NEXT TO NORMAL Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)- Page 3

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:10pm

I never said it was the equivalent of "AZT break." What I'm saying is it's really secondary to the characters. It is the catalyst by which Diana actually gets willing to do the hard work of looking at herself and ultimately making the decision she does in the end. I do think that in changing the name to Next to Normal they're trying to make it clear that ECT is NOT the central factor of the show. A major part yes, but not THE central one.

[snl89]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:11pm

"I actually don't see very many parallels between Greif's direction of N2N and Rent. True, both have a rock musical quality, but one show is very intimate (N2N) (not simply because of the theatre size either) while the other is staged more like a rock concert with less classical/traditional musical theatre elements and influences."

yeah, I just have to say that I think the direction and staging of N2N is SO SO brilliant. Just the over all set design, use of space, lighting, and all that. It was visually the COOLEST show I have ever seen. By the end of Feeling Electric I was like "I never knew a show could be so TRIPPY!!". And I LOVE trippy. So yeah, it was a major treat for the eyes :) And it wasn't just the trippy lighting. It was the whole way they were constantly moving from space to space and level to level, and all that. In all my time of listening to the audio of Feeling Electric, I'd NEVER imagined it would be that interesting to actually see.

And I think it has a completely different feel than RENT. They're just.. very very different shows. I hate how people kind of take the idea of "rock opera" and automatically associate them as all being similar. I even do it myself. But in reality, just because they happen to both use more modern music does NOT mean "Next to Normal is just trying to be another RENT" or "Next to Normal is just another Spring Awakening". TOTALLY unique and different story, and execution of the story.

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 06:11 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:13pm

Yeah snl ~ all the level changes. Love them!! I think this is another show where the phrase "break a leg" should be avoided at all costs regarding opening.

[snl89]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:15pm

^OMG yes. I get so nervous for them, running up and down all those stares, and like sitting on the edges of the platforms! Especially Aaron in I'm Alive. He's like bolting all over the place, and getting right up on the edge. I just pray none of the cast ever looses their footing! But it LOOKS incredible :)

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 06:15 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:21pm

On Tuesday he swung no-feet round one of them. I was like "Boy... Dangerous!!" At least they usually have shoes or are barefoot. And Alice's little slipper socks have treads on them. But I totally know what you mean!

And that mobile staircase...even when someone's holding it, it moves.

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 06:21 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:31pm

I never said it was the equivalent of "AZT break." What I'm saying is it's really secondary to the characters. It is the catalyst by which Diana actually gets willing to do the hard work of looking at herself and ultimately making the decision she does in the end. I do think that in changing the name to Next to Normal they're trying to make it clear that ECT is NOT the central factor of the show. A major part yes, but not THE central one.

Um, yeah. I never said it was more important than the characters or the central part of the show, so I don't know why you're arguing as if anyone did.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:35pm

I was merely responding to this by you: You can't say that the show isn't about ECT. It's a major part of the plotline, not some offhand comment like "AZT break!" and the fact that with all the focus on the accuracy of it like it's a documentary that makes it seem like you're saying it's the most important part. I'm sorry I misunderstood.

I'm willing to agree to disagree on the details. :)

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:37pm

The purpose of ECT IS to erase parts of the memory. Not ALL of the memory, but it's the thinking about and the memory of certain events which cause some people to be depressed. Erasing some of those thoughts and memories will give them some relief.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 6:47pm

That is not the purpose of ECT at all. Memory loss is a side effect, not the intention, and anyone that believes otherwise needs to get their medical information from a source other than Passions.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 7:01pm

"That is not the purpose of ECT at all"

Well, you tell that to the psychiatrists and technicians at the mental clinic where my sister received a series of 12 treatments.


I have deleted the rest of my original post-got it off my chest, I'm sure it was read by the right person, no need to let it remain here.

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 07:01 PM

[snl89]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 7:02pm

actually... what IS the real purpose of ECT? Like, if it's not that it erases parts of the memory, what DOES is actually do? I could look it up, but I figure we're on the topic, and people seem to know about it, and I'm lazy. haha.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:38pm

Actually, if I am the mentioned "right person", I did not read it.

And you can tell those doctors and technicians that this isn't Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and you can't selectively delete bad memories. It's impossible to claim the purpose is "erasing" the bad memories because they have no control whatsoever on what memories- if any- are temporarily lost. ECT was actually developed from previous forms of seizure therapy to LESSEN the chances of memory problems. If that's what the doctors promised her, I'd sue for malpractice.

snl, as jordangirl said, the brain is very complex, so they're still not entirely sure why it works in cases of major depression, even with extensive studies. As far as they've figured out, the seizure stimulates production in a part of the brain that isn't working properly in those with severe depression.

[Craww]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:09pm

While I understand frustrations over fudging the facts of it, I don't think the show itself is endorsing the sensationalized view of ECT (or etc.) that the characters are imagining. I'm not sure we're supposed to ascribe to the same point of view of the characters when they're all so mixed up to begin with.

For Diana, there ends up being no good answer. I never saw it as saying the treatments she undergoes are bad treatments, just that they weren't the answer for her circumstances.

Circumstances which are extreme, to the point of improbability. It's not just the scientific improbability of the memory loss, but a borderline supernatural edge to her hallucinations of her gargoyle of a son. Maybe it isn't the most responsible route they could have taken, but my personal experiences with mental illness have put me into the category of those who find the show more affecting than offensive.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:27am

Glad to hear that Alice is back. I saw the show on Friday night, and her understudy, Jessica Phillips was on. She gave a excellent performance.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:46pm

wow! I almost missed your review...(been so busy ) or I would never forgive myself!

thanks...



J*

Updated On: 2/12/08 at 10:46 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:17am

I sat through this tired bit of nonsense last night. Loathed every minute. The story was almost completely uninteresting, the book was a bore, the lyrics completely unmemorable. I've sat through worse, God knows, but I'd have given a lot to have been able to split at intermission.

I just never felt close enough to anyone on that stage to give a damn about what they were going through. It all started to feel very familiar, very tired. When Alice Ripley sings that she's seen that movie, referring to ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, I was already feeling that I'd already seen this musical. That tired little Costco number felt more like something out of some local theatre revue than anything else. The big Electro-Shock number struck me as being remarkably tasteless, an attempt at a Dennis Potter/Bob Fosse number a la THE SINGING DETECTIVE and ALL THAT JAZZ that failed miserably.

The cast was fine, for the most part, even if I found Alice Ripley to be almost completely lifeless, and the actress playing the daughter to be a real letdown: Lauren Ambrose she ain't. Brian Darcy James did the best work I've ever seen him do.

Want to see a serious examination of the effects of drug abuse and emotional disturbance on an American Family? See AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, not NEXT TO NORMAL.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:48am

Why did I know Roscoe would hate this? Oh yeah...I loved it.

And FWIW, Diana is supposed to be pretty lifeless. So... Yeah.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:56am

How did I know Jordangirl would like NEXT TO NORMAL? Oh right, because it is a second rate piece of drivel.

As for Alice Ripley's performance, there's a difference between a lifeless performance and a lifeless character.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:15am

Your opinion Roscoe. Plenty of others find it touching and meaningful too.

I was merely humorously referring to the fact that it seems an almost 100% bet that if you love something I'll not like it, and vice-versa. :)

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:21am

Your opinion, Jordan. Lots of people will find the show a big bore.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:33am

I was just going by the majority of the comments on here. But whatever. Arguing never solved anything.

Have a good day! :)

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:46am

Right, because the majority is always right, right? Right!

You have a good day, too!