Wonderful Town Encores!

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 1:48am

I am seeing this (the 2000 Encores! production of Wonderful Town) at Lincoln Center on Friday and I was just wondering if anyone on here saw it a decade ago. Was a lot changed between this and the (three years afterward) Broadway version? I know a major difference is that the Encores! production has Donna Murphy and Laura Benanti, as opposed to Donna Murphy and Jennifer Westfeldt. Except for the number performed at the Tonys, I know nothing of this show. Did I make a good choice? I originally wanted to see the actual Broadway version, but apparently they only have Murphy at City Center. I booked this with Thoroughly Modern Millie (also haven't seen, though I am a bit more familiar with the score), so I should be good and ready for Anyone Can Whistle on Saturday.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 1:52am

Wonderful Town is a great show!

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 9:58am

Have you seen either production, muscle23ftl? Or do you mean the recording? And if the latter, which recording do you suggest? Though I'll be seeing one with Donna Murphy I usually prefer the OBC. Any suggestions would make me happy. Thanks!

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 11:05am

I didn't see the production of Wonderful Town at Encores but I did see it on Broadway and it was very good...Donna Murphy was excellent. I highly recommend the cast recording with her and Jennifer Westfeldt, it's very very good.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 11:28am

I saw it at Encores and Donna Murphy was a revelation.

You might take a look at this clip of Rosalind Russell from a TV adaptation of the original Broadway production:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnODIhPgxE4

And these concert versions with Audra McDonald of three songs from the show:

A Little Bit in Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqytb8_WdEs


Ohio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDk4Y1q_IFA


It's Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqgsz7KLd1w

[D2]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 11:42am

You can see the entire T.V. version of the show at the Museum of Television and Radio - it's definitely worth it. As good as Donna Murphy is (and she was arguably better at Encores than on B'way), Rosalind Russell owns the role.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/22/10 at 8:41pm

Just a little piece of trivia as well - the music for "Conga" in "Wonderful Town" is a retread of the interstitial music that links many of the scenes together in Lenny's "On The Town" from 1944.

I guess he really digged that tune..... CONGA!!!!!!

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 4/22/10 at 9:30pm

Well I originally posted a nice long update to this, but for some reason it seems to be missing. Kind of unfortunate. In it I thanked those who have contributed to this thread already and discussed how much I enjoyed seeing Wonderful Town at Lincoln Center.

Without rehashing the entire post, the only thing I really lamented was the loss of Laura Benanti. While I think the Eileen they have on the recording (Jennifer Westfeldt) is good, Laura Benanti was such a better fit. Specifically, she hits this note in "Ohio" before her and Donna Murphy return to the chorus that is just heavenly! I was also wondering why it took so long for this production to transfer. The one I saw was from 5/5/00 and it didn't open on Broadway until November 2003.

There was a lot more, but I don't really feel like typing that all again. Lame. Just...frakkin' lame.
Updated On: 4/22/10 at 09:30 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/22/10 at 11:47pm

I believe one of the delays was because of Donna Murphy's pregnancy and/or other health factors -- it opened to fabulous reviews at Encores! and everyone was hoping for an immediate transfer. I didn't see the Encores! but I did see the transfer and, to be honest, was somewhat disappointed -- this from someone who feels that Wonderful Town is one of the most under-performed shows from the entire Broadway litany. And Donna's track record for missed performances was a VERY open secret -- Riedel had a ball talking about it.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 7:37pm

Oh, he still does, even after she confirmed that she missed performances because of severe vocal troubles.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 10:02pm

Judith Daykin used to joke that everyone asked her two questions about every Encores production: "Will there be a recording of this?" and "Will it transfer to Broadway?" She always used to say that in both instances it took a producer who had money. Encores was always willing to consider it, but they didn't have the money for a record or a transfer. So part of the delay may have been people trying to get the money together to move it.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 10:28pm

That does make sense. I know not every Encores! production is guaranteed to transfer (far from it); nor should they all transfer. Some are meant for the short run and nothing more (Anyone Can Whistle comes to mind - perfect for something like Encores! but would not be suitable for today's Broadway). I was just wondering why this production DID transfer, yet so far after the Encores! production. I still wish I could hear Laura Benanti on the recording. She just brought such adorable nuances (and a heavenly voice) to the character.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 1:00am

While an immediate transfer was mooted in 2000, Laura Benanti was unavailable as she was still appearing in Swing. She didn't leave that show until 2001. By which time other members of the cast, including Donna Murphy, were unavailable. The show eventually transfered in 2003, but Benanti was attached to Violet Hour and so her role went to Jennifer Westfeldt.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 12:51pm

There are 'special magical recordings' of Benanti and Murphy in the Encores! production.