"Perfect for US": The NEXT TO NORMAL love thread! — Page 6

I agree about Gabe being more of a force inside of Diana. I don't know if she literally sees him talking to her during I AM THE ONE.

But then again, in the first few minutes of the show, Dan asks Diana what voices he heard and she says she was talking to herself...so was she talking to the ghost of Gabe or just talking to herself as if she was reprimanding him for coming home late? I don't know...this is a confusing one for me.

One one hand, I don't know if he's necessarily something Diana actually SEES but at the same time, we see her yell at him for coming home so late and tell him to get ready for the bus.

Updated On: 4/1/09 at 12:56 AM

kaythanks.

In Diana's case, with her issues, she does actually hallucinate her son; I think the Gabe that the audience is seeing is the one Diana has formulated in her mind. Dr. Fine even states during "Psychopharmacologist" that she has delusional episodes.

During the I'm Alive reprise, she's actually seeing something -- when she tries to get Dan to turn and look, too, or in the way she is looking at him when she runs up to the second level to get Natalie.

Updated On: 4/1/09 at 01:13 AM

I think there can DEFINITELY be an argument that Diana sees him in her head only...but seeing him in her head can be just as real and life changing....having formed THAT clear of an image of a grown young man....his body, his face etc? We're not talking DAYDREAMS, but interactions.

I'm not saying that IS the way I interpret it (I haven't seen it since 2nd Stage...so it is not fresh enough in my mind to personally discuss it.) But the argument that most of GABE is for the audience personified is "plausible."

Art of any kind is interpretive....it can mean anything to anyone of us.

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Updated On: 4/1/09 at 05:29 AM

As for the comment that it would be more effective if Gabe were less attractive, I couldnt disagree more. Gabe being a good looking kid is all a part of the "Superboy" image that Diana has imagined for him.




I was watching New York 1 this morning for 2 or 3 minutes to get the weather and in that time I saw 2 of the Next To Normal commercials run. I saw the Diana one and the Meet The Family one.

The Diana one had no voiceover until the very end when it said "Next To Normal, playing on Broadway. The Meet the Family one had a voiceover playing the whole time saying "From the director of Rent comes a groundbreaking new musical"

Hopefully people are intrigued by these commercials because they really are visually interesting and the music is great.

Does the cast sign autographs after matinees?

I saw the show again tonight from the front row, in all the times I've seen the show this is the first time I've been really close.

I couldnt take my eyes off Alice Ripley, I knew she was giving an amazing performance, but didnt realize just how amazing until I got to see her up so close.

Ugh, I love this show way too much, I wish I didnt. It would save me some money from needing so many repeat performances. I can't wait to go again.

Usually I am not a repeat customer for shows, even ones I absolutely adore. Before all my repeat visits to N2N, the only show I had ever seen twice was Xanadu.

Ugh, I love this show way too much, I wish I didnt. It would save me some money from needing so many repeat performances. I can't wait to go again.

Join the club. I'm going back again this weekend. I can't get enough...

I was there again this evening. Fantastic...the second act dragged a little more than it did the first time I saw it though.

Ripley was, if it's possible, better than she was at the first preview. Just totally invested in the character and completely brilliant.

And I realized tonight that Spencer is giving a Tony-worthy performance...too bad it's only in one scene. The scene where Diana leaves until the end of the I'M ALIVE reprise was stunning. That is the kind of performance he should be giving throughout the entire show. Louis Hobson is fantastic in both roles; his voice is great, I just wish he had more material to work with.

Tveit was good, again I don't see the raves being justified. Damiano continues to grow in her role brilliantly as does Chanler-Berat (who is just adorable, especially in the PERFECT scene).

The show is in wonderful shape; no laughs during the scenes that were mentioned. They were filming B-Roll, the theater was clearly HIGHLY papered, and the audience response seemed a bit more mixed than it was on the night of the first preview. Some were crying, some were indifferent, and some said they weren't fans and seemed to leave feeling cold. I love this show so much; it's so powerful and while it isn't perfect, it is (to paraphrase Brantley) of the utmost importance to anyone who cares about the direction and future of the American musical.

Updated On: 4/1/09 at 11:26 PM

That's exactly what I thought. He's great and really moving in Act II, but is just lacking the heart on Act I.

I'd kill a hobo by throwing them in front of a 1 train to go to opening night. But I think I'll save myself the jail time and go to a late preview.