I think the Sunset Boulevard album IS an exception because there was a lot of money invested into the recording of it - for example as I understand it they didn't just take the soundboard and whack it on a record, they also had microphones in the theatre to capture the fullness of the theatre which prevents it from sounding like a stale soundboard.
For next to normal, the west end transfer unfortunately didn't sell as well as I think they would have hoped so there wasn't exactly loads of money around to invest in things like a proshot or cast recording - and yet somehow somewhere people made it happen.
Personally, as a fan I'm much more happy we have this than we don't. I already had ripped the sound from the proshot but the editing/mixing of this version is much better. It's not the best live recording I've heard, but it's certainly no where near the worst.
I think Tom Kitt is just more concerned about keeping the show relevant and alive - which I think this production has done in a big, big way.
My favourite contemporary musical - one that I saw Alice Ripley do on tour (and her understudy on Broadway lol), recently in Barcelona again, was able to see Marin and her Husband, a couple other international productions. To have this premier at the Donmar, which Sondheim described as the best theatre in the English speaking world, then mature for a West End transfer, then to get recorded etc.. it's all like a dream come true, genuinely. I have no complaints.
The show is the closest thing to therapy I can think of - and it lives on.
I still remember when next to normal started previews here I think it was Whizzer who said they hope next to normal find an audience but they aren't sure if it will. The grosses were terrible - it was a bit like a Maybe Happy Ending situation (but not quite as exceptional because the running costs were low - about 250-300k per week according to the NyTimes although it was 2009). Then things took off, it won the Pulitzer etc.
The show truly has stood the test of time. It has aged surprisingly well. Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone who is involved!
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Updated On: 5/31/25 at 04:59 AM
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
