Wonderful Town - Will it Close ?- Page 3

[Spiritoflaw]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:51am

Did they award a drama Pulitzer in 2004 yet?

Can someone please tell me what is a "shill"? I never heard this word before and I see it used very often on this message board.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 5:26pm

Man! I couldn't DISagree with you Donna bashers more. Like someone else said "THE WOMAN HAS HEALTH PROBLEMS. It must be something serious or else she wouldn't miss so many shows - she is much too professional for that. Give her a break. She definitely gives her ALL when she is out on that stage- halfa**ing it would be beneath her, and us, too. I can't believe you even suggested it." And it is true. I don't know if you guys are aware of the fact that she had a miscarriage a couple years back so it does seem as though there are some serious health issues at risk. Granted she might not be taking the best route by missing performances here and there but give her a break! To the person who said that this is an undemading vocal score...Donna sings the HELL outta it (Listen to the cast recording!). She kills the songs night after night, probably more than they need to be. Also, this is from a person who was subjected to seeing her u/s yesterday...now thats a trip...Agian, she's a wonderful performer and maybe it was a mistake taking on a role so soon after her miscarriage. After seeing it for the 3rd time yesterday play to less than a 1/2 full house (literally, teh mezzanaine was empty), its time is pretty much up. " This show is just up in the air, but as much as I love it, I think its time for it to go. Its just sad seeing how empty the house is. I guess we just wait and see. "

[cmleidi]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 6:33pm

Missing 64 performances (and counting) is ridiculous. If she's THAT SICK, she should have just left the show. I'm sure the Weisslers (and ticket buyers) would have been glad to be rid of someone who can't be depended upon to show up. Who cares if she gives a fantasic performance if she rarely shows up??? How many people want to keep playing the will she or won't she game? The show keeps advertising Donna Murphy's last weeks in WT, and yet, she's already missed the first week and half of these last weeks. I was planning to return to see the show, but I'm not going to waste money on airfare, hotel, transportation, and the ticket to find out whether she will actually make it to the theatre. I've met her, and she's a lovely woman. If she's truly sick, I wish her a speedy recovery, but I doubt I would ever make a point of seeing her in another show. I'm not willing to risk losing a lot of money to see her.

By the way, I'm sure a lot of criticism she received would not have come her way if she hadn't made a point of saying she didn't want to be one of those in and out girls who constantly miss performances.

[AvalonSkysStudios]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 8:13pm

well, after hearing soooo many opinions (spiritof law...my heart is to u) but (and please dont be affended by this) but please stop saying such disgusting crap about Donna! I realize that she has missed quite a few performances.. but dear god! the woman didnt get sick on purpose!

so, my opinion is that with Jen Wesftfeldt gone and Donna leaving so soon, that maybe this show is just not gonna be on long... it is heartbreaking... but shows cant last forever...
and to Ridel, GO OFF AND BUGGER SOMEONE ELSE FOR ONCE!!!!!!
i apologize for offending anyone, simply me stating my opinion.

[AvalonSkysStudios]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 8:33pm

to fellow broadwayworld members.....
i apologize if i was a bit harsh in the comment above...
but please keep on posting...
thanks

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:22pm

I agree completely! :)

[AvalonSkysStudios]

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

i just learned from a source that Donna was on a contract to perform 600 performances of the show and Mike Ridel writes that she has missed 60 performances (20% of the perfs done) well, from what her contract has, it would have been only 10% of missed performances.

so, to all Donna bashers, please be conciderate, and wake up and realize that she has been ill for quite sometime.
i mean, Jen Westfeldt is leaving becuz of her tv gig (she has a business reason ) Donna has a personal reason... so pretty much.. Donna is Fantastic and forgive me for preaching to the choir but back off a little
(exhales deeply) thank you

[cmleidi]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:01pm

No one is saying anything disgusting about Donna. I think she's a fabulous performer, and she was exceedinly gracious when I met her. Her performance in PASSION was extraordinary.

She has missed 64 performances as of today. Missing twenty percent of the performances is absurd no matter what the reason although I'm sure apologists will continue to make excuses for her. If you're that sick, you take time off, and you heal yourself. You don't pull the in and out thing (something DM was herself highly critical of before she did the same thing) which helps no one. Her spotty attendance record has cost people a lot of money (those who traveled to see her), and it's (partly) responsible for the low ticket sales. IF reports are to be belived, it's also responsible for the low morale at the theatre. I don't say she did this on purpose, but those are the consequences of her spotty attendance. Who wants to buy a ticket to a show that was sold on the strength of the leading lady when she misses so many performances? Perhaps, you want to take the chance and play the will she or won't she game, but I don't have the time, money, or interest to do that. The show is sold as Donna Murphy in WONDERFUL TOWN. It's not sold as Donna Murphy's understudy in WONDERFUL TOWN although it should be. Updated On: 9/10/04 at 10:01 PM

[Spiritoflaw]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 12:02am

I may be naive, but I don't believe this is a "will she or won't she game." It's not that simple. She has great integrity. She is expected to return this week, any day, now. The box office staff (as much as I dislike them, personally) are willing to accept ticket returns when Donna is out. In the meantime, Linda is doing a great job and the entire cast is very grateful to her. These people really deserve great respect!

[CJR]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 12:17am

The week's almost over hon

[cmleidi]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 1:42am

Spiritoflaw, I don't live in New York. If I come to see a performer in a show (as this show is basically advertised), a refund or an exchange isn't going to do me any good. It is a question of will she or won't she, and frankly, I'm sick of asking that question. I'm not willing to risk $150 to $200 for the hotel room for one night, the airfare of $150, the cab ride of $30.00, and the ticket price of $60 to $100 to come to New York to discover that she's out AGAIN. I experienced that with Daniel Sunjata in TAKE ME OUT and Sutton Foster in MILLIE. I won't do it again. I understand that I take a risk when I buy a ticket, and make plans to come to New York, but I won't take that risk for someone who misses as much as Ms. Murphy. I don't have confidence that if I buy the ticket she will actually show up. She may have a good excuse for missing so many performances, but that good excuse won't pay my expenses. This does pain me because I adore her, and I really wanted to see her perform in WT one last time. I just can't afford the risk involved in buying that ticket. Updated On: 9/10/04 at 01:42 AM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 7:07pm

I think the truly professional thing to do would have been to pull out of the production. If she couldn't guarantee to perform on a regular basis, then she should have just said, "I'm ill, I'm sorry, I need this time off." Rather than have audiences, cast and crew members wondering who will go on night after night. This is doubly-serious because her name is above the title.

Updated On: 9/10/04 at 07:07 PM

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 11:37pm

Jesus Christ poeple I was just kidding as usual. Note how I said, "lol" again.

[AvalonSkysStudios]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 11:29am

i apologize for my outburst...
but could this really really hurt her career?
i mean, maybe she will get this tv show gig..
but i have been thinking (with the Ridel article,
as much as i dont like him) with all this talk of
her leaving of a med condition.. what is going on with
her being absent so much during her last weeks on WT?
things just seem weird right now with the entire show...

[Spiritoflaw]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 12:14pm

A while ago, I was reading Ray McLeod's articles about the WT rehearsals and previews. He wrote that when Donna was out sick, the actors found out the details from the newspapers. Apparently, the producers keep everything secret even from the cast. This may explain the current "mystery" with WT...