Next To Normal gipped- Page 3

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:53pm

No he didn't. It was a giant F*ck you.

Sounded like a congratulations to me.

[rjjn]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:53pm

I think the score win is good enough for the show to start picking up steam.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:56pm

"totally agree-- next to normal is ORIGINAL. and TOTALLY deserved every award it was nominated for.
BE is generic and the performance was beyond terrible. and awkward."

The performances each year on the Tonys, in my opinion, seem to be not that great. So I wouldn't judge Billy Elliot based on the performance you saw on TV today.

And whether or not Next to Normal deserved the award, what is wrong with a show that is not original and based off a book or movie? In the end, how it is executed makes a huge difference. Next to Normal still won some awards in the creative area as well as Best Actress, so I would not say it was gypped.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:56pm

Score is a huge award. People would definitely go see it for that alone. And Alice Ripley of course. It's a really good score with beautiful orchestrations... I'm definitely not sad that they won those two. Too bad the tie between Billy and Next to Normal couldn't have been shown on TV! Would have made for some exciting television.

~Steven

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:57pm

Also, Ripley gave an AMAZING performance tonight, imo. I think that a lot of people would go, even if they didn't know of her, to see her perform such an outstanding role.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:03am

I'm not sure how it will sit with the tourists - the fact that Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, and Legally Blonde are currently touring and selling-out speaks for their tastes - but I think a lot of New Yorkers who maybe weren't interested in Next to Normal will pick up tickets now.

[snl89]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:04am

N2N has a problematic book (still) with a wonderful score, great performances, and some beautiful stage pictures. But it still doesn't fit completely

See I feel like that's why I actually am so disappointed about it- because I personally DO feel that the show is just about perfect. Maybe it's just because it's the only show I've ever really followed since its very early stages, but seeing it for the first time on Broadway I was SO blown away and impressed by how much work they had put into it since I'd last seen it at 2nd Stage. At 2nd Stage, it was a really good show that still needed some work. At the Booth, I felt like EVERYTHING that had needed to be changed and cleaned up was. I can't think of a single scene that I would change, take out, move around, or anything. Sure there's maybe a couple teensy lines here and there that maaaybe could be even better, but that's getting seriously nit picky. Over all, I just personally felt that the show could not GET much better than it is, in any capacity.

And I have a preeetty hard time believing that's true of Billy Elliot, mostly because I can't think of many other shows at ALL that have ever gotten to that point. I love Spring Awakening dearly, but I have nooooo problem admitting parts of the book were quite weak. I freaking ADORE Hair, but I can tell that while the current production is near flawless, the book itself is not. RENT is probably my #1 favorite show still, but it DEF had things that could have been cleaned up. Basically I have a hard time thinking of a single other show that got to AS clean and perfect a point as I feel Next to Normal has.

Not saying that everyone else has to agree, but it's just since I feel that way it made it all the more difficult to see it not get the recognition it too deserved. Again, I don't doubt Billy Elliot it amazing. It LOOKS amazing! I'm definitely not hating on Billy Elliot- I still really want to see it. But Next to Normal has come SO FAR, and has gotten SO GOOD, and it would have benefited from the recognition more.

If the awards didn't have any effect on anything outside of pure recognition, I'd be perfectly okay with BE winning. But being able to say "Best Musical Tony Winner" on that marquee makes a difference in SALES. And all I'm sayin' is, if Next to Normal closes in the fall, I'm not going to be a happy camper. That's all :)

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 12:04 AM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:11am

While I thought that the "N2N" performance was great, I would have went with "Just Another Day" as well-- I love "Light", but they might have stayed away from it because its really a "spoiler"---- basically gives away the ending.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:16am

What a joke, they gave best nusical to a show with a weak score and a watered down book, you can always rely on the Tony Awards

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:17am

SNL89, judging by what you said, Billy Elliot just isn't your type of show. It seems like you like the rock musicals, which Billy isn't. So that's just your preference. And trust me, at least from my perspective, Next to Normal is not perfect.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:20am

snl- It's your opinion and you're entitled to it. When I saw N2N, I thought that there were parts of the the story that didn't work. I thought some songs didn't flow into the plot well (I love "Superboy and the invisible Girl" but it has such an awkward transition). I think that the ending starts off sweet and powerful in its own simplistic way, and then it becomes this preachy finale, which came across as abrupt and unneeded. I think that there were storylines that were started and not seen through. And too many times, the show relied on songs that relied on character's inner thoughts rather than their actions and connections to other people in order to continue their story arc. When you remove your head and allow to watch the show with your heart, it's incredibly moving. But that doesn't distract from the fact that it ISN'T perfect.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:21am

I have not seen either show but from the previews, clips and music that I have heard, Between the two, I would have liked to have seen N2N win. I am really not crazy about what I have seen and heard of both but from what I have seen and heard, If I had to choose one, it would be N2N. Hopefully I will get to see them both in the near future. My opinion may change.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:24am

Is there a term for people obsessed with N2N yet?

