Alice Ripley in Next to Normal in Los Angeles

[ElphieZ]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 12:25pm

Has anyone seen her in this lately? I am a HUGE fan of Alice Ripley's having followed her career for over 15 years and finally saw the show last night...her vocals seemed shot and MUCH different than the soundtrack. I'd heard that her voice may have taken a hit from the show but had trouble finding the threads that discussed this. If anyone could comment, or point me in the direction of the thread, I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Otherwise, the show was fantastic, everyone's acting was great, I was just a little taken aback by the vocals.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 12:27pm

Uh oh.

You said "soundtrack."

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 12:45pm

Let's hope she sounds better when it gets to Denver next week. I am attending press night next Wednesday.

[ElphieZ]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 12:52pm

*edit - I meant cast recording.

[Idiot]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:12pm

I saw N2N for the first time here in Los Angeles last week. I was looking forward to it like crazy, since the Ahmanson season has been fairly dreadful.

Wow. What a disappointing show. Alice's voice is tired, and so was her performance. I wish I'd seen the show when it was fresh.

Freshness wouldn't have improved the staging, though. The staging was god awful. That enormous structural set is used to no real effect, and numbers that BEGGED for choreography got the choreographic equivalent of a lap dance.

Liked the first act, but otherwise can't see what the hubub was about. I'll have to agree with my friend who saw it in NYC -- Next To Normal is Next To Good.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:36pm

If her voice is, in fact, tired I wonder what it will be like after a few days in this high altitude. It's also interesting that they are doing a show on the 4th before press night on the 5th here. The only time they do that here is with big technical shows. I would assume her understudy will perform on the 4th. That happened when Wicked was here.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:36pm

^ I saw it last week and couldn't agree more. Having seen Alice at the beginning of the Broadway run, I know what the woman is capable of. Sadly, she seemed tired and dispirited in LA.

The rest of the ensemble was serviceable, with the exception of Curt Hansen. If I didn't know better, I would swear he was chosen for his looks and arms alone.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:39pm

Her vocals took a real turn for the worse during the latter half of her Broadway run. It's a shame. Sounds like she's having the same problems again.

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 3:14pm

I saw N2N when it first opened on Broadway so I was extremely excited to see it in LA. Unfortunately, Alice's singing was a true disappointment. It was a total distraction, and I cringed every time she sang. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved her acting but her singing just didn’t equate. People around me wondered how she won the Tony. I even saw heads nodding side to side every time she sang. It was unpleasant, and it was uncomfortable listening to her. Even by the type of applaud (or lack of), you can tell how she compared to the rest of the cast after they sang their song or even at curtain call.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 3:30pm

I am not a fan of the cast recording or the music. I was hoping I might like it when I actually saw the show.

[camncal]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 3:53pm

i thought i was the only person who thought she sounded bad. I was so looking forward to her, but there were times she could barely get a sound out and when she does, it was cringe inducing, like someone who was sick and forcing themselves to sing. my friend that was with me heard me rave about her days prior to the show said to me "i know you love her, but she's not that good of a singer." It's such a shame because Alice is capable of being brilliant. It was so bad throughout that at some point i wish she would just not sing and sometimes you can barely hear the words because it was so raspy. She needs to take some time off.

[shomeika]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 5:27pm

I saw it on 12/17, and she elicited the most applause...the standing ovation and the end was well deserved for the entire cast. I felt she remained more in her lower register, and it worked fine.

No worries, she is in fine form.

[mellow_otello]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 6:03pm

I saw it Xmas eve. I loved the show and the set. I thought both kids were great (Curt Hansen and Emma Hunton) but I agree that Ripley sounded bad throughout. Her overall vowel pronunciation was weird - which I can live with. But she frequently was flat and sounded tired. Everyone applauded of course but imho she's not having the best time - at least vocally.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 6:09pm

I was there for the same performance and thought she did sound more tired vocally than she did the opening week.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 6:54pm

I saw the show again in L.A. a few days ago and I thought Alice sounded fine. I didn't expect to hear a polished opera singer or what have you, I was expecting to hear Alice. She did sound better earlier in the L.A. run but she sounded better then when I saw her on Broadway both times. Her middle range seems the most worn. It is interesting, because I think her high belting is the best its been. I might not have notice the pronunciation she had because I know all her songs almost word for word.

As for all the performances, between the two times I saw it in L.A. the acting has improved leaps and bounds. I am going to do this by actor as an attempt at some kind organization, but overall the performances were more nuanced and had more depth.

Alice- I liked her acting as much as ever and maybe even more this time around. Her performance was extra natural and it really seemed like she was living the role.

Emma- Her voice is still in great shape and the score seems like a breeze to her still. She toned down some "mousy" mannerisms which changed the nature of her take on the role for the better. She made great choices and was more nuanced then the last time I saw her

Curt- Eh, I feel like he could do more with the role, and hopefully he does. It just seems a bit flat still. That said I still think he had a fine performance. Then again I am not one to ever really hate a performance. His voice is pretty perfectly suited for this kind of score but it was pretty worn. He didn't hit the B in I'm Alive this time around.

