NEXT TO NORMAL Tour plans — Page 2

I think Jessica Phillips should play Diana on the tour. I saw her when Alice was out and she was great as well. She brings more of the quirky side of having a mental illness which Alice Ripley completely ignores.

I can't comment on Phillips. But I do disagree that Ripley doesn't bring any quirky-ness to the role, that's all I could see for the first 15 minutes of the show and throughout "My Psychpharmacologist and I".

Can't say for Philips, but I saw a quirky side to Alice's performance also. And it was the perfect amount of quirky. Some of the show is fun and quirky but to much. I mean a 'quirky' performance of "How Could I Ever Forget," no thanks.

I don't think Toni Collette would be avaiable with her t.v. show.

Maybe quriky was the wrong word. I mean like crazy or goofy. Jessica bought more of the craziness or goofiness there can be to that kind of an illness while Alice stays almost dead serious the whole time.

The tour is for sure confirmed and will be coming to the Ordway in the Twin Cities spring of '11. I absolutely loved this show - definitely the greatest original musical I have seen in quite some time. BUT, this show is virtually unknown outside of the theatre scene. The creative team would be foolish to not cast some big names in the show (no matter how unfair it might be to more talented actresses who could fill the role of Diana).

Toni Collette would certainly work and win critical praise, but I still think she might be slightly off total mainstream awareness (isn't her highest profile film Little Miss Sunshine?). I'm having a tough time thinking of someone who would be high profile (or at least used to be) who could fulfill the demands of Diana... Maybe a television name who has recently wrapped a hit show?

There is not a chance in hell that Toni Collette would go on tour.

Having seen both, I prefer Philips to Ripley any day.