I know this sounds silly, but please realise that I live in Australia, am flying to NY and then either Charlotte NC or Toronto to catch the N2N Tour, I missed Ripley on Broadway (saw Phillips) and later caught Mazzie, so you can imagine that I'm dying to catch Ripley.
Has anyone been keeping track of the tour? Does e.g. Ripley tend to miss Matinees, Sundays? Would there be a greater chance of catching her on a Saturday Night? Would booking two shows in one day or two consecutive days be a better option? Is anyone familiar with how many shows she does miss?
I realise, of course "you don't know" :P, but of course I don't know. If anyone has any kind of advice etc.. I would appreciate it.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I've seen Alice at two different stops on the tour, and I would suggest going early in the run if you can. She missed both Sunday performances in Providence, and her voice sounds better earlier on in the week. Just my two cents. Good luck :)
I managed to see the show three times within a month's time in San Francisco-two Wednesday matinee's, and one Friday night performance. She was pretty consistent, I think. I might be wrong, but I believe Pearl went on once or twice within this run. And Alice didn't stagedoor during the run for reasons regarding her voice, I overheard. I have seen pictures with her tagged on Facebook lately so I don't know if she's taking caution in other cities as well. But I hope this helps...
Early in the run seems to be the right advice...after she's had a day or two off. I was disappointed not to get to see her one last time when I caught the show in Providence. She and Emma were the two reasons I was going to the tour at all, and BOTH of them were out.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I saw the show Saturday evening in Hartford. Her voice was shot by the 2nd act and she struggled towards the end. A friend who had seen the show on Wednesday evening said she was in good voice.
We were at the Sunday 6:30 show in Hartford (last night) and were horrified at how awful she sounded. Get her OUT and find someone who can sing. It was downright painful.
We saw it in NYC this past Dec and was so moved by this show we had to buy tickets to see Alice in the role. I heard how she won awards etc. Trust me, there was conversation at intermission with fellow theater peeps at our seats. More conversation overheard on the way out. Witnessed people leaving - WTF. If her voice is gone then get someone in there who can sing.
She came off like a tone deaf hearing impaired person. The clarity was next to nothing and the vocals sounded like a fake opera. I need to see another show stat to cleanse my pallet.
Who was the actress who closed the broadway run? Now SHE should be in this run. Get Alice out NOW.
When I got home I googles the Hartford reviews. I read some crap that the vocals were done like that on purpose to further the character's state of mind or some nonsense like that - just friggin sing so you can hear the words. If you don't hear and understand the words then you have no show.
My advice is to avoid her performance at all costs. One of the conversations I had at intermission was from a man who loves the show - memorized the cd and was so stoked to see the show. He was horrified as well.
She came off like a tone deaf hearing impaired person.
I think that would add something to the character. I mean she has the dead son - SPOILER ALERT - and then she can't hear tones on top of it? It raises the stakes to those of a Greek tragedy. I'm very excited to see her play it that way! Also, I love fake opera.
I'm so sad the hear about the guy who was horrified after he memorized the show. I'm horrified by him, too.
Rorscach -- Alice has been missing LOTS of performances lately, due to her voice problems -- which are seemingly worse than they were on B'way. This is a pretty valid question.I do really wish I'd seen her instead of Pearl when I caught it in Providence, I miss her performance.
Marin Mazzie, who was the girl that 'closed the run', was not offered the role for the tour. It was always going to be Alice's role.
If it's as bad as some have made it sound (and I take Dennis comments with a pound of salt) then the producers will either force her to vocal rest or replace her.
When is the mini tour over?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
The last stop is Toronto through July 31....the stop I wanted to catch her in. Still a while to get there.
With her voice in its apparent shape it would be good if they consistently had Pearl as a matinee alternate imo.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
From the sound of it, she needs more than just a few performances off. Sounds like she needs a few weeks of complete vocal rest followed by a reduced performance schedule.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I saw the tour a few times recently, all with Ms. Ripley. Yes her voice is weak, but certainly not the train wreck I was expecting based on several comments. It did not detract from the the magic she brings to the role. Just be prepared for it, go at the beginning of the week when her voice is strongest strongest, and you should be fine.
If you want to see Ripley, try to catch the tour in Cleveland. It's her hometown (well, Akron is) and I think she will have lots of friends and family in attendance so she will be on a lot.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I actually worry that she might not make it all the way to Cleveland if she's in REALLY bad shape vocally. I think she's pretty much staying on that long so she can perform it in her hometown (which really is Cleveland and not Akron, technically). I hope she does make it, though!
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
I'm seeing the show tomorrow in Pittsburgh. It started yesterday so I'm seeing it almost in the middle of the run. (it ends on the 10th) So I'll let you know how it goes!
If I didn't believe in you
We'd never have gotten this far
If I didn't believe in you
And all of the ten thousand women you are
If I didn't think you could do
Anything you ever wanted to
If I wasn't certain that you'd come through somehow
THe fact of the matter is, Cathy
I wouldn't be standing here now
-The Last Five Years
Okay, musical_ash_09 - -I'm anxious to hear if Alice was on last night, and if so, how you thought it went! I'm seeing the show on Wednesday here in St. Louis. I saw her twice in NYC, and LOVED her performance. I'm so excited to see her again!
I'm going tommorrow (4/9/11) in Pittsburgh. I'd love to see Alice no matter what. If she's not on...I'll take Sun. I'd just like to see Alice's crazy that you've all talked about. Wish me luck~
I saw the show last night and Ripley's voice wasn't too bad. It was really raspy and strained at times but then others it was spot on. The show was amazing though! The stand outs to me apart from Ripley's were Asa Somers and Emma Hunton. Asa captured the part of a father trying to hold things together brilliantly. And Emma played the part in a way that showed more anger. I really related with her character as I've gone through a lot of what she has and the performance gave the exact emotions that I've felt at times.
The only problem I had with the show wasn't even with the show. It was with the people I was forced to sit next to. They came in 10-15 minutes late, had tons of candy, and they both had cell phones that went off at different times during the show. Plus the guy sitting beside me had a cold of somesort and was coughting and weezing and blowing his nose.
The show was great. In fact Me and my friend are going back to see the last show on Sunday. We are in the second row and I'm hoping that's not too close. I was in the front row center of the mez last night and I had a great view of the stage.
If I didn't believe in you
We'd never have gotten this far
If I didn't believe in you
And all of the ten thousand women you are
If I didn't think you could do
Anything you ever wanted to
If I wasn't certain that you'd come through somehow
THe fact of the matter is, Cathy
I wouldn't be standing here now
-The Last Five Years
Alice's voice was shredded during the end of her Broadway run so I was kind of expecting all these vocal problems.
For those who thought NEXT TO NORMAL wouldn't have a life outside Broadway, well it's now playing in 4 cities, 9 different countries and has been translated into 6 languages.
You're going to miss the 3rd level of the set completly and some of what goes on the 2nd level. However, I sat first row twice when the show was on broadway, and let me tell you..this show sitting front row makes a major difference. You see Ripley's tears streaming down her face.
I'm excited to see it from a different point of view. (literally) I just hope that not being able to see some of the upper levels will keep me from being able to enjoy it as much. I'm either taking my friend or mom with me so I hope it doesn't bother them.
If I didn't believe in you
We'd never have gotten this far
If I didn't believe in you
And all of the ten thousand women you are
If I didn't think you could do
Anything you ever wanted to
If I wasn't certain that you'd come through somehow
THe fact of the matter is, Cathy
I wouldn't be standing here now
-The Last Five Years