Next To Normal Opening Night at Arena Stage — Page 2

I still think it could work as a bonus track if it ever got a cast recording.

Especially if they get Anthony to sing it. He was wonderful at NYMF.

He was the assistant director for the 2ST run. Did he do the same for the Arena run?

Anthony was at the show the day after Thanksgiving. Regardless of if he's actually still a part of it or not, I'm sure he still wants to see how it's doing.

As for "Feeling Electric" being cut, I think it works SO much better. It was always kind of an odd moment going on that, although it was fun and I enjoyed watching it (and would love for it to be a bonus track on a cd if one gets made), it didn't fit well with the show. The new ending of act I is beautiful, the staging is great and I feel as though at intermission, you're left feeling more curious and anxious about what is about to happen in act II.

"Wish I Were Here" is also a fine addition to the show and helps show the ECT part without it being as offensive or personal as some complained that it was at Second Stage.

As wickedrocks was saying, the characters are definitely more fleshed out, ESPECIALLY that of Dr. Madden. I left the show this time caring more about the characters than I did the first time I saw it for sure.

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It has nothing to do with the professional quality of a recording. I've heard many a "bootleg" recording of a show and fell in love with it - Gypsy for one and I don't tend to go towards more classically sounding shows. I'm not saying I hate the show, I mean, I am going to see it in DC. But it's not like it's this perfect show. I think the best parts of the show are with Henry and the daughter. "I Miss The Mountains" is an awful song. There is no redeeming melody to it. The best part of the Act II for me is the underscoring with "Aftershock." I'll def post my thoughts after I see the show. I know I'll like it, I liked it at Second Stages, but there were def. problems with the show. I mean, if they're trying to flesh the characters out, then certain parts of it just don't work for me. Are they going for realism or what? Which genre of a show are they trying to do?

Well. "Wish I Were Here" is in Act 2 and it's HARDLY a ballad.

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OOH, i can't wait, im seing it next monday

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_NEXT_TO_NORMAL_At_Arena_Stage_20081216

What's up with these heinous new costumes for the finale/bows?

I have not cried like this since when I was 11 and saw Les Mis for the first time. I have never been evoked so much.

They cut back on the humor and it's fantastic. It's still there, but in spurts. I believe this makes sense because there are those awkward moments when you have to laugh at yourself even while experiencing a tragic illness. Even if people found the humor awkward, I thought it was prety clear and the awkwardness even makes sense with the subject matter.

Feeling Electric was a good song, but A Light in the Dark is so effective and adds so much more to Dan. As does his song, I believe titled, "I Was there." He is not in the woodwork anymore, and very sympathetic and complex.

I was ready to watch an anti-meds and anti-therapy and doctors show, but that's not what happened. I am PRO medicine (and actually on anti-anxiety meds that are working) and was ready to accept a different opinion. However, I believe this show conveyed how meds and therapy CAN be helpful but also how murky the subject matter is. Hobson as Madden is SO sympathetic, a really well-intentioned, understanding and open-minded doctor.

The cast was pretty perfect. Ripley's performance is simply legendary. She sings as if she's crying her songs out and it's great. I was hesitant about Spencer as Dan but he is JUST as wonderful. A subtler but no less powerful stage presence and a killer voice. Damiano is as real as can be as Natalie, and Tveit is sort of other-worldly as Gabe, while Adam Chanler-Berat is way way too adorable as Henry.

I would love for this show to go to Broadway, but could it in this economy? Also, there are a lot of shows that call themselves edgy, but this IS edgy and innovative. The toher issue is: is America ready for this show? I'm just not sure.

So, it's rare that I have no complaints with a show, though I do always tend to look sunny-side up. But I don't here. This is magnificent. Like Peter Marks said, this show is about more than mental illness or drugs or ECT. It's about the human condition.

regnad kcin ~ "A Light In The Dark" WAS there in the Second Stage version. It just closes Act 1 now ~ which I think is a fantastic choice! "I've Been" was added back in for the Arena Stage version.

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"I've Been" is the one where Dan is cleaning, but it's in Act 1 ~ just before "Didn't I See This Movie?" and then "A Light In The Dark".

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*Spoilerish*

Yeah. The ECT is proposed as a result of the suicide attempt. :)

But you're right. That song ("I've Been") does add a lot of insight into Dan's character, which was missing at Second Stage. And I adore the little things J. Robert Spencer does. I feel for his Dan more than I ever felt for Brian d'Arcy James's Dan. Especially during and just after "So Anyway". I just wanted to smack Brian's Dan. At least Bobby's shows SOME emotion.

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I thought Brian's "Dan" had a really good breakdown moment with his son during the "I Am The One" reprise.

Don't you think Henry needs a solo song? Just to sort of explain why he's in the show? I understand the whole parallel relationship that's going on, but his character doesn't really have much meaning in the show.

I just got seats for Row S in January through a promotional deal with Arena. Would it be easy to move up if there are seats open?