability to at least fill 70% of the theater, which sounds better than a dark theater.

If you're sick of all the multimillion dollar high-tech, go see Brooka and laugh a little. also a good reminder of what musical COMEDY used to be.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 8:08am

CJR-
Just because the show was written for Roz Russell, who really doesn't have much of a voice, that doesn't mean it is more suited to someone with no voice like Brooke Shields. I haven't seen her, so I can't comment on her performance, but I did want to point out that the role is suited just as well to an actress with a voice.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:17pm

I totally agree with JMVR...if you want to be reminded of how musical comedy used to be...see Wonderful Town. This is a show full of wit...a show that can stand on its own with the expensive wizardry, blown out sets and costumes, the stand and sing power belt number, over amplification, etc. I think many of todays musicals would fall totally flat if they were stripped of their glitz. This show invovles incredible writing. There is an actual storyline complemented by intigrated songs, music (great music) and dance. The focus is on the acting out of the story rather than getting to the next big blow you away number.

Also, regarding an ealier comment about wishing there was a big belt number to show of Ms. Shields. Who says you need to have that in order to show off? Brooke is terrific in this role without having to rely on cheap tricks. I, for one, am getting very bored with the annoying stand and sing belt ballad and I can only cringe at the damage they are doing in the long run to their voices. I think that Rebecca Luker, Laura Benanti, Jennifer Hope Wills and Christiane Noll have some of the best voices on Broadway. No, you may not jump out of your seat by force of a powerful belt note, but you will just melt with their smooth and luscious interpretations. This is real singing and these girls with be singing well into old age long after their belty sisters have lost it.

Anyway...off my soapbox now.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:25pm

P.S. In regards to the Sunday NYTimes article, I saw Wonderful Town again last week and I was talking to one of the cast members and neither Brooke Shields or Jennifer Hope Wills have missed a performance yet and Ms. Shields has a young child. They are classy ladies and are real stars. Okay...that's really it.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 4:05pm

I don't want to turn this into an debate over Donna Murphy's abscences, but bdwybug seems to insinuating that Ms. Murphy is not a "real star". I just want to say that she is as classy a person as you get. She missed many performances, but if you read that article, she came in with a doctor's note every time, which proves she was not taking off for no reason. I'm not trying to take anything away from Ms. Sheilds or Ms. Wills. I'm just saying that Donna Murphy is a real star and one of the most classy actresses in the business.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:12am

I'm sorry....I didn't mean to sound disrespectful. I actually adore Donna Murphy (her performance in Passionis still one of my all time favorites and didn't mean to insinuate anything off the cuff. Sometimes missing the tone of voice can be wrong. I just used the NYimes article as a spring board for a comment on how great the two of them are (Shields and Wills) only because they are the cast members now. I certainly understand that things just happen that are out of anyone's control. I can't imagine doing eight performances a week and staying healthy. I give ALL Broadway performers a lot of credit. Sorry for the confusion.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:18am

When Donna did the role, it was a big, belty, brassy show-off-your voice role. Brooke does it more like Roz would have--all character and less voice.

I think both are valid and wonderful in their own way.

And, I think Reba would be kick ass--assuming she can lose the accent. (But even with the accent, she would be fun to see).

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:46am

i would really like to see the show before brooke leaves i've heard such great things about her. as for reba she could maybe work..i can't picture it really but no one really could picture brooke in the part at first either.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 4:02pm

bdwybug- Sorry I misunderstood your comment!
As for Reba, I don't think it would be the worst choice, provided she lost the accent. I think the best choice would be Lucie Arnaz.