"Perfect for US": The NEXT TO NORMAL love thread!- Page 10

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 12:29pm

To Gizmo

Do not get me wrong . I would love to see N2N win it all but I am a realist. If anything can derail Billy, it will be N2N which I enjoyed more than Spring Awakening.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 1:54pm

I LIKED Billy; I could even go as far to say LOVED it...but because choreography was gorgeous, and the story is a formulaic tear-jerker.

However, I will TOTALLY be rooting for N2N....for so many reasons: the acting, the story, the meaningfulness, the originality, the book, the score.

And to be honest: I am NOT rooting for the Billy Boys. They are great dancers. They are serviceable singers and barely adequate actors. Also: just by "lumping them together" they would be awarding the ROLE and not the actor.

But...back to N2N. Cannot wait for the the reviews and truly hope they are as stunning as they have been for Hair.

[heo1128]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:07pm

Having seen both Billy Elliot and Next to Normal back to back, I think it's a really tough call. Although I'd love Next to Normal to win and think it would be well deserved, Billy is also an incredibly well put together show. But the score is so incredibly weak for Billy...which really bothered me. What about 9-5? Does anyone think that has a chance? The Tony's will be a close race this year!

N2N better win the score Tony, though. And Alice definitely deserves something for her performance.
Updated On: 4/5/09 at 02:07 PM

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:26pm

9 to 5 is going to experience a similar fate this year as CRY BABY did last year. . . (Maybe it's the theater?) It will get panned by critics and tossed aside by the Tonys. It will, however, last longer than CRY BABY did and make much more $$$ simply due to the popularity of the movie. (In fact, it might actually run for a while.)

But the show itself is spongy Midwestern fluff. Campy music and a distorted plot and incomprehensible and poorly executed choreography. Some funny slap-stick jokes aside, I enjoyed LEGALLY BLONDE much better.

No, there's now no question about it. When it comes to best musical, this year it's between N2N and Billy. Tough call. But if N2N has good political backing (which I think it might get), it will CONTEND again Billy.

But again, whether that political backing is present or not will be determined by the reviews in a few weeks.

Keeping my fingers crossed . . .

[jordangirl]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:38pm

I'm thinking the reviews will be good. They were relatively good at 2econd Stage (and more than relatively good at Arena), and the changes and tweaks have dealt with almost everything the critics had issues with before. So...

Hopefully that bodes well.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:46pm

Ripley is now in her second musical dealing with an odd subject for a musical. First Siamese twins & now Bipolar disease

[jordangirl]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:57pm

Right... And...? She's never really been drawn to the traditional things.

(A lot would say The Dead was an odd choice for a musical.)

Updated On: 4/5/09 at 02:57 PM

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 3:14pm

I think it has a goos shot at winning the Tony for Best Musical. A British import hasn't won since Sunset Blvd.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 3:18pm

The fact that BILLY is a British import has nothing to do with the fact that it's going to win Best Musical.

If a non-British musical wins, it will be 9 TO 5.

NEXT TO NORMAL just doesn't have a shot this year...if it opened last year, it definitely would have had a chance. But realistically, there's no way it'll win this year.

Alice will win and the score deserves to win though.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 3:31pm

Best Musical WILL be BE or 9 to 5.
It has a chance at Score, especially since BE's is so weak.
Alice has a 50/50 shot. Allison Janney is neck-and-neck right now...

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 6:53pm

<< That is true- though, sadly, Caroline, or Change never had a chance. Also criminal was Tonya Pinkins not winning. It was also criminal it wasn't nominated for a Pulitzer. The treatment of Caroline, or Change was, on the whole, criminal.
>>

Totally agree--- only thing that comes close (at least, in my opinion) was "Ragtime" losing to "Lion King"-

[sgv123]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:12pm

The digital dowload is April 7th right? Itunes?

[LittleBitRacist]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:12pm

i LOVE this show. alice NEEDS to win, and although it probably won't get it it deserves best musical

[Kad]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:14pm

Yeah, the official word is that the digital release will be on Tuesday.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:16pm

At the show tonight, the crib was visible up in the rafters but did not lower down in the second act as it has before.

It looks like they're experimenting with taking it out again.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:16pm

i hope you guys are happy! they took the crib out. i was at the show tonight and from what i saw, and i looked for it because i knew when it comes down, no crib.

to anyone wondering...i had tdf tickets and we got 5th row orchestra on the middle aisle. amazing seats for tdf! i guess we might have gotten lucky but it was great. can't wait 'til tuesday for the cast recording!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/5/09 at 11:58pm

AH, no! I hope they leave the crib in.

It gave me the chills and was perfect in the moment, IMO.

I hope they don't cut it...I loved it.

[heo1128]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 12:00am

I think "less is more" fits for that scene...it's a good idea in theory, but I think it kind of clutters the scene. You should be focusing on Alice and her reactions, not a crib suspended above the set for 15 seconds.
Updated On: 4/6/09 at 12:00 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 12:11am

I didn't even see the damn thing so I feel nothing toward its removal.

[jake6970]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 12:15am

I always miss it too.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 9:58am

I saw the show for this first time yesterday, and absolutely fell in love with it. I didn't really know what to expect when I went in, but I know I wasn't expecting to cry as much as I did! Here's my review for the 4/5 matinee(with some spoilers):

Ripley was astonishing. I don't even really know any other way to describe her performance. She was breathtaking. Every emotion was there, and I thought she sounded excellent. The scene where she tells Dan that she's leaving had me in tears. If she doesn't win the Tony this year, I will be shocked.

Similarly, I loved Aaron Tveit. I thought he was close to perfect in the role. His vocals, as well as his diction, were fantastic. "I'm Alive" was electric, and "There's a World" was hauntingly beautiful. He was charming, charismatic, and delivered a wonderful performance. He deserves a Tony nomination for this, and I look forward to seeing him in Catch Me if You Can

I'm surprised that some people on this board thought J. Robert Spencer was a weak link, because I thought he was great. His reacting was spot-on, and the scene where he acknowledged Gabe's presence was extremely powerful.

I loved the score; I thought it was very strong. Every song had a purpose, and the music integrated nicely with the scenes.

So, yeah, I loved the show. The score is awesome, Greif's direction is fresh and exciting, and there isn't a weak link in the cast. I haven't seen Billy Elliot yet (I have tickets for next month), but I really hope N2N takes Best Musical. It's a great show, and, after seeing it yesterday, I'm proud to call myself a fan.

[noplain]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:25am

I'm downloading the cast recording off itunes now

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:36am

Crib was not visible at the matinee Sunday.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:38am

The digital release isn't until tomorrow...

Anyway, I'll be back on Thursday and then I'll be there on Opening Night !
Can't wait!

[noplain]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:42am

It's now the 7th in Australia, maybe that is why I can download it.