Alice Ripley out of N2N tonight..- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:01am

Geez...I never even read the comments.

I think the twitter feed for n2n to be pretty funny: granted the twitter ASKS for repsonses....about what they think happens to the characters. THOSE responses are hysterical.

You know what happens? NOTHING! They are fictional.

[MyLife]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:09am

Dare I say it...

I thought Jessica Phillips was better than Alice Ripley, and I saw Alice twice. Phillips was sweet with a humorous undertone. I really enjoyed her characterization, and I felt it was more real.

Let the flames begin.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:31am

wow- ok, I am not a fan of Next to Normal, that's not a secret. Saw it once during previews, that was enough for me, I never had any interest in making a repeat visit, I'm not one of Alice Ripley's imaginary Facebook children, etc. Yes I did really enjoy Ripley's performance, though, and yes would completely have voted for her for Best Actress in an imaginary world where I had a vote, I was just not a fan of the show.

Fast forward to this afternoon, where curiosity got the best of me, and I had to see for myself this performance that caused such a fit amongst the N2N fans the first show back after the Tonys, and so at about 6pmish I bought a partial view rear orch seat to see N2N for the second time tonight.

AND- I have no idea what any of you are talking about. I thought Jessica Phillips was amazing. A completely different Diana than Ripley's, yes, but there was nothing 'awful' or 'disastrous' or whatever other adjectives have been thrown around on here with regards to her performance. I thought her chemistry with the rest of the cast was brilliant (You Don't Know/I Am the One was my favorite), I love her voice, and her acting choices while different from Ripley's I really enjoyed.

Yes, I do have a love of being able to see understudies' takes on roles, but that doesn't mean I blindly love all understudy performances or anything. Phillips completely pulled me in and took me along on Diana's journey tonight, and it was amazing.

(And: # of people I saw having a meltdown because Ripley was out? One. I was expecting to see more.)

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:43am

"Dare I say it...

I thought Jessica Phillips was better than Alice Ripley, and I saw Alice twice. Phillips was sweet with a humorous undertone. I really enjoyed her characterization, and I felt it was more real.

Let the flames begin. "


I kind of want to agree. Had I not been stuck on a bus in traffic today, I would have been at the Booth. Jessica is just so wonderfully fresh.

[MyLife]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:45am

Okay, you too agree?
I feel better now.

Fresh is a good word. I'd love to see her again

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:47am

sounds like ms. phillips has improved. good for her!

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:03am

I was thrilled when I saw Phillips on 6/9. I'm hoping she gets to go on again tomorrow (today) for at least the matinee. While Ripley is great and displays the more manic side of Diana, Jessica highlights a more depressed (valleys vs. peaks) Diana. While Ripley's vocals are strong and prominent, Phillips sings the score as written, pulling together Kitt's harmonies in a way Alice doesn't.

I love them both more than anything and would hate sacrificing one for the other, they are just so different. As I have said previously, I strongly believe that Phillips should become a matinee Diana. The stress it would save on Alice's voice would be worth it enough.

[binau]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:26am

A different Diana for the matinée does not seem like the best thing for Business right now :P.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:28am

having an alternate certainly didn't kill Evita.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:35am

But once word is out that the matinee Diana is equal to Alice, it should be fine. Also, as long as it is published, people seeing the show for Ripley will know which performances to buy, and people seeing the show for the show will have eight options per week.

The most current example I can think of is (Tony Winner) Victoria Clark in Light in the Piazza. Having Patti Cohenour do matinees didn't hurt the sales of the show, allowing Clark to only perform 6 times a week.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:36am

Given that this is only the 2nd performance Ripley has missed the entire run of the show, I don't think she needs an alternate. If she were missing a lot, it would be a completely different issue.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:38am

The most current example I can think of is (Tony Winner) Victoria Clark in Light in the Piazza. Having Patti Cohenour do matinees didn't hurt the sales of the show, allowing Clark to only perform 6 times a week.

that's a slightly different situation, I think. Lincoln Center has a subscription base. although, maybe that wouldn't really make a huge difference later in the run.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 1:46am

Greer, But how much would Ripley BENEFIT from having two less shows of vocal strain per week. It's no secret that even since the show opened in March that her pitch has suffered.


Gives, By the time Patti came on, LITP was more of a regular production. It had already extended past its subscriber base, and therefore into the eyes of regular ticketbuyers after the Tonys.

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 2:23am

The LITP situation was also different because (correct me if I'm wrong) Victoria Clark wanted more time to spend with her son after the show extended for the last time.

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 2:23am

The LITP situation was also different because (correct me if I'm wrong) Victoria Clark wanted more time to spend with her son after the show extended for the last time.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 2:38am

At this point, I don't think they need (or want) an alternate performer. Alice is doing a great job and I don't think her voice sounds strained at all. Her voice is NEVER going to sound "pure and legit" but will always have soul and interest. I know not everyone is a fan, and her style will keep her out of the running for many roles, but I think she is perfect for this role.

I'd be interested in seeing her understudy, but don't mind saying I'd be disappointed to miss Alice. I love understudies.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:58am

Alice will be out for both shows today per Jessica's facebook

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:16am

And Alice's facebook says "STILL SNEEZING," so she must not have been able to shake the cold.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:21am

Wish I was in NY this weekend instead of next weekend to see Jessica. Not a huge fan of Alice and would like to see a different take on Diana.

Nick, people don't get rid of a cold in 1 day...LOL.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 5:18pm

I saw Jessica today and loved her!

I was upset at first because I don't like surprises but once the show started I enjoyed every minute of it! Granted I have not seen it before, but from all I could tell she performed the role beautifully.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 8:05pm

I wonder if Alice would like...sit in the theater and watch Jessica's performance, knowing her personality and all.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:23pm

I saw Jessica tonight, and I thought she was fantastic. I'd never seen the show, and was disappointed to find that Ripley was out, but I loved the show, and Jessica's performance did not disappoint.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:39pm

I wonder if Alice would like...sit in the theater and watch Jessica's performance, knowing her personality and all.

If Alice were to show up at the theater when she had called out, there'd be a flurry of posts on here saying, "OMG Alice was at the theater today! She was not sick, why is she not onstage? Lazy b*tch!"

[singalongsong2]

Posted: 8/2/09 at 12:02am

^^ Absolutely. I was thinking the same thing.
Updated On: 8/2/09 at 12:02 AM

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/2/09 at 1:20am

I mean, she could have been backstage.