Review of Kyle Dean Massey in N2N...- Page 4

[TJ2]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:44pm

"How empty was the theater REALLY? "

At around 7:00, it was really empty. The orchestra only seemed about half full (very depressing). By the time it started (some time after 7:15), I would guess it was about 75% full. The box office was offering anyone who wanted seats for the discount code price even without the discount. The line to sell back tickets was huge though.
Updated On: 6/9/09 at 10:44 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:53pm

Complete and utter disaster this evening.

If there were any doubts about how integral to the success of the show Alice Ripley's performance was, they were answered this evening. Jessical Phillips was an absolute abomination in the role of Diana. Embarrassingly bad, and they should be ashamed of themselves for putting this woman on Broadway.

Her acting was so laughable. She played the whole thing like a cartoon, like she was in some parody of next to normal. It was very out of place and off-putting. She made some very, umm, interesting, choices. Among them:

-The line, "Thank you, doctor, but my husband is waiting in the car" was delivered with a British accent. Yeah, I don't understand that choice either.

-During the "What was his name?" exchange, she acted like a spoiled child who had a toy taken away. She stomped her feet and jumped up and down and whined.

Vocally, it was like she was doing Broadway pop, and was performing in Wicked. I kept waiting for her to start riffing on I Miss the Mountains, which by the way, she sang with a smile. Yes, a smile.

Perhaps her biggest offense this evening, however, was that she didn't cry. Not once. Not a single tear at any point. During Maybe, Jen (who sounded under the weather herself) was pouring her heart out to her, and Phillips just stared back at her. Disgraceful. But I suppose not crying went with her cartoony portrayal. She was giving her co-starts NOTHING to play against, because she was so emotionless.

I wish I had taken the box up on their offer to refund or exchange my tickets, because this was horrendous.

David Stone was there nervously pacing the aisles before the show, not looking pleased at all, surveying the empty seats and return line.

Ripley better hurry back, because the show clearly needs her.

ETA: As for Kyle Dean, he'll be fine for 3 months. He looks too old, for sure, but his acting was good, and his voice was good. He's nowhere near Tveit, but he's a serviceable fill-in.

Updated On: 6/9/09 at 10:53 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:54pm

To be fair, there was a computer glitch in the box office when people started showing up to pick up their tickets that resulted in a delay in getting people who wanted to see the show their tickets. So at 7, there was still a big line of people waiting to purchase or pick up tickets.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:58pm

Phillips is going to get her ass fired.

[jessica0414]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:00pm

RE: front row or sitting in the mezz, I've never sat in the mezz, but LZ and I were in the second row when we went a few weeks ago and it was INCREDIBLE being that close! I'd go front row but, as stated, rushing can be a royal pain I'm sure.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:00pm

I wonder if Mary (understudy in DC) is available. I heard really good things about her.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:15pm

I thought Phillips u/s Alice in DC?

I heard good stuff about her understudy in DC and assumed it was Phillips- and I think she sounded great on that youtube clip.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:15pm

I think I'm going tomm, so if I get the u/s then oh well. I'm really just going to see Kyle Dean Massey anyways. But I'm excited! If people leave, that means I get to move to a better seat anyways! Whoo!

[jane915]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:17pm

yeah mary mossberg did a great job as diana. i was disappointed to see that she didn't continue with the broadway production - i think she joined the papermill's production of 1776.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:21pm

Was Jessica Alice's understudy during the off-Broadway run? Granted it's not an easy role by any definition, but with the pool of talent in NYC, is it impossible to find someone with the chops to fill in when the need arises? I say this in response to adamgreer's review and WAT's review of the Anita understudy in West Side Story tonight.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:22pm

Yes, Phillips covered Diana during 2nd Stage, but not Arena. Why they brought her back is beyond me.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:25pm

Did Phillips go on for Alice at 2nd Stage? If so, had you seen her there?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:26pm

No, this was my first time seeing her. Had I seen her before, I would not have stayed in the theater this evening. I would have run for the hills.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:31pm

That's too bad (about tonight). Hope Alice is back by tomorrow.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:32pm

That is interesting, but I would imagine an actress with enough "star" power and acting capabilities to perform the role the way Alice does, doesn't need to be an u/s.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:38pm

An understudy should be someone good enough to play the role(s) they cover. There is no excuse for a bad understudy when audience members paid so much to see the show.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:39pm

Rippedman, I've seen plenty of understudies in my day who I never would have thought were understudies (they were that good).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:56pm

No, I didn't mean all understudies, just in this case. For "Diana" in Next to Normal. I actually enjoy seeing understudies perform, especially if I've already seen the show. It's interesting to see how that can change the dynamic, or how the other characters feed off their energy. I've always wanted to see Massey in Wicked, but I saw Tveit instead. Who was, eh.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:28am

My brief review copied from the Alice absence thread:
---------
Just got back from the show...full review tomorrow, but...

I thought Jessica Phillips was terrific. She played the role different than Ripley...but it wasn't a bad thing...at all. Please keep in mind that I am an ARDENT Ripley supporter; largely the reason why I had planned to go tonight, and I really enjoyed Jessica's performance. I was loving her from "Just Another Day." I found it eerie how similar the two looked back to when Ripley had the long hair at 2ST. Jessica was much more subtle and subdued that Ripley and much less manic and exaggerated. The score was sang exactly as written and she was always pitch perfect, however I do miss how Alice always stood out on top of the harmonies. Phillip's made a few acting choices that were a bit different, but none came across as glaring, just different interpretations.

She did what every good understudy does: She plays the role her own, not mimicking what her lead does, yet keeping the essence of that interpretation that has become expected and defines the role. Honestly, I would love to see her become the matinee Diana, if that ever were to happen.

In regards to Kyle Dean Massey, he started a bit rough. Some of his harmonies in Who's Crazy were off, but by I'm Alive he was clearly much more comfortable in the role and it showed. His age shows a bit more than Aaron's did onstage.

After the show and at the stage door, Phillips was greeted by screaming and thunderous applause. She stated that the decision for her to go on was made by THE CREATIVE TEAM as she had rehearsed almost exclusively with Kyle and they thought that it would be best for the two of them to go on together, rather than throwing Ripley in there. So, for the record, Ripley didn't "call out."

The show started a bit later than usual and was only about half full at 7:00. By the time the show started (a bit after 7:15), the orchestra (where I was) was 90% full.

Please don't let a few naysayers give Phillips a bad reputation as Alice's understudy. With another performance or two under her belt, she will be a great, albeit younger, Diana Goodman.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:39am

As people said in the other thread, there's no way the creative team would make Alice miss her first post-Tony show. Other people who were there said she's sick.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:39am

I've heard from several other people that she's sick.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:48am

Oh goodness. Who to believe!

Does Ripley wear a wing the show or is that her real hair? I like the short hair for Diann. It reads more "suburban mom" to me.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:50am

Pretty sure it's her real hair.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:59am

I don't think that Phillips meant it exclusively like that, maybe I could have been clearer. It seemed as more of a sum of the issues. I heard her say this to another individual about fifteen feet away.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 5:22am

I agree that it seems absolutely ridiculous to PULL Alice just because Kyle was more use to the understudy. That's the way "new guys" do it...they rehearse with the understudies and get thrown into thier first day. If they're lucky they get to run it with the actual cast.

ESPECIALLY her day back after the Tonys.

But thanks for the alternative review!