Next to Normal this afternoon

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/14/09 at 10:08pm

Of the many, many times I've visited this production, this afternoon's performance was one of the strongest I've ever seen.

Ripley's voice has never sounded stronger than it was today. She sounds like she's had a month off, which is odd, given she hasn't been out of the show in two months. No raspiness, nothing pitchy. She sounded crystal clear and very strong. Her acting remains outstanding.

Meghann Fahy was on for Natalie, and this was the second time I've seen her. The first was her first time on in the role. I thought she was excellent, then, but today...wow. She was spectacular. She makes some very different choices than Jen, and brings an innocence and purity to the character that Jen doesn't have. She's also got a gorgeous voice. I never thought I'd say this, but I think she's better than Damiano (whom I also love).

Bobby, Aaron, and Adam were all great, as usual.

Michael Berry was on for the doctors. He was very good, but not excellent (and not nearly as good as Louis). I've seen him in both his tracks, and actually prefer him as Dan (a role I think he's excellent at). His rock star personal is kind of awkward, but he does have some really funny little bits.

Michael Grief was there taking notes.

Just a great performance this afternoon. One of my favorites. Everyone was on top of their game. Show was completely sold out, including standing room. One woman bought a standing room ticket and then complained about having to stand. I don't know what she thought she was going to have to do.

[wicked1492]

Posted: 11/14/09 at 11:12pm

I saw the show for my first time on Thursday. Wow. I didn't even know what hit me. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in the theatre. I was shaking for about 30 minutes after the show ended beacause it was so emotional for me. I couldn't even fullarticulate all that I felt about the show....but now I think I can. I guess I'll do a little review.

Let's start with Alice. Oh my Lord. This woman just embodies her character. Her voice is so unique and powerful. My favorite parts were 1. when she brings that cake out and is standing there 2. when she throws the silverware in "You Don't Know" Amazing job. Not much else to say that hasn't been said about her.

J. Robert Spencer was definetly my favorite performer of the night. He just conveys Dan so well, with so much passion and you can feel his pain. He wants to help Diana so badly but doesn't know what to do. *SPOILER* Right after Diana leaves and he's lit from behind, you can see the tears rolling down his face and his voice breaks as he tries to keep singing. I got chills up to my scalp. *END SPOILER* How those three boys beat him at the Tonys, I'll never know (unless I go see their show).

Jennifer Damiano next (she was there Thursday). Natalie is such a challenging character (they all are) and she REALLY pulls it off. *SPOILER* She's been neglected over her dead brother and just has that emotionless, blank look on her face. You really feel for her.

Adam Chanler-Berat as Henry was a real stand out for me. Loved the tone in his voice and his acting was great. There was just something about him that made him stand out for me.

Aaron Tveit didn't have much character, but I loved his voice. It's so smooth and effortless. It seemed like he was kinda going through the motions at some points, but then he'd get back into it.

Michael Berry was on for the doctors on Thursday as well and he was really my only disappointment. I chuckled at the rock star bits, but other than that, you could tell he was an understudy. Not a very strong voice and I can't see him performing Dan at the calibar it should be (see J. Robert Spencer).

Overall, such a powerfull show. I love the music so much. The harmonies and orchestrations are so beautiful. The band was so strong, especially the stringed instruments.
The set really worked. It's so minimalistic and creative. You don't need a huge, elaborate set for a show like this because the material stands so well on its own.

Met Alice and J. Robert Spencer after the show. Both were soooo kind and sincere. I told Alice "After what I just saw, I don't know how there was ANY competition for the Tony this year." She said "There wasn't." Haha.

[steven22]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:53am

I saw the show last Tuesday Night and Michael for on for the doctors too. And at the stage door Michael Greif was right behind me and I didn't notice until Alice said something to him!!

[florida theatre kid]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:18am

Having seen Bobby Spencer, Gavin Creel and Kiril Kulish as Billy Elliot, and I would give the Tony to Bobby in a heartbeat (my whole family agrees with me as well). His rendition of "A Light in the Dark" changed my life in a way I never thought a song in musical theatre could. The way he pulls in Diana and rubs her leg and kisses her in that scene....no words can describe the feeling I got. Probably my single favorite moment in the whole show and one of the best moments of theatre I have ever experienced.
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 09:18 AM

[specialk2]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 12:59pm

I was also at yesterday's matinee and I agree, it was excellent. My boyfriend and I had gotten the 36.50 Mezzanine seats. We were dead center and the views were excellent. Save for a couple shopped off heads here and there. I do think that being in the orchestra is a much more intimate experience though. One hilarious moment was when Alice starts to make the sandwiches pretty far downstage and every single person in the mezzanine leaned forward simultaneously to see.

I had actually seen Jessica Phillips as I happened to see the rare performance where Alice was out. While I really liked Jessica, Alice simply does something with the role that takes it to a whole different level. At the stage door it was slightly raining so she sent out her assistant with already signed playbills and her facebook business cards. I don't really know how a woman can be that nice to her fans. She's incredible!

I didn't think Meghann was better than Jenn, but she does have a great voice. I think Jenn is a better actor. Anyway, Meghann was great.

Bobby's performance tonight was even better than the last time I saw N2N. I must admit, he is my favorite performer. Yes, even over Alice. The emotion I see from him is incredible. And he is so kind at the stage door.

Aaron was wonderful. I had seen Kyle Dean Massey and honestly I thought they were on par, or even Kyle was the tiniest bit better. I have to say Aaron was a better dancer though. There were moments I thought he was going to fall off the stage!

Adam was great, again. I saw him hanging outside of a different theater and waved. :)

Michael Berry.. ahh. Well he wasn't terrible. Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling is one of my favorite songs in the show and it just fell short. He was funny as the rockstar, but I felt like his voice had a strange thinness to it and he couldn't sound good unless he was almost screaming as in the rockstar role. The only flaw of this performance.

I am really upset I didn't get to see Michael Grief.

Overall, it was excellent and I was left bawling once again.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 1:02pm

I'm seeing it on Saturday. Pretty excited.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 1:39pm

I'm seeing it on Saturday as well. I can't wait!

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:04pm

I too was in attendence yesterday at the matinee and I thought that it was wonderful. This was the first time I had seen it but I had listened to the cast recording since it came out. I was in the orchestra and it was very intimate. It was almost like Alice was looking me in the eye, which was kind of creepy but at the same time awesome. I would see this show again in a heartbeat.

[trombonist]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:14pm

"Save for a couple shopped off heads here and there."

HA!!! Love that image!! So how much is a head going for these days when you're shopping for a new one? :) Chopped off perhaps? :P

And FWIW, it's unlikely the rain is what kept Alice from coming out. She usually stays in between shows on matinee days.
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 02:14 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:27pm

Additionally....SHE might not have personally signed the Playbills. Letting my kids stagedoor at BBB, it was announced that Stamos would NOT be coming out, but the door man had "signed Playbills". Waiting around for the other actors, I saw the doorman go back to his desk and PRINT some more for other people. He insisted that it was indeed his signature, but this is how they appeased the crowd. (I'm not doubting that he had permission or anything, just that they were not ACTUALLY signed by Stamos.)

It's still nice and all....but, perhaps, not so big a deal. (I have NO idea whether or not Alice does the same or not.)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:51pm

The way he pulls in Diana and rubs her leg and kisses her in that scene....no words can describe the feeling I got.

Are you coming out, or reviewing the show?

[mina3]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 4:06pm

Alice signs the playbills she sends out to the stagedoor when she doesn't leave the theater. I don't know how anyone could fake her signature, anyway - she signs in bubble letters and it would be extremely obvious if someone were just writing her name on the cover.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 4:38pm

Is Louis on vacation, or is he sick? Does anyone know?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 4:47pm

Is Louis on vacation, or is he sick? Does anyone know?

I assume he is on vacation and this was planned given that Joe Cassidy has temporarily joined the company as an understudy for the Doctors. Most likely, they didn't want to be without a Dan cover in case something happened to Bobby and Michel was on as the Doctors. This way, Michael could go on as Dan if need be, and Cassidy could play the Doctors.

[steven22]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 4:49pm

I thought that this was weird because Joe Cassidy played Dan in one of the readings....

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 4:52pm

I'm eager to see this show again! I saw it once during previews and once over the summer and I'm in love with it. My sister wants to see it (especially before Aaron leaves for good), so I'm probably going again in January when she's available. Glad to here it's in great shape.

[specialk2]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:06pm

Haha, yes I meant chopped.

And I'm pretty sure she signed the playbills as when the assistant was handing them out, I could see they were all a little bit different. I'm sure the rain didn't help her chances of coming out.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 7:24pm

Louis is on vacation (or was).