I love this show. It's a wonderful, refreshing show. But I've seen it enough (Five times, I think-- three with Marin and Jason). I really do enjoy closing nights because of the electric atmosphere and electric performances, but this one I'm sitting out. Besides, I couldn't get a ticket.
What gets me confused is how on earth people can compare this to Rent. Next to Normal is a shockingly refreshing musical that doesn't only seem influenced by Sondheim, but by some great playwrights like Albee. It's emotions aren't soapy or tacked-on. They're real and raw. For me, Rent is too sentimental and by the end, feels like an after-school special.
The introduction to the published libretto, which was well-written and heartfelt, also did this "N2N is just like Rent" thing, and it was the first time I came across it. I just don't get it.
The comparisons between N2N and RENT are ridiculous, in my opinion. They are completely different besides the fact that they are both categorically "rock" musicals, I guess.
Last night's show was really incredible. I could barely hold it together. Every person on that stage was so committed and honest. It was beautiful. The moment that got me was when Henry sang, "I thought we were through, me and you," and then Natalie goes, "Not tonight." There was a pause there and it was such a loaded moment. I am so grateful to this show and I know that tonight will be absolutely wonderful.
Sad I can't be there, but my swollen post-operative face and I will be sitting this one out. I regret never seeing Marin. Still, lots of fond memories.
RE: Speaking in "the break", I do remember that. I like her choices.
"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
Saw the final matinee, it was excellent. Extremely emotional and the cast really went above and beyond. Gonna miss this show.
Any specifics, just ask.
Quick note: I wrote how Kyle left me underwhelmed last time, well that can no longer be said... he was phenomenal... and his high note... OH MY..amazing.
Final performance just ended, thank you next to normal for the memories.
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.
Responding to an earlier message, there were actually only 16 lotto tickets available (both at the matinee and evening show). Front row center was not given away at lotto. At the evening show, I asked some people in the front how they got their seats. The twitter contest winner was sitting there which was really nice. Some other people got their tickets late last night (or early this morning) when they were released on Telecharge at premium price.
As far as the show... amazing, energetic, emotional, really special. David Stone gave a speech at the end. I'll let others give details. I'm not good at that!
Just got home from the final show. It was a very special night.
In the house were Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Michael Greif and Adam Rapp.
The audience was pretty well behaved, especially compared to how hyper everyone was at Alice's last show. I did find the applause for KDM being shirtless completely unnecessary. I held it together well for the first act, crying only at the big reveal. The second act I was a mess. After hearing a tween behind me gasping for breath during "Maybe" I lost it for the rest of the show.
Performances were strong...a few vocal issues at the end of a 5-show weekend are completely understandable. This cast has really brought a lot to the show and I am glad to have seen them many times.
Producer David Stone made the curtain speech thanking everyone involved individually. He gave a special shout-out to Adam, who had been with the show since the very first workshop three and a half years ago. He mentioned that this show was the show nearest to his heart that he is proudest of. Thank goodness for this producer who was willing to take a chance on this show and was committed to keeping it going for as long as possible, so that many people have been able to see it.
I feel very blessed to have been able to see the show a number of times (since my very first time, which was exactly a year ago today). A big thank you to everyone involved who allowed us to see what the future of musical theater could be.
Marin was phenomenal. She gave an awesome performance, while still being generous to the rest of the ensemble. more thoughts later...for now want to cuddle up with hubby and our yorkie puppies.
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
"According to someone who was at lotto, they only did SRO seats, and there were between 300-400 people."
The lotto crowds were insane for both matinee and evening. For the matinee, the did lotto for standing room seats after the 16 lotto tickets were gone, but sold the standing room for $40. For the evening performance, we were told there were no standing room tickets available... that they were being saved for people associated with the show (including investors, current understudies, prior cast members).
During the last 20 minutes of the show, there was competitive sobbing. Literally. One girl started sobbing loudly, then Marin gave her line "Now go to your dance," and the entire audience lost it. When the next scene started, the fan girls were legitimately sobbing, but after hearing their fellow fans sobbing, I assume they felt it was OK to REALLY let go, and they went for it. To the left of the house was a girl who couldn't hold it together. To the right of the house was a girl who would sob louder immediately after the girl on the left side made ANY sniffles.
I understand that it was an emotional evening, but the competition to see who was the "most emotionally devastated fan" was a LITTLE MUCH.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
I wouldve killed to be there but i suspected the sobbing competitions would take place. hopefully it wasnt too out of hand. That being said, i totally would've joined the ovation for shirtless Kyle Dean
^ The girl in house left was the one who set me off. I like to think that I was more discreet in my sobbing and not trying to win the Fangirl of the night award. I found it weird when everyone was cry/laughing at Adam during Hey 3
The show was incredible. Marin was absolutely astonishing. I'm sure everyone else will post specific details, but I will if asked.
The crying was out of control. I agree..competitive sobbing is the perfect term. It almost made the emotional impact of the show less strong for me because the fangirls were fake crying their hearts out.
Very sad to see this extraordinary piece of theater go. It means a lot to me.
My stomach muscles actually ache from the silent sobbing i had to do tonight. Even though i was on the mezz, I would hate to attract attention to myself by crying loudly. And poor Ms. Fahy was having trouble enough getting through the whole show, I think that hearing a fan audibly crying could only have made it that much harder for her. It killed me to see her break completely down in "Why Stay." I was praying for time to speed up so that Adam could finally cross and hug her to give her some support.
That being said, I think we should acknowledge that there's a huge difference between:
the "fangurls" sobbing because they think the actors are looking at them and they need to make a good impression/they need some attention/society is telling them that this should make them sad/they are looking for outlets for their angst
and
the people who have been touched by the subject matter deeply and feel a strong connection to the material itself, and not only to the actors who are the fangurl's "best friends" at the stage door.
Not that there's anything wrong with the former - we're all in different stages of life and development, and we're all learning new and different things at our own pace. But I would say there were 2 school of criers tonight, and I think not all of the crying that we're condemning was part of the 2011 Fangurl Competitive Crying Competition...Just a thought to throw out there.
All in all, I think we had a heartbreakingly beautiful end to a heartbreakingly beautiful show. What a way to go, if you have to go. I guess this pain is the price we pay to have felt the beauty of this show. Updated On: 1/17/11 at 12:33 AM