NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews- Page 2

[miss pennywise]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#25

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:16pm

It's good to have a difference of opinion. As my Latin teacher in high school always used to say, "The exception proves the rule."

"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

[Bwayfan39]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#26

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:33pm

I personally find Helen super annoying. Steven's inability to express himself properly almost made me laugh out loud.

[#1Elphie]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#27

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:18pm

The New York Times (Brantley reviewing) is up and it's A RAVE:
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/theater/reviews/16norm.html

"No show on Broadway right now makes as direct a grab for the heart or wrings it as thoroughly as Next to Normal does. This brave, breathtaking musical, which opened Wednesday night at the Booth Theater, focuses squarely on the pain that cripples the members of a suburban family, and never for a minute does it let you escape the anguish at the core of their lives.

Next to Normal does not, in other words, qualify as your standard feel-good musical. Instead this portrait of a manic-depressive mother and the people she loves and damages is something much more: a feel-everything musical, which asks you, with operatic force, to discover the liberation in knowing where it hurts....

As for the Mom that everyone loves and loathes, Ms. Ripley is giving what promises to be the musical performance of the season. Her achingly exposed-seeming face and sweet, rawness-tinged voice capture every glimmer in Diana's kaleidoscope of feelings. Anger, yearning, sorrow, guilt and the memory of what must have been love seem to coexist in every note she sings."



Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:18 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#28

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:19pm

Yaaaay.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[bjh2114]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#29

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:20pm

That review is more than very positive. That's an all out RAVE.

[#1Elphie]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#30

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:22pm

I guess it is. Edited. :) Anyway, I'm thrilled.

[little_sally]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#31

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:23pm

That's a great review from the Times.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

[singtopher]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#32

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:28pm

The Positive/Raves have it 7 to 1 so far.

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

[Kad]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#33

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:29pm

I am SO happy about that.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#34

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:29pm

I saw the review on the HOME PAGE of the New York times and it made me so happy! :)

"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

[adamgreer]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#35

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:29pm

WOW!!!!

That's such an exciting review. That is an out and out rave!!!!! YAY!!!!

That should help them sell a lot of tickets!

[lstbutifulgrl2]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#36

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:30pm

Awesome review from the Times... yay!!!

"Sometimes on the strip, the dreams you come in with, ain't the dreams you leave with" ~Rock of Ages
"I'm a butterfly, trivial and small, and in the greater scheme of things, I don't mean much at all." ~The Story of My Life
"Forget Regret, or life is yours to miss." ~Rent

[broadwaybaby086]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#37

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:31pm

Great!

"I'll cut you, Tracee Beazer!!!! ...Just kidding. I'd never cut anyone." -Tina Maddigan, 9/30/06, WS stage door
Avatar: JULIE "EFFING" WHITE, 2007 TONY WINNER. Thank God. I'm thinking about legally changing my name to Lizzie Curry...

[TalkinLoud]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#38

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:33pm

Can't wait to see this next week!

[ColorTheHours048]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#39

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:34pm

Yayyyyyyyy!! If there's any show that deserves a rave like that, it's N2N.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#40

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:36pm

I'm at the opening night after party now!

Show was amazing. Loving the raves!

[CurtainPullDowner]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#41

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:40pm

Looks like Ripley has finally found a part as exciting as her talent.
Brantley writes one of his readable reviews,
Way to shake up a season NORMAL!
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:40 PM

[Auggie27]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#42

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:42pm

I must say, this is the defining review of Ripley's career. How wonderful for her. And for those of us who know her from TOMMY and of course, SS, this is not so much vindication and overdue recognition of the complexity she brings to every role.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

[BustopherPhantom]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#43

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:52pm

Brantley's review seemed like a big long case for NEXT TO NORMAL for Best Musical. Basically, he said that the show is better than BILLY ELLIOT in the first sentence ("No show on Broadway right now makes as direct a grab for the heart - or wrings it as thoroughly - as "Next to Normal" does...")

In other words, that was a more-than-great review. That review was a keeper. Thank you, Mr. Brantley.

"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:52 PM

[Sauja]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#44

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:59pm

God, I wish I had seen this last week instead of Everyday Rapture. But tickets are purchased. See you on the 26th Next to Normal. Congrats on glorious reviews!

[Trish2]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#45

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:02pm

Whoa- Go Brantley ! Congrats to Alice and the entire cast.

Makes me wonder if Brantley has anything left for 9 to 5.

[morosco]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#46

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:03pm

I think this will win Best Musical Tony. It deserves to.

[adamgreer]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#47

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:03pm

Brantley's review seemed like a big long case for NEXT TO NORMAL for Best Musical. Basically, he said that the show is better than BILLY ELLIOT in the first sentence ("No show on Broadway right now makes as direct a grab for the heart - or wrings it as thoroughly - as "Next to Normal" does...")


I agree.

[little_sally]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#48

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:04pm

I don't care what happens as far as the Tonys are concerned (well, not right now at least), I just hope these reviews help out at the box office.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

[miss pennywise]

re: NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews#49

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:15pm

Thank god.

And can we stop saying "This is going to win the Tony" and "This review means that this show is better than that show" and just rejoice in what IS? Who cares about the Tonys? Care about these reviews...they're excellent!

Congrats to all!

"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars