Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
#1Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/24/15 at 4:59pm
Which one strikes a larger emotional chord in you?
Updated On: 12/24/15 at 04:59 PM
#2Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/24/15 at 5:21pm
Do these shows have anything in common that would even warrant such a comparison?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#3Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/24/15 at 5:32pm
qolbinau said: "Do these shows have anything in common that would even warrant such a comparison?"
Retweet.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#4Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/24/15 at 5:33pm
Next to Normal is a whole load of hooey, psychologically. Some good tunes tho.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
c0113g3b0y
Leading Actor Joined: 9/16/15
#5Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 6:31am
the OCR of N2N gets really grating on the ears after a while
The thing is, besides being an utter toad of a human being, Riedel usually has the least knowledge of the topic in the room. He doesn't usually understand the content or approach of a show, and is always completely and unfailingly socially ignorant, which makes it really infuriating when Susan can't get a word in edgewise. A definitive mansplainer; it's always painful when he has female guests. I watch the show sporadically when I really want to see a guest, because it's the only theatre talkshow we have, but it would be so much better without this hateful clown in a dadcoat. (thanks ScaryWarhol)
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 7:03am
Different emotional chords. How to compare.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
pushdabutton
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/05
#7Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 7:08am
Loved both shows. Although they are both emotional shows, they are very different.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#8Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 7:28am
My two favorite musicals of the 21st century so far. Hamilton is more polished and well done but nothing can make me cry like Next to Normal does.
AngusN
Broadway Star Joined: 3/23/05
#9Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 7:57am
Next to Normal every time. I find Hamilton dull and repetitive, with a bizarre concept that doesn't engage me.
#10Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 8:18am
Thank-you Namo. I spent more time rolling my eyes while watching that show. Hooey and Hogwash!
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#11Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 8:28am
AngusN said: "Next to Normal every time. I find Hamilton dull and repetitive, with a bizarre concept that doesn't engage me."
What's the "bizarre concept" you don't find engaging in Hamilton?
Updated On: 12/25/15 at 08:28 AM
#12Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 8:35am
I like N2N as a show, but agree with Namo and SNAFU that it's nonsense regarding the psychological perspective. And the score is pretty bland.
Hamilton is a much better show all around.
But the two are about as "apples and oranges" as you can get. There is no basis for a comparison really.
....but the world goes 'round
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
#13Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 8:40am
Next to Normal is a whole load of hooey, psychologically?
What exactly do you mean by this? The way the musical portrays Diana's Bipolar disorder is fairly accurate. The only inaccuracy would be that in this present day, Dianna would not be diagnosed with bipolar depressive disorder with delusional episodes (which is what they called it in the show) but now they would just name it Bipolar 11.
But especially with how the showed ECT, it was pretty accurate.
A good source regarding the medical accuracy of Nex to Normal: ECT is not, however, a first-round option when it comes to the treatment of bipolar disorder. In fact, ECT is often viewed as a last resort option for treatment, usually considered for manic patients who are incredibly ill and extremely treatment-resistant or whose symptoms include very serious suicidal or psychotic symptoms.[6] This practice holds true in Next to Normal where ECT is only brought up as a treatment option after Diana severely self-harms by cutting after being prompted by her hallucination of Gabe to commit suicide (“I Dreamed a Dance”/”There’s a World&rdquo
. It was only after Diana’s condition became resistant to drug therapy and she became severely suicidal that Dr. Madden suggested Dan talk to her about using ECT as a treatment option.
I thought the show did extraordinarily well in being accurate. I have to re-read the reviews but I believe a good handful of critics applauded the accuracy of the piece in relation with today's medical field.
But perhaps I misinterpreted what you were saying?
.
Updated On: 12/25/15 at 08:40 AM
StageStar2468
Chorus Member Joined: 7/18/12
#14Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 10:17am
Agree with what others have been saying. They're both spectacular for many reasons, but to compare them is somewhat difficult because they're honestly just very different shows. I feel like it'd be easier to compare Next to Normal to something with a closer theme. My friend whose is a big N2N fan would often compare it to Fun Home (similar idea being centered around family turmoil, just different types of turmoil) whereas Hamilton would be better compared with something more forward thinking and ground breaking. Rent is the first one that comes to mind, but I know there are others. Just my thought on this.
#15Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 10:48am
First of all, I see no need to rank everything on earth. Two shows, both great, just say "yay."
Secondly, why is it that so many discussions on here devolve from forests to trees? What does accuracy have to do with the OP's original question, which was about "emotional chords"? Hamlet is as inaccurate as hell.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#16Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 11:08am
SPOILER ALERT
Were audience members supposed to have forgotten The Sixth Sense? Because it was CLEAR from the beginning. Or maybe they were assuming NtoNo fans were Wicked Fans going to My Second Musical and were too young to have seen that movie?
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#17Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 11:10am
I will take Next to Normal. But I agree you can hardly compare these two shows.
#18Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 12:14pm
They both strike equal emotional chords in me. Which is to say, none at all.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#19Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 12:21pm
for hork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX0pB1Szgmk
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#20Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 5:38pm
Re: the psychology of n2n. I think you can tell they did have some kind of mental health consultant work on the project (or they did some research) because some of the lines sound like they were almost directly pulled from a psychology textbook.
I think that, given some dramatic license, they did a fine job at portraying mental illness and the effect it has on herself and her family.
When the show was running, I felt that some audience members criticized the show because it was not consistent with their personal experiences. But human psychology is extremely complex - so frequently 'text book examples' are rare and individuals have unique experiences. As one of the lines in the show explored, often it involves labelling collections of symptoms. But that doesn't mean that label means exactly the same thing for one person as it does another. Nothing is clear cut.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 12/25/15 at 05:38 PM
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#21Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 6:46pm
The score is a beauty, but N2T both romanticizes and blends symptoms of multiple conditions without generally recognized comorbidity. As it plays out, Diana isn't just suffering from bipolarity, she takes on just about everything in the DSM-5. She becomes Mental Illness, with cap M and cap I. Sometimes it has a sort of "Snake Pit" era shaming view, at others tries to make sufferers appear "special," so that the heroine gets full Sylvia Path-ed. The songs are just wonderful, however, all of 'em.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Updated On: 12/25/15 at 06:46 PM
#22Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 6:54pm
qolbinau said: "Do these shows have anything in common that would even warrant such a comparison?
"
Absolutely not, and why start the thread then?
#23Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 6:54pm
Oops sorry I see it was started by one of the trolls I blocked!
TravisOKC
Understudy Joined: 12/14/15
#24Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 9:48pm
pushdabutton said: "Loved both shows. Although they are both emotional shows, they are very different.
Wait until you see Bright Star...not a dry eye in the theatre during both acts.
"
pushdabutton
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/05
#25Next to Normal or Hamilton?
Posted: 12/25/15 at 10:25pm
Thanks TravisOKC. I'll have to put Bright Star on my list of shows to see!
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