"Perfect for US": The NEXT TO NORMAL love thread!- Page 17

[jordangirl]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:41pm

They're selling tickets through July 12 currently. But it's listed as "open-ended".

[steven22]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:46pm

does anyone else think Jenn would make a kick ass Wendla if Spring Awakening was still around on bway?

[heo1128]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:49pm

I don't think she's innocent enough for Wendla, but I would have loved to see her go on as Ilse.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:53pm

I believe she played Ilse (understudy)

Jenn was originally intended to be a Wendla understudy, but her age restricted her from performing the role on stage (due to NY state law)

[Kad]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:43pm

It is deeply upsetting to me how talented she is for being so young.

[WiCkEd BaCcHaE]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:53pm

So I just bought the recording off of iTunes without knowing much about it, other than it has been getting lots of buzz. I looked up the wikipedia synopsis so I have a vague idea of what will happen...

Here's hoping I like it!! If I do, I'm sure you'll see me on this thread a lot =)

[steven22]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:56pm

I would lovee lovee lovee to see her Wendla in the near future...if that chance would come about..I know for a fact that she has said she is not done with Spring Awakening...(that was when the show was playing on bway)

[Tchi4Lif188]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 6:50pm

REALLY early but:

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2009/04/theater_review_of_next_to_norm.html

[heo1128]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 6:54pm

PLEASE don't compare Alice to Idina...they're not even in the same league. Updated On: 4/14/09 at 06:54 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 7:30pm

I liked that review very much...and with the Idina comment..I think the reviewer was just stating how "fierce" she is..not necessarily comparing them

[daughter of air]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:43pm

Just spreading some general N2N love... downloaded the cast recording a week ago. I have literally listened to nothing else since then. Amazing.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 8:31am

FYI: Playbill Store dot come has the N2N opening night playbill listed for sale ($10)

[WiCkEd BaCcHaE]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:48am

Ok I like the music and will probably end up loving it the more I listen to it. Is there a good synopsis besides what is up on wikipedia? I don't mind spoilers since I probably won't get to see the show, living in FL.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:18pm

PMed you.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:53pm

Amazing amazing performance tonight.

[teka21]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:54pm

details soon, please!

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:21pm

Okay- I'll make this short, since I already my general opinions about both the material and the performers and such-


I saw the second preview, and the show has come a long way. Performances, which were already excellent, have only strengthened. The show was better than before. Alice Ripley... my god. If she does not win the Tony, I don't know what I'd do. Aaron Tveit is still turning in a stunning performance (did they change his hair? I remember it being different..spikier). J. Robert Spencer has really grown the most. There is so much volume to Dan now. And "I Am the One (Reprise)" is incredible.

The energy was through the roof... the audience was itching for a chance to applaud during the second act (since there is no point to do so until after "So Anyway").

"You Don't Know/I Am the One" stopped the show, receiving the biggest response from the audience (though "I Miss the Mountains" was not far behind). I'm wondering if that isn't their strongest choice for their Tony number.

Something strange happened with Spencer's voice during, I believe, "I've Been". Either his mic cut out.. or his voice did. It was very brief but startling, since his vocals before and after were stellar.

The audience was emotional by the end. By the end of "I Am the One (Reprise)", it sounded like everyone in the audience had a cold. Sniffles everywhere. I was not moved to tears when I saw the show before, but this time I was definitely misty-eyed... which is no small feat, believe me. I rarely ever cry or even tear up at theatre, or movies...or anything, really.

There were no speeches, and the curtain call was surprisingly brief for an opening night. Aaron Tveit looked rather emotional during bows.


On a different note.. having now sat through this show in the very front row, and the very back of the mezz... I must say, that I think I preferred the rear mezz. Sure, the front row allows you to be so close to the actors you can get Alice Ripley's tears on your face (slight hyperbole). But the back row lets you see everything going on... not to mention the extremely interesting lighting and set changes (I did not notice the moving black flats in the background, in front of the light wall, before).

I think the best seat in the house is, actually, mid-Mezz. People in the first half of the mezz had to move themselves to see what was occurring very down stage (such as the sandwich making).

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:21 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:38pm

What a show tonight!! Incredible energy throughout. I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said by Kad. The cast was brilliant tonight- energy was through the roof. Lots of prolonged applause, particularly You Don't Know/I Am the One and I Miss the Mountains.

I think Spencer's voice cracked a bit in that brief moment. He covered it well, and made it seem like he was just overcome with emotion.

Alice received applause when she exited after So Anyway...

They still did the same curtain call they've always done. I thought for sure tonight they'd come back for an extra bow, but they didn't.

Great audience tonight- full of fans of the show, as evidenced by the fact that when the big spoiler in act 2 is revealed, no one gasped. The only other time I saw this happen was the first preview, which was also full of fans. Tom Kitt brought his young son (and wife), who looked adorable in a little pinstripe suit. David Stone was like a politician before the show, walking around greeting people, shaking hands.

Also spotted- Stephen Schwartz, Camryn Manheim, most of the cast of 13, and John Gallagher Jr.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:44pm

Being in the cheap seats denied me any stargazing opportunity... though I did see Norbert Leo Butz out for a cigarette during intermission.

It was really an incredible evening of theatre. I'm so glad it's receiving such positive reviews. It really deserves them. The second half of the second act is probably one of the most heart-wrenching sequences in a musical.

[ratherbewhaling]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:56pm

It was truly an amazing, amazing night.

The first time I saw the show was in previews I was in orch row b, tonight I was in row F of the Mezz, and next week I'm be in row f of the orch. Then I'll decide which way is the best to see it.

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:56 PM

[Jess03187]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:26pm

I have never seen the show live (just parts) and have never been to an opening of a show, this night was amazing. The show was unbelievable, my mom who knew nothing about it walked out of it amazed on how touching this play was. The whole cast was amazing and the energy of the audience was unlike any play I have ever been to. I cant wait to go back again, I'm already planning it out. I noticed a few people from the cast of 13, Brian D'arcy James with his wife was there, also saw Tom Kit with his son as well. Amazing night all together!

[Tchi4Lif188]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:28am

Lin Manuel Miranda was there as well tonight.

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:28am

So jealous of all of you who got to be there tonight...each time I see the show "You Don't Know/I Am The One" keeps getting more and more applause, its definitely the show stopper at this point and has always been my favorite part of the show.

I'm just giddy at the great reviews the show has gotten, especially the love letter from Brantley in the Times.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:33am

My post from the review thread:

Just left the opening night after party.

I can't begin to say how overwhelmed I am by these reviews. I've believed in the potential and the power of N2N for years and to see it finally reach that potential is just incredible.

I congratulated Ripley on already winning the Tony at the after party. She was SO gracious and sweet.

This is the show of the year and I couldn't be more thrilled about the way this night (which was a long time coming) turned out. An amazing final result...I'll end this post with what I ended my review of the first preview with: this show gives me hope for the original American musical. And for that alone, I say bravo a thousand times.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:49am

Okay, now that the reviews are out (and they are GREAT, and I'm thrilled, because I think this is the best musical in a decade), let me say this.

The end of this show should be immediately after the father says "I am the one who loved you." The father recognizes the son, which Mom didn't have the capability of.

Done.

Curtain.

I really, really dislike the new ending, with the Daughter going "Ma is at Grandma's house." The whole daughter/father thing is VERY Lolita.

It's a bull**** ending. At the VERY LEAST, mom should have killed herself.

She did, once upon a time at Second Stage.

But frankly, the end of the show happens when Aaron Tviet grabs onto his father, and the father gets it.

Curtain.




Updated On: 4/16/09 at 12:49 AM