Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Wonderful Town- Disappointing
bestofbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#0Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:10pm
I had an opportunity to catch a Wednesday matinee of Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town. Being one of Donna Murphy's biggest fans it saddens me to say that her performance was...well...not funny, not interesting, not much of anything. Let me begin by saying that the audience was dead and the average age must have been 70 or 80 years old.
(Side Note: How obnoxious are old people. They're worse than little kids in the theater. It was a problem at Wicked and Wonderful Town. What is this constant need to comment on everything and repeat jokes? Sorry I'm stereotyping but it was ridiculous. I sat behind a group of immature teenagers from a school at Henry IV and they were more respectful than the old people sitting behind me at Wonderful Town. Rude Rude Rude.)
...Anyway, the role of Eileen was being played by Nancy Anderson who I personally adore and was thrilled to see that she would be playing the role. I knew nothing about Wonderful Town going in, only a few of the numbers...you know the ones everyone knows (why oh why oh why oh...why did I ever leave Ohio). I find the show to be very interesting. Very old school musical with several numbers that were obviously thrown in with no relation to the plot. The Irish Eileen number and Wrong Note Rag in particular made no sense. But that's okay, I can appreciate the show for what it is. In conclusion I basically think that the show is so outdated it really needs a book doctor, because the jokes simply do not land.
Kathleen Marshall's choreography and direction are fine although nothing spectacular. Her smartest move was putting the orchestra on the stage. They truly were the star of the show and just a little reminder how important the orchestra in a Broadway show is.
As for the performances...well the orchestra is the only performance that got a standing ovation from me. Nancy Anderson did a fine job as the understudy for Eileen. She is quite a talent and I would have found her wasted in her regular role in the show. Greg Edelman is so incredibly boring onstage one of those old people I was talking about behind me fell asleep and started to snore. Can some one tell me how he gets so much work? What an uninteresting actor. As for Donna Murphy, she simply didn't live up to my expectations. She seemed tired and the number Swing was embarassing to watch. Some of her character choices annoyed me to no end. What was the voice about? I don't get that. It seems as if all the actors where in different worlds playing different types of comedy. Donna's Ruth was so screwballish and awkward that I had a hard time watching her. None of the actors even came close to playing the humor at this level. It was very uneven. I must say however that the man playing the ice cream man (Eileen's love interest) was sensational. He really pushed the show along for me. The Conga number and the finale to Act I were excellent as was Wreck's number "Pass That Football."
Overall the show did very little for me. Why was Donna Murphy so off? Who knows? Maybe it was the fact that it was a Wednesday matinee, maybe it was the fact that Eileen was being played by an understudy, maybe it was because Greg what's-his-name stinks, maybe it's because the jokes are so outdated that no one was laughing at her. Whatever the case may be this show did nothing for me except give me a new found appreciation for the Broadway orchestra and how important they are.
#1re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:27pm
I'm willing to guess it was a dull performance that you caught. Normally, the audience finds the show extremely funny--especially Donna. Or, it just wasn't your thing--you are not alone in your dissent of the show.
I will say (as an usher), I really hate Wed mats!!
tpdc
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/03
#2re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:33pmI was waiting for your response JRB. I've seen WT twice--with Murphy and without. I thoroughly enjoyed it both times. I thought it was pretty funny. A lot of laughs were from Jennifer Westfeldt as Eileen. A friend tells me a few of the things I found missing in the show are due to some cuts made for this production. I think that while this may not an A lsit show, it's a pretty decent one with the glorious Bernstein music. I agree that the orchestra is the star of the show. Perhaps Edeleman is a matter of taste. I liked him quite a bit and I thought he was one of the best things about the recent 1776 and INTO THE WOODS revivals.
#3re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:45pm
Excellent post, BestofBroadway. I, too, wonder why Gregg Edelman works all the time. I have never warmed up to him in the many things I have seen him in. I guess it is a matter of personal taste.
I haven't seen Wonderful Town, but that is on my "to see" list the next time I'm in New York.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
sheekala
Broadway Star Joined: 7/3/03
#4re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:53pmAny truth to the rumor that they are changing thhe title to Less Than Wonderful Town?
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#5re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:55pm
Sheek,
No...they're going to try to sound more positive:
'Decent Town'
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
bestofbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#6re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 4:57pmI don't want anyone to think that I hated the show. I didn't. It just didn't do much for me and I do believe that the fact it was a Wednesday matinee had something to do with it. It's interesting to hear that most of the laughs come from Westfeldt. JRB- does it seem as if the energy and Donna are always off during the Wednesday matinee? What is your opinion of Nancy in comparison to Jessica.
#7re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 5:11pmWell, there is no denying that it's Donna's show. However, many others get laughs and praise as well. I think the cast has been busting their butts every show. I was early at your performance, so I didn't see it when you did. I think Nancy is a great performer, but I am very fond of Jennifer's performance.
