NEXT TO NORMAL Reviews- Page 2

[miss pennywise]

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."

[Bwayfan39]

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]

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]

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

Yaaaay.

[bjh2114]

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

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

[#1Elphie]

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

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

[little_sally]

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

That's a great review from the Times.

[singtopher]

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

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

[Kad]

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

I am SO happy about that.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

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! :)

[adamgreer]

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]

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

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

[broadwaybaby086]

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

Great!

[TalkinLoud]

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

Can't wait to see this next week!

[ColorTheHours048]

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

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

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

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

I'm at the opening night after party now!

Show was amazing. Loving the raves!

[CurtainPullDowner]

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]

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.

[BustopherPhantom]

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.

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

[Sauja]

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]

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]

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

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

[adamgreer]

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]

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.

[miss pennywise]

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!