Wonderful Town to close Jan 30 with Brooke Shields' departure- Page 2

[idinaroxmysox6]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:19pm

thats too bad, i never got 2 c it.. i donnt think i'd want 2 neway..

[magruder]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:29pm

may b u shud go c wicked again insted?

[reaching4stars]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:31pm

I saw this show soon after Donna began experiencing her health issues, before Brooke Sheilds had even been announced as the replacement for Donna, and the understudy who was in for Donna, Linda Mugleston, could not have been more flawless. Vocally, acting wise, dance wise, she was phenomenal. She could have easily played this role on a regular basis, and for the director to say the show was closing as a result of the inability to replace Brooke is a slap in the face to Linda. Also, after hearing Linda and then Brooke on the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, singing "Swing" Linda was so much stronger than Brooke it was sad (esp. the end section of the song with the company and Ruth, a lot of the ending was changed to accomodate Brooke).

This is all not to say that Brooke Sheilds is not talented, she is certainly much better than some "names" that have been brought into shows to hopefully pull an audience (cough cough...Melanie Grifith...) but I feel quite badly for Linda Mugleston who I feel really is a talent. (She was also in Nine and Into the Woods and was the Witch the last few days of the run after Vanessa Williams left).

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:35pm

Barry Weissler is the producer not the director.

[Sluggy]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:38pm

Thanks for expressing my thoughts exactly!
Linda Mugleston did play the role on a regular basis - for the entire month of September! I understand what Mr. Weissler means (name recognition), but it was a poor choice of words.
Hopefully the closing will mean she gets a role of her own in something else....

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:51pm

The theater is one over from Q. It is a great location.
Very sad. Wish it could stay open.

[reaching4stars]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:15pm

I'm glad to hear from someone else who was able to see Linda Mugelston! I was just so floored by her performance! As an aspiring Broadway performer myself, I just couldn't imagine being in Ms. Mugelston's place and seeing someone come in who was so clearly inferior.

[PJ]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:20pm

Maybe they, who posted about location, said that because the theatre's basically on 9th avenue. I actually thought I had walked past it a few weeks ago. Don't laugh. I'm being serious.

But either way, what the heck would location have to do with grosses. It's not as if it was playing in NJ.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:28pm

It's just a few steps from 8th Avenue, not 9th -- literally just across the street from several other theatres (The Golden, The Plymouth, The Lyceum, The Music Box et al). The Hirshfeld (formerly the Martin Beck) has hosted plenty of hits in its 80 years of operation. Location has NOTHING whatsoever to do with Wonderful Town's failure.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 8:26pm

If they did not record BFO & the last performance of The Fantastiks, they will not record this. One day the powers that be will change things allowing shows to be recorded for sale.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 8:37pm

It's not about Linda Mugleston being good enough. I know of one other person who had been discussed backstage as a great replacement possibility, and who would have more than likely taken the job if offered. However, it's clear that this show would need a big tv/film name to keep it running.

Updated On: 12/29/04 at 08:37 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 8:40pm

Don't you have email or a phone?

[cmleidi]

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

I'm not suggesting that location has a lot to do with the failure of the show. Bad publicity over its star's absences is probably the main reason, but I do wonder if the show's location prevented a lot of walk-in ticket purchases from tourists. I've seen people choose to see a show because a marquee caught their attention. I was convinced that was why TMM lasted as long as it did because it's location was convenient. The Hirshfeld is not far from other theatres, but it always feels that way to me. Don't know why. Updated On: 12/29/04 at 09:29 PM

[Derek]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 9:33pm

i know what u mean, it does seem out of the way a little. they also have a tree blocking the marquee lol, it drives me nuts

[Plum]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:17pm

Beccause it's east instead of west of Broadway? It's not that big a deal. I'm pretty sure I could see the Wonderful Town marquee whenever I went to lose the Avenue Q lottery during the summer. I guess the huge number of theaters on West 45th Street might be distracting, but I doubt the Hirschfeld's location is that important.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:24pm

I was wondering when it was going to close.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:29pm

I can't say I didn't see that coming. Although, I didn't see Brooke as Ruth. I saw Linda Muggleston, and I thought she was quite good.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:42pm

I just got in from a trip to NYC where I saw today's matinee. I must say I was pleasantly thrilled with the production. It is true Ms. Sheild's lacked the vocal luster others have but I found her acting and the rest of the cast (and the orchestra) to be phenomenal. I went to the city a bit unwillingly to see Wonderful Town as I thought it wouldn't be too enjoyable. I'll easily admit, I was wrong. I had a wonderful time. Its a gem of a show. I highly reccomend seeing it before it closes.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:48pm

Sad its going but SOOOOOOOO excited for Sweet Charity!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 12:13am

I heard that it is recouping, thus it is a hit.

I could have bad information--I haven't heard anything official as of yet.

[Luke0827]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 2:24am

If the show recoups it would be truly stunning. Sales were so lackluster throughout most of the run, and the only publicity the show got was when Donna Murphy missed numerous performances. Wonderful Town is a tough sell because it doesn't have the kind of score that draws a crowd. Without hit songs it's hard to bring in tourists who might be less inclined to pay $100 to see the nuanced acting skills of someone like Donna Murphy when there are other shows like Mamma Mia which has a familiar score or The Lion King with its costumes and sets. Not that these shows are less or more worthy of an audience, but from a business perspective I am surprised Wonderful Town was ever revived since it isn't as well known as say Gypsy or Mame et. al. The fact that it isn't well known, coupled with Donna Murphy's (unfortunately) relatively low star status outside of the theater world made Wonderful Town a shaky prospect. If it broke even, I would hail that as a major accomplishment considering what it was up against.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 9:50am

I can't imagine it could possibly recoup.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 1:55pm

I saw this show with Donna and thought the supporting cast was outstanding. Not to mention the chorus boys have the best set of buns on Broadway (hmm, that would make a good calendar)

[ifagirlisntpretty]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 5:09pm

I never understood why people loved Linda so much. She was fine, but I didn't consider her anywhere near as good as Donna.

Was there anything she did BETTER than Donna? did anyone think she was better than donna? I remember reading that from some people, but I never understood why...