I attended last nights preview on a whim. Stopped by the theatre around 4 to see if they had any rush and miraculously there was an opening in the orchestra, second row on one of the sides. It's a decent view if they end up utilizing them as their normal rush seats. I should preface with the fact that I don't have any strong affinity for Morissette's music. I was fairly familiar with more of the popular songs from the album, and I don't have any ill thoughts about her work as an artist or musician; above all else, the music in this show is never the problem in its honesty and integrity. I can't dispute its greatness and I dare anyone else to try to, there are more than enough accolades that would push you in the minority. I did not know about the subject matter going in. I didn't even know that Paulus directed, for some reason I thought it was Michael Greif. Which makes sense, considering...
If you managed to catch the original production, or even a serviceable regional one, Next To Normal remains seared in your mind the entire time watching JLP. Because when it isn't trying to tackle 4 or 5 hot button, complicated issues at one time that shy away ever so slyly from N2N's laundry basket of topics, it still manages to lightly tap all of the themes from N2N too. That isn't to say JLP handles any of them in an embarrassing manner, but on the other end it really doesn't try to say anything we haven't heard before in a more polished, coherent package. But it's more than an eerie similarity; from the get-go all the way to the very end when the cast joins hand in hand for "Light" (whoops, I mean "You Learn"
we feel like we've watched the Goodman's in an alternate universe where Gabe never died and Natalie was actually adopted.
At its lowest points, Next To Normal suffers from a lack of specificity to character, and some of the lyrics are very simple- and not in a profound way. We don't have the same problem exactly in JLP, but it doesn't help that if you're not entirely familiar with the album, trying to understand what anyone is saying during some of the louder ensemble songs is a challenge. JLP is at its best when the songs transcend the story around them and our full focus and love is on the music- "Head Over Feet" being a great example. In that moment, it didn't matter that I felt the characters were thinly outlined and circumstances unremarkable- the song takes over and I'm in love.
Elizabeth Stanley is finally given the opportunity she's deserved for quite some time. She's making so much out of so little, and even when she's saddled with some of the quieter and less interesting songs, she shines. There is a moment (won't spoil) in Act 2 where she's asked a question about something from her past that she cannot answer to, and the sinking look on her face is still haunting me today. It's a damn good performance and I hope she gets the 4th or 5th slot for Best Actress. It's 100% deserved.
Lauren Patten was the other standout of the evening, and rightfully so. She demolishes everything in her path with her rendition of "You Oughta Know," and even received a standing ovation from the audience. I wished so much that her character didn't feel like an afterthought; this show could benefit from more of her.
All of this being said, the audience filled with fans, producers, creative team, and family really ate it up. For the casual theatregoer with fondness for the album, it's what it needs to be. For anyone else, who knows? I would love for it to be successful. I would also love for it to be good.
Updated On: 11/4/19 at 10:53 AM
