"Yet as directed by Michael Greif (“Rent,” “Grey Gardens”) and performed by an ace cast led by Ms. Ripley and Brian d’Arcy James, “Next to Normal” throbs with an emotional intensity that cannot be dismissed as synthetic. The production may not be the next “Spring Awakening,” the little musical about adolescent sexual angst that went on to be a big Broadway hit. But like “Spring Awakening,” “Next to Normal” is steeped in an inescapable, aching compassion for people crippled by pain."
"What of course separates “Next to Normal” from a Lifetime movie is that these by-the-book declarations and questions are usually sung instead of spoken. And the difference therein is transformative enough to make “Next to Normal” of real value to anyone who cares about the direction and possibilities of the American musical."
"But Mr. Kitt’s music, far superior to his score for the recent Broadway clunker “High Fidelity,” has a seared sweetness that evokes layers of conflicted feelings, particularly of warring anger and love. And he takes advantage of the regulation blueprint book to create sharp geometric counterpoints among the characters in song."
"Ms. Ripley (“Side Show,” “The Dead”) and Mr. d’Arcy James (“Titanic,” “The Sweet Smell of Success”) do their best work to date here. Ms. Ripley reveals a gleaming sardonic side that captures Diana’s wry detachment from herself while never trivializing the hurt and bewilderment at her core. Mr. d’Arcy James, in excellent voice, summons an embattled strength that makes Dan the show’s true emotional anchor. Both performances stay with you, and they only get better in memory."
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Not saying there was no negative to be found, but that's quite a bit of positive, considering it sounds like Brantley usually doesn't like to do positive!
Maybe I'm just being naive, but truly, upon reading it a few times over, what I got from it is that he felt like there were some problems with the book, and doesn't really know that everyone who sees it will definitely appreciate what it has to offer, but that it also has many positive points and will leave at least many of the people who see it emotionally affected and having enjoyed their theater experience.
So, yeah, he pointed out the show's faults. That's fine. It DOES have some faults, even I admit that. Nearly every show does. But in general, he was saying it was an over all good experience- which is the important part.
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
