NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.
NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.
NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#1
Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:20am
So I took a three day trip to NYC this weekend, and saw two amazing shows.
I got tickets for Next to Normal at TKTS, which was quite exciting. I'm just going to review each performer I feel the need to speak of, without spoilers.
Jessica Phillips (Diana): I was kinda bummed out when Alice Ripley was out, but I got over it. She started out a little rocky (ie. running out of breath in the grocery store song), but got much better. After she sang I Miss the Mountains, the audience fell in love with her. She handled all the vocals and running around while doing them with style. This was my first time seeing the show, so I really have nothing to compare it too, but she was good.
Aaron Tveit (Gabe): The real star of this show. Playing a role as complex as that much be draining, but he is fantastic. His voice is also spectacular! His song main song, I believe it's "I'm Alive" was fantastic, even with his running around the set like it was a jungle gym. His duet with Diana in the first act was also quite good.
Brian d'Arcy James (Dan): I wished his character was a little more developed come the end of the show. He does a great job with what is given to him, but in the end you are almost left with this feeling like: Woah, huh? What just happened with him? But working with what hes got, he's fantastic.
Jennifer Daminao (Natalie): Now this is a great role to play. She does a great job of going from the almost geeky type to the edgy tough girl. I actually sat next to her father at the show, who was very nice. Had no clue she as a original member of Spring Awakening.
After the show I spotted Anthony Rapp and Michael Greif comparing notes and talking to the tech crew, which was cool. Speaking of Michael Greif, the one thing that borthered me sometimes was how he used the set. At certain points (Tveit's "I'm Alive") it seemed like something directly out of Rent, with the character just swinging around mindlessly, but no matter, I enjoyed the show none the less.
The next day I saw Mary Poppins, which is a great contrast to Next to Normal. I must admit, I was a little disappointed when I saw that Ashley Brown was out, but Gavin Lee and Rebecca Luker were in, which was good enough for me. I must say though, the New Amsterdam was the most disorganized theater I've been in. He basically had to find our seats with no help at all, and find our own playbills. There were also these annoying people with surveys.
The set is really the star of this show. The Banks household was the most amazing thing, it was like looking into a doll house. The bank and "Feed the Birds" scrims were also very clever.
Now to the actors:
Megan Osterhaus (Mary Poppins): I must admit, at first I did not like her. She was quite nervous, she tripped up the stairs the first time and her vocals in "Practically Perfect" were something to be desired. But somehow after that she picked it up and just got better and better. By "A Spoonful of Sugar" she has become Mary Poppins. She was very nice at the stage door as well; she sang to a sweet handicapped girl because it was her birthday.
Gavin Lee (Bert): He really steals this show, and makes this role something special. He is a wonderful singer, dancer and actor. He really did deserve his Tony nomination. When he walks around the proscenium, everyone was in awe; he really knows how to work a crowd. Met him also at the stage door; I had no clue he was so tall!
Rebecca Luker (Mrs. Banks): When she got the Tony nomination for this role, I was quite puzzled; but after seeing her performance it makes sense. She takes a role that is on paper, not very complex, and makes it something else. When she reprises "Being Mrs. Banks" in Act 2, it became more that just Mary Poppins, it felt real.
Daniel Jenkins was OK. It's not really a role that "wows" you vocally or acting wise. Henry Hodges was fantastic, while Lila Coogan was slightly annoying, because she tended to scream her lines. Ruth Gottschall as Miss Andrew was another scene stealer. One of the best parts of the show is when Mary Poppins and Miss Andrew have a vocal match of nanny skills. She comes out of the scene the character to remember; and it showed by her applause at curtain call.
I can't figure out how to get two pictures on here, so if anyone would care to share, that would be wonderful!
Thanks for reading!
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#2
Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:35am
Awesome reviews! :)
I actually really can't quite imagine Next To Normal with anyone but Alice (which is kind of funny, looking back on it, as back when it was in its 'Feeling Electric' stage, I was totally gung-ho Amy Spanger! haha), but it's good to hear that Jessica handled the part well
and YAY for the Aaron Tveit love!! I agree, he is definitely one of the best things about the show. And it really is a very hard role to play I'd think, because how do you capture that "spirit-like" quality that he has to have? And yet, he does it somehow! And on another note, I'm Alive is so the fiercest song in the show, and he sings it brilliantly(And speaking of "I'm Alive" and it being like him running around a jungle jim- I still cannot understand how a person can run around and go up and down multiple flights of stairs like that and NOT be out of breath at ALL while singing. It's rather insane haha)
And yeah, I spotted Anthony when I was there too so I finally got the guts to go up and ask for an autograph- it was awesome and he's a sweetie 
Can't really say much about Mary Poppins because I've yet to see it, but it sounds like a fun show!
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#2
Posted: 2/11/08 at 6:26am
Glad you had a good time! I'm sorry you missed Alice ~ she is really amazing. I haven't seen Jessica...but your review is a lot more positive than the other I heard of her. Then again, like snl said, having seen Alice in the role, it's hard to imagine anyone else. I think the ending is supposed to be ambiguous ~ I actually like that they don't wrap everything up in a nice neat little package. Leaves room for your own interpretation.
I'm glad you enjoyed Mary Poppins as well. But i'm sorry the ushering staff was so unhelpful. I've never had that experience. I wonder if they were short due to this stomach thing or the flu that have been going around... Not that that should be an excuse, but... Usually they're overly helpful.
Anyway, I'm glad you had a great trip! :)
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#3
Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:04amThanks for posting! Sounds like you had a fun time!
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#4
Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:07pm
What did the other review say jordangirl?
I've heard Alice sing the songs, and I actually like Jessica's voice better for the role. But Alice might have a better performance acting wise, who knows.
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#5
Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:11pm
That's weird that you brought that up about Megan Osterhaus tripping. When I saw Mary Poppins and she was on, at the end of the first act, when she comes up the chimney and steps out onto the roof, she slipped and fell on one of the gables. 
re: NYC Trip: Next to Normal and Mary Poppins: Ripley and Brown out.#6
Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:14pm
Awww, that stinks for her.
I feel like the fall was the reason for her timidness in the next scene, she must of been quite embarrassed.
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