Next To Normal Opening Night at Arena Stage

I just can't get past her voice. It's awful. I wish we could combine Amy Spanger's voice and Ripley's acting.

Ripley's voice? Awful? Maybe unique, but I would challenge you to back up what is so awful about it. Did you see Spanger in the role to compare?

In any case, I have seen the show more times than I will admit on here during this run, and it is in great shape.

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Updated On: 12/11/08 at 08:24 PM

I can't have an opinion? I love the show, but I think the reason I don't care for any of her solos is because I can't stand her voice. I'm all for a unique voice - love me some Patti Lupone and Julia Murney - but her voice is just hard to listen to. It's so nasal. It sounds like she had a nose job or something. I just don't care for it. None of the songs seem effortless, like I feel like it's hurting her to sing some of the higher stuff, but I do think she's a pretty good actress. And no, I didn't see Spanger in the role, but I heard her. And judging from her vocals, I'd prefer her singing, but no her acting. She seemed uninspired. Although, Ripley comes off as over-the-top. Not sure if that's intentional, but it's a little much considering everyone else is playing their scenes realistically. I understand it maybe a character choice on her part and the director's, but it makes me not care for her as much. If she's always sarcastic, then why would I care? I care more for her daughter and her boyfriend's relationship.

End of rant.

^That makes me so happy

If that's any indication of reviews to come, I'm gonna say I'm VERY hopeful for the future of this show!!

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I don't know. I mean, she's no Carolee Carmello, but what I take away from Alice Ripley's performances are 1) extreme emotional catharsis and 2) heart. From what I've heard and seen on "Next to Normal," she really puts her back into it. You can hear from her inflections in "I Miss the Mountains" just the MOURNING, the pangs. A lot of psychological stuff going on there.

When I saw her at the opening of "The Baker's Wife," I felt the same way. She was so into the character, her vocals didn't really throw me off. Especially on "Where is the Warmth?" I think I teared up during that.

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Updated On: 12/12/08 at 02:29 AM

Ripley certainly has a unique voice, and gave (what I thought...even beating out the brilliant, soon to be historic performances of LuPone and Szot) the best performance in any show last season when N2N was at 2ndStage. And I loved the show, but Ripley was just brilliant.

I'm glad its getting such good notices (if anyone finds any official reviews other than the one already mentioned, let us know what the gist of them are) and I hope it makes its way back to New York although, as I've said before, I'm not sure if that would happen just yet with the economy the way it is. But 2ndStage just bought the Helen Hayes and that would be a perfect venue for it. Hey, if [tos] did it, why can't N2N? Its far superior.

The thing about Alice Ripley is that she's fierce as can be, she doesn't always come across well via audio alone. Her voice *is* extremely distinct and it can turn people off when they don't have her visual presence to go with it.

I saw the production over Thanksgiving and absolutely loved it. I went in knowing nothing about it, and had a great time. "Feeling Electric" was not in the production when I saw it.

wickedrocks, no they did NOT put "Feeling Electric" back in. It really doesn't fit with the show as it is now. "Wish I Was Here" is SOOOOOOOO much better. You honestly don't miss "Feeling Electric" at all.

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Having seen the show for the first time... three years ago, I think it was, I have a hard time imagining it without Feeling Electric; but I must admit my intrigue. I would say I'm more curious than skeptical, though. I hope it makes it way back to NYC soon, and that these rather drastic changes are just as sizable improvements.

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Yeah, I agree, and it does sound like they've scaled down that little bit of rock-concert feel it had, and traded it in for a more character-oriented piece. Which is great. It's a very different direction for the show, but it sounds promising. I'm just so used to the show as it was (hell, it was called Feeling Electric for all those years!), and hope the results are positive changes for the piece.

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Updated On: 12/12/08 at 01:08 PM

Having heard "Feeling Electric" after I saw the show, I think it would have been out of place left in. I think one of the nicest things about it was that it wasn't, as you said, an obvious "rock musical." The dialogue flowed pretty seamlessly into the songs. The flashing lights were still a bit hard on the eyes for the elderly woman I went with, though