Anyways, Billy Elliot > Next to Normal.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:32am

The Tonys got it wrong yet again, but this is not surprising.

And Elton's acknowledgment of the show was a giant f-you, and complete grandstanding. Like he was saying, "You kids keep working on your little shows and one day you'll be up here like me."

[snl89]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:32am

SNL89, judging by what you said, Billy Elliot just isn't your type of show. It seems like you like the rock musicals, which Billy isn't. So that's just your preference. And trust me, at least from my perspective, Next to Normal is not perfect.

Oh no I think BE probably IS also my type of show! haha. I mean, I think it looks amazing, even if only just for the incredible dancing :) I just haven't seen it because I don't believe they have rush or lotto tickets so it's more difficult to be able to go haha. But yeah, I've wanted to see BE since it first opened!

I just also really really love Next to Normal. And again, it's probably partially that it's the only show I've ever seen developed from near the beginning. And to see how far it came, and how much more effective it grew with each change made, made me really value the entire creative team as well as the show itself.

Again though, obviously everyone has their own opinions and especially with an assertion to stark as to say that a show is perfect, there are going to be lots of people who probably don't agree. But basically it just made me frustrating, seeing so many people saying "BE will win but N2N should". That, to me, says that most people probably agree N2N is just as good or better than BE, but BE is just the "happier more typical musical" show, so it won because of that, and not because more people ACTUALLY felt it was of clearly better quality.

But whatever though. BE seems like an amazing show and I really do intend to see it once I get back into the city :)

[SahDu]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:33am

"Is there a term for people obsessed with N2N yet? "

How about the Abnormals? :)

Haven't seen N2N, and to me it did come off slightly incestuous, so I am wondering if anyone would mind telling me how it actually does fit into the storyline, as I'm curious.
Updated On: 6/8/09 at 12:33 AM

[snl89]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:42am

Haven't seen N2N, and to me it did come off slightly incestuous, so I am wondering if anyone would mind telling me how it actually does fit into the storyline, as I'm curious.

haha yeah, that scene ALWAYS comes off a bit incestuous I think. See it's really hard to explain without giving away a major spoiler that's kind of what the show revolves around....

let's just say that what we see is presumably what Diana is seeing, and Diana tends to exaggerate things in her mind? lol, see that probably makes NO sense if you don't know the show!

I CAN assure you that the show is not actually incestuous in the show any way. At all :) Her relationship with her son is just... complicated

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:43am

<< And trust me, at least from my perspective, Next to Normal is not perfect. <<

Many feel the same way about "Billy Elliot"-

I think its a great show, but has its flaws.

[Craww]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:46am

Haven't seen N2N, and to me it did come off slightly incestuous, so I am wondering if anyone would mind telling me how it actually does fit into the storyline, as I'm curious.

Answering that question would be too much of a spoiler. If you're talking specifically about the incestuousness I think that's mostly unintentional and an awesome facet flaw to Aaron Tveit's hypersexualized performance quirks.

Exhibit #2, from Oedipal to kickin' it VC Andrews style:


Creeper.

[snl89]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:54am

Yeah, Aaron definitely has a strong underlying sensuality in how he plays the role Which actually really works in context! It definitely adds something to the show and the character

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:08am

Yeah, Aaron definitely has a strong underlying sensuality in how he plays the role Which actually really works in context! It definitely adds something to the show and the character

I actually thought his performance, because of that, was the weakest in the show.

[heo1128]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:12am

Aaron's performance is undeniably creepy. I can't wait to see Kyle Dean Massey in the role.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:12am

I thought because his character isn't a three dimensional character was because his performance wasn't as great as everyone else's. He really isn't required to do much but sing and look pretty.
And snl- Is it really a spoiler if it's revealed 15 minutes in and is basically the whole reason for the plot of the show?

[fanadu1996]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:14am

1) N2N's performance had singing, not an occasional pre-pubescent grunt.
2) You could EASILY see what was happening in the N2N performance, any half-witted person could understand. If you did not get the "back story" from the introduction of BE, you would have NO clue what was going on. Billy Elliot is, of course a great show, but that performance was AWFUL and AWKWARD and thank god they dont need help selling tickets bc that would not have helped them AT ALL.
N2N is original, and though provoking and just an amazing piece of intelligent theatre, not just a carbon copy of an "ok" movie.

N2N will not last forever, not nearly as long as BE, but a dancing boy with a dream is an easier sell than a schizophrenic mother, and dysfunctional family.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:14am

I think Aaron is cute with a wonderful voice, but I found his performance as Gabe too antagonistic. I think the character might've worked better if he didn't come across like a creepy db.