Am I the only one who couldn't stand Jessica Philips?

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:11pm

I saw Next to Normal for the second time a few weeks ago and Jessica was on for Diana (I saw Alice the first time). While I will admit that Jessica sang the score beautifully, her acting was sub-par to say the least. I thought she didn't play Diana psychotic enough, she seemed to make the choice that unless Gabe was around, Diana was completely "normal" which is a very interesting choice that I would have loved to see but she didn't pull it off. She didn't pull me into the story at all, didn't make me cry, and I found myself watching Natalie much more than I watched Diana, and wishing Alice would just appear on stage mid-show. Jessica didn't have any chemistry with anyone on stage, and she very much brought Kyle-Dean down (it was my first time seeing him too, his understudy, I believe it was Tim Young, was on my first time.)
Also, she looked much to young in comparison to Dan.
Overall, I was very disappointed that night.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:15pm

I've seen Alice 5 times and have loved her but am praying Jessica is on when I see the show tomorrow night (Sunday)

[Kev]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:26pm

I was more than satisfied with Jessica Phillips' choices as "Diana," a role that absolutely does not have to be played as overtly psychotic. Ripley is ravishing but, Phillips knows how to serve the material in her own able way. And her quieter, more subtle, moments were, for me, heartbreaking.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:43pm

I've seen both and both are effective in different ways. A friend of mine who saw Jessica first, and loved her, can't handle Ripley's histrionics.

As a psychotherapist, I found Jessica offering a more realistic portrayal-quieter, more introspective, and profoundly broken than Alice. However, I love both women equally.Jessica presented more as something I would actually see in my office than Ripley. Also, Jessica is a dancer and I noticed that her movements are more fluid, graceful and that added to the character as well.

Plus, I wouldn't say Ripley's portryal is "psychotic"-its more histrionic and manic.

Updated On: 5/22/10 at 12:43 PM

[MelissaF]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:57pm

I have only seen the show once, and Jessica was on. I thought her performance was breathtaking.

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 2:15pm

I'm sorry but to say that Jessica has "no chemistry" with the other cast members is ridiculous.

[heo1128]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 2:21pm

You're not alone. I saw Jessica Phillips once and didn't care for her, and I also don't get all of the hype around her.

[PurpleFanta]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 7:00pm

I really didn't like her the first time I saw her, but I've seen her two additional times and now I really enjoy her portrayal. I really appreciate that her performance is very different than Alice's, especially since their voices are so different.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 7:17pm

I've seen Alice in the role several times, and I just saw Jessica for the first time on Thursday night and I love them both. Very different takes on the role, and both totally valid and effective. Jessica is much quieter, much more self-aware, and heartbreaking in an entirely different way than Alice is. She and Brian played beautifully together, I really really loved her.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 10:47pm

I only saw n2n the one time and Jessica was on. I was a little sour puss in my seat before the show began but Jessica won me over and made me forget entirely about Alice for the night (and it was also one of Aaron's final performances so I was happy that I got to see him before he left) However, my only gripe and I'm not sure if you could even call it that but I found Jessica's appearance to be a little too sexy and young for a mom with children that age. I'm still hoping to catch Alice in the future to make a well-informed comparison.

[fetzles1490]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 10:53pm

I loved Alice for quite some time, and still do, but Jessica blew me away. I love the subtleties she brings to the role, and contrary to finding her acting choices underwhelming, I find them at times even more affecting than Alice's. As far as chemistry goes, ActingIsLovee, and especially your comment about Jessica "bringing down" Kyle Dean, how would you even know if it was your first time seeing him in the role? I personally don't like him very much - I don't think he's nearly as present or haunting as Aaron - but he certainly does just fine and has a killer voice. I don't see how Jessica would negatively affect anything.

Posted: 5/22/10 at 11:10pm

I couldn't stand Jessica either.

[Sciguy123]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 11:47pm

She is the UNDERSTUDY for a reason. Alice Ripley is a STAR and Phillips is a nobody.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 11:51pm

^ If you are insinuating that Alice is a star who sells tickets like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington, etc......you might be a little delusional.

Updated On: 5/22/10 at 11:51 PM

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 11:53pm

I wouldn't say I "couldn't stand her" but she definitely did NOT live up to the hype for me. Her singing was lovely, I'll give her that, but I personally did not find her acting believable on several occasions. Example: when Diana doesn't know who Natalie is. Did not believe it.

I personally don't like him very much - I don't think he's nearly as present or haunting as Aaron

Agree completely with this, except I personally don't like him at all. I think his voice is incredibly annoying and whiney.

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 12:05am

fetzles1490 , you're right that I can't say if he was truly brought down, but I felt that he had potential had he been playing opposite a stronger Diana.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 12:21am

I saw Jessica's first performance, the night after the Tonys last year, and "couldn't stand" would be an understatement. But....I've seen her many times since then, and now I love her performance. That first night debacle was a combination of pressure, nerves, and being under-rehearsed. She's improved greatly, and she gives a really wonderful performance in her own right now.

She and Alice are very different, and I appreciate the unique qualities each of them bring to the role. They're both great, in my opinion. Jess brings a beautiful voice and consistency to the role. Alice is more unpredictable, and I like her "Alice-isms" that she does. She's also more of a presence than Jessica is. But again, both women are wonderful and I enjoy seeing them both.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 1:15am

"I wouldn't say I "couldn't stand her" but she definitely did NOT live up to the hype for me."

I can say this exact same thing about Alice. Jessica on the other hand blew me away and I think she is much better then Alice.

Alice and Jessica have 2 completely different takes on the role.