NEXT TO NORMAL 3/28 Review (spoilers!)

Wow.

I'm still organizing my thoughts and I'll update shortly, but I was IMMENSELY impressed. By the performances and direction alike.

REVIEW:

So I must admit I was a big fan coming in to the show, but actually seeing it live was an incredible experience. I had only "seen" the 2nd stage version, and I think the production has improved 10 fold.

I'm by no means a stage direction scholar, but I thought the direction was amazing. I love how the scenes overlap one another. For example, like during Everything Else, J. Robert Spencer actually proceedes to clean up Alice's sandwich fixins' on the lower level. And in ...Invisible Girl, the 'aftermath' of "I am the One" is taking place on the lower level. And I cannot get the image of J. Robert Spencer squeezing that red rag in "I've Been", I was NOT expecting that! Which brings me to my next point. The one area that I thought was a little lacking was J. Robert Spencer. I mean he was great, don't get me wrong, but I just miss Brian D'Arcy James. Brian was the PERFECT Dan. It's a shame Shrek is keeping him occupied...with him, the cast would be unbeatable.

On to Alice Ripley. Coming into the theater, I thought she was perfectly fine, but I didn't necessarily see why people were fawning over her. In person, she's captivating. Alice IS Diana, I don't think the character would be the same played by another actress. Although I do agree what's been said in other threads...her voice is a little...strained?

Jennifer, Aaron, and Adam are all fantastic. Can't say enough good things about them.

Having seen both Billy Elliot and Next to Normal in the past few days, I bet BE will win the best musical tony, but n2n deserves it.

The crowd was SUPER responsive, laughing at jokes I didn't even realize were funny, and gasping and collectively shifting uncomfortably lol.

Please feel free to ask any questions!!

Updated On: 3/29/09 at 12:53 AM

I don't know. I don't get all the Alice hoopla. She's alright in the role, but at times she just feels so "I'm Playing A Character Not A Real Person" that it just doesn't work for me.

just ignore rent boy, he's a known ripley detractor.

Ah can't wait for you to see it!

1. I didn't get a look at the balcony, but the orchestra was pretty packed, I'd say probably 10 seats at most unfilled.
2. Actually, not really. I'm 20, and I'd say I was one of the youngest people there. From what I saw there were a few high school students, a handful of college students, but the majority of people were probably 30 or older. The people sitting around me were all easily 45+. Which I thought was REALLY surprising.
3. Hmm I have a version of Feeling Electric, but I don't think it's Norbert. The one I have is from 9-21-05, if that helps. Those "I've Been" lyrics have been changed significantly, I just listened to it and I think there's maybe only 5 or 6 identical lines.

Thanks :)

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Does anyone have the recording of I'M Alive...I would love to hear, or even the whole recording...PM please!

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See, I thought the audience last night was more balanced in terms of young and old.

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teka21-very true. I was just expecting the modern set-rock score to bring in a younger audience. But then again, it's only the first weekend so the average theater go-er probably wasn't aware of those things.

Hahah oh I didn't mean any offense by that. I'm from the Chicago area, and the theater crowd here seems a little younger. This past weekend was actually my first time seeing shows on Broadway, so I'm not familiar with the NY audiences at all. Just surprised me, that's all!

I saw the show on Saturday and it was a nice mix of young and old. It was actually very different from Arena and 2nd Stage which skewed much older. Arena's situation improved when they started to do heavy marketing of their $10 ticket policy around campuses for those 30 and under.

I was bothered by inappropriate laughter from young and old in places regardless of the audience composition. Even when I went into the show not knowing anything about it at 2nd stage, I knew when things were serious and when they weren't. I guess it all depends on the person how they pick up on these things.

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It's been my experience when people laugh at something serious in this show that its like... awkward laughter which I don't mind. It's like they laugh because they think somebody on stage is joking and then when they realize they aren't, there's a dead silence immediately afterwards.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that - and I don't understand why it bothers people. I've seen this show a few times and I've never seen it with an audience that was "laughing at" the show in a way I felt was weird or inappropriate. Sometimes people laugh when things make them uncomfortable.

I actually sort of like when people laugh at the birthday cake - and then drop off into mortified silence when they realize what is going on.

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^ When was that? Curious because I was there Saturday night too.

It was at the end of Just Another Day where Diana is making sandwiches. Maybe it was just the few people around me, but it took a while for the laughter to subside before Dan spoke. Not really a big deal, but it was noticeable for me.

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