Asa- His performance improved as well. But he is still not my favorite Dan. I am glad to see more of an intensity in his performance, such as in "I Am The One"

Preston- His performance didn't really change. A few noticeable changes in some choices. I still like him though. He is very good.

Jeremy- His performance was great. I don't really notice the doctors role a lot but he did everything with it and it was amazing.

Sitting where I was this time (dead center mezz) I appreciated the technical elements (that is lighting sets, staging) more. The seat was a great seat for this. The "Wish I Were Here" lighting really blew me away. I really, really loved it.

Excuse the overly long post.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 6:58pm

Even on her best days, Alice doesn't sound like a typical Broadway vocalist. Her voice has always had a "husky" quality to it, which I enjoy. It's not for everyone. I suspect a lot of these complaints are from people wanting to hear the score sung like it's The Light in Piazza.

[nexttotheheights]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 7:06pm

When I saw her on Broadway back in November 2009 her voice was the weakest of the group IMO, but still a great voice. By the end of her Broadway run her voice seemed like it was ripped to shreds, same thing happened to Bobby and Jen. The score is really intricate and difficult 8 times a week, so it was expected. I guess 4- months wasn't enough to fully heal her voice.

[binau]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 7:38pm

This is a little sad, considering this is the tour's first stop. Is it so bad that Ripley could be replaced? I wanted to catch her in >4 months, but it doesn't seem like it is going to work.

Updated On: 12/28/10 at 07:38 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 7:45pm

Good lord, calm down, qolbinau.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 7:50pm

EL OH EL

[seussical93]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 8:00pm

I also saw it last night. It was my first time seeing the show and I really enjoyed it! I thought Alice sounded fine but also didn't go in expecting her to sound perfect. Was in front row center though so that might have helped lol. All of the performances were really top notch.

Alice- Her acting was phenomenal and I thought that her vocals did the job. Her pronunciation was a little strange at times but I thought it worked for her character. Although some don't like her tone, I thought that you could really hear the emotion come through her voice and being up close and actually hearing some of her real voice without only hearing the amplification made it that more intense. Her high belting also sounded really strong. Seeing all of the little things she does up close, such as muttering to herself, and seeing tears pouring off of her face and hitting the floor made me appreciate her performance that much more.

Emma- Vocally, she was the strongest in the cast. Her belt sounded so effortless. Acting wise, I kind of got a little annoyed with her facial expressions, always looking kind of sarcastic/disgusted. But in the final scene, her tears were flowing. She did a great job.

Curt- He did a good job. He sounded really good vocally but looked like at times he was really pushing for some of the notes- his neck veins were really bulging. Overall though he sounded awesome. He did sing the high B, but there was a semi-crack at the end, but it kind of sounded stylized so it was fine.

Asa- His acting was great, vocally, he sounded a little strained but still sounded ok. He had really great chemistry with Alice.

Preston- He was really good. Vocally sounded great and all of his acting was really believable.

Jeremy- He was fine. The rocker part was really funny!

Being so close to the action was really amazing, and the whole show was a really emotional experience. It was totally worth the three hour drive! The entire cast also stage doored and were all extremely gracious and nice. Alice was a real sweetheart and really took her time with everyone. Overall it was a fantastic performance that really moved me. I really wish I could go back to see it again before it leaves!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 8:23pm

Also, the entire cast sounded a little off the last time I went.

Curt didn't even bother trying for the high note (thankfully, because he would never have made it)

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 8:23pm

Also, the entire cast sounded a little off the last time I went.

Curt didn't even bother trying for the high note (thankfully, because he would never have made it)

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 12/29/10 at 4:41am

Saw the show Monday night. Alice's voice was pretty bad. She hits most of her notes, but her vowel formation and placement is just SO WEIRD...sometimes it would make her sound flat even if she wasn't. Had I gone into the show cold, I would have thought she was sick.

Curt...I like him, I've seen him do great work...he has a ways to go still with Gabe. But, I think he'll grow into the role nicely. He seems to still be figuring out Gabe's physicality, which is leading to some indicating in his acting. Vocally, he was fine, but not exceptional. His tone was a bit thin and reedy (bordering on nasal), but he hit his notes and did a KILLER high B at the end of I'm Alive. It's just NOT a performer-friendly score, especially for Gabe.

[KA2007]

Posted: 12/29/10 at 2:38pm

adamgreer-
Couldn't agree with you more. I can't believe all of the Alice bashing! Ridiculous! C'mon now...when she is on stage, she IS DIANA! I don't really picture a Diane being operatic or even "clean" vocally. When someone dicontructs on stage, right in front of your eyes, shouldn't you feel the pain come through? I think Alice is the perfect Diana to do this. I saw Jessica on B'way as Diana too, and though she made some great acting choices, Alice basically rips the role apart. Of course it's going to take it's toll physically and emotionally but I don't think anyone will be able to duplicate THAT again. Once the tour is over, Diana is gone.....