#8re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 5:15pmI heard it got great reviews. I got tickets for March. 6th row center on a Saturday night. I will let you know.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
#9re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 5:30pm
"Decent Town" - Too committal
Didn't Love It Didn't Hate It Town
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#10re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 6:20pmBroadwayLady, you know I love you to bits, but why is it that whenever you mention you are seeing a show you give the location of your seats? (When I saw WONDERFUL TOWN it was from 2nd row center.)
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
tpdc
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/03
#11re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 7:24pmI didn't mean to imply most of the laughs come from Westfeldt. But she does get a lot of laughs. When Murphy was out, there was a guy out front telling people that "one of the two stars" was out that day. I think Westfeldt makes a huge contributuion to this show. She managed to get more laughs in the role than I knew were there. And she builds the laughs nicely. Both times I saw it, the audience (a Sunday matinee) was howling during the police station scene in the second act. Peter Benson, Michael Mc Grath, Randy Danson, Ray Wills and Ken Barnett get a lot of laughs as well. Of course Murphy (and Mugleston) has a lot of the best lines. But it's not something like BOY FROM OZ that you'd turn your ticket back in if the star was out. You're right though, it's a simple comedy and if the audience is dead then the show is going to be as well.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#12re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 7:25pm
"I find the show to be very interesting."
"In conclusion I basically think that the show is so outdated it really needs a book doctor, because the jokes simply do not land."
Thank you for that wonderful book report, Clarence.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#13re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 10:27pm
Well,
I saw the show first row center and when I saw it it was incredible. Donna Murphy blew me away but the whole cast did.
Sorry to hear that. The night I saw it I had goose bumps. It moved me.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#14re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 10:27pm
Well,
I saw the show first row center and when I saw it it was incredible. Donna Murphy blew me away but the whole cast did.
Sorry to hear that. The night I saw it I had goose bumps. It moved me.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#15re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/9/04 at 10:33pmIf Donna Murphy "blew you away", then what on earth "blew you back"????
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
bestofbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#16re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/10/04 at 1:04amYour welcome Namo
sparky310
Featured Actor Joined: 11/10/03
#17re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/12/04 at 10:53amwhy is it when a show sucks people defend it and when something is charming and lovely they try to rip it down..this show is perfectly lovely and charming and full of heart...and great perfromances..good grief people..get over it...donna and the entire cast are great..the choreography needs some help but other than that its lovely...i just cannot stand this chatter that goes on so endlessly...let the audience enjoy
#18re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/12/04 at 7:59pm
DP, I love you to bits also but I do not always mention the location of my seats. When I talked about LSOH, I did not mention where I sat. I mentioned it this time because I think sixth row center is perfect for me. I recently bought tixs for Fiddler, I will NOT tell you where I am sitting. So there. 
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
#19re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/12/04 at 8:12pm
I'm planning to see this in a couple of weeks, but that's kind of what I am anticipating. I'm only going because of Ray McCleod whom I got to know during DOTV. I remember seeing the movie "My Sister Eileen" and while cute, it's not something that would really move me, so I don't expect much more from the show. But I think this is what folks seem to want, I return to the "old" Broadway.
redmustang
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#20re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/12/04 at 11:59pm
Dollypop,
I love to hear where everyone's seats are for their shows. Today when tickets are $100.00 a pop (not a Dollypop), where you sit becomes a big deal. I want to hear from the guy who sat 3rd row center for Gypsy and could see Bernadette spit, or from the teenage girl who watched The Lion King from row V and longed to be closer to Simba. Keep those seat locations coming everybody. And Dollypop, personally just for you, Happy 40th anniversary to HELLO, DOLLY! Dolly was the first musical I ever saw professionally. Was a student at Ohio State, Fall 1965/66? The tour with Betty Grable came roaring into Columbus. Teacher/lover/friend took me. What was I - 18? 19? Was no stranger to theatre. Had been in a few HS shows. But that night was magic!!! Was totally mesmerized by Grable and Co. Max Showalter played Vandergelder, and, prior to his film role, Danny Lockin played Barnaby. I think people forget what a great musical Dolly is to see live and what a great musical of the 60's it was among so many great musicals of the 60's. The audience that night in Columbus, Ohio, were screaming and stomping at the end of Act 2 and didn't want the curtain to come down. In reality, the curtain will never come down on Hello, Dolly! HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY!
Updated On: 1/13/04 at 11:59 PM
#21re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/24/04 at 8:03pmHow comes there was an understudy for Wonderful Town?
http://groups.msn.com/The Jerry Herman Appreciation Society
bestofbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#22re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/24/04 at 8:10pmBecause...
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#23re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/24/04 at 8:19pmBroadwayLady, there is no need for you to tell me where you're sitting for FIDDLER. I know that you have one of those special seats, right up there on the roof nest to the fiddler. I hope you'll be able to see everything from that vantage point.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#24re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wonderful Town- Disappointing
Posted: 1/25/04 at 8:39am
Dollypop, how astute. That is where my seat is on the rooftop with the Fiddler. I hope there won't be too many birds crapping on my head.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
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