Saw NEXT TO NORMAL First Preview in DC Nov. 21- Page 3

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:28am

why would they take out feeling electric? its such a good song!

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:54am

i have to agree...

and i think it makes more sense to have Wish I Were Here as the Act 1 finale and not the opener to Act 2. maybe it will make more sense to me when I see it again.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:42pm

The entire tone of the show is changed now that Feeling Electric is gone. It's not simply the deletion of a song; it's a much broader systemic change.

Instead of "peaks and valleys," it's now more of a "plateau." It's too bad.

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:42 PM

[teka21]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:09pm

The "peaks and valleys" are the nature of being bipolar. For family members, the challenge is to stay off the roller coaster- very hard to do. I saw N2N at Second Stage a few weeks after it opened. My extreme discomfort with the show was its overwhelming message that medication (and doctors) are the problem. While treatment is by no means perfect, and more of an art than a science at times, it is also a lifesaver. The cartoonish portrayal of the medical world was dangerous to me. I could just see teens rushing out to tell bipolar friends to flush their meds.
The most effective part- and most moving song in the show for me was "I Miss the Mountains."

[EnWashingtonHeights]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:25pm

Couldn't get tickets for today but I am getting tickets for next Friday! I can't wait!

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:30pm

I also saw the first preview and am pretty much on the same page as miss pennywise. It is a flatter show, but some lyrical changes (Perfect, for example) are definitely for the better as are the new songs (though I miss Growing Up Unstable). The (re)addition of I've Been was the most effective in my mind. It is nice to see the situation from Dan's point of view.

I still think there needs to be a change to the end of act 1, but I am not sure what. I will definitely be seeing it again.

(miss pennywise...whenever you want to go again I am game )

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:42pm

I might be one of the only ones, but I'm glad "Feeling Electric" is out. I've always hated that song.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:43pm

Teka21, I didn't see that at all. I saw the "problem" as EVERYONE'S lack of understanding of what is really going on with Diana. Her husband is more of a "problem" than anything else. And there is one HUGE issue that needs to be addressed in the book: Is Diana really bipolar at all? She talks about an illness of the "soul" which would be supported by the events that have occurred in her life and her family's refusal to be honest with her...and with themselves. I find this a major discrepancy in the plot, which really confuses things.

I understand that many people have responded to the show's medical content and often very strongly. As I said back in the Spring, I connected to the show because it tapped into pain that I felt as a parent who had experienced losses similar to Diana's. I was completely focused on that aspect of the show and not her treatment. That is still what draws me in.

To say the show is crap because of its "treatment of treatment" is only addressing one of the show's messages. I can understand and respect people's adverse response to that aspect of the show. But it seems that people who only zero in on the medical issues are dismissing that part of the show that has nothing to do with treatment: the pain a family feels when a traumatic and tragic event like the death of a child defines their existence.

I can put aside my strong, positive emotional response to this aspect of the show and objectively see how the creative team needs to work on those points that others find objectionable. But I do not see the same openness on the part of those who feel the show is worthless because of what they find objectionable. There's just a lack of respect for the views of others that is disappointing to me. There is no need to invalidate the response of others just because we don't see what they see.

BTW, the "peaks and valleys" to which I refer are about dramatic effect, not the
"nature of being bipolar."

P.S. I'll say it again: EVERYTHING else aside...I still love the score.

[teka21]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:38pm

I never said the show is "crap." In fact, I pointed out the high point and most moving part that I connected to, there are some positives here. I don't think there is any question about Diana being bipolar, denial is part of the problem. And trauma (such as the loss of a child) and anti-depressants given to cope with trauma, can trigger bipolar illness in those predisposed. Some of the music I heard at Second Stage was very powerful, some songs were mediocre and bland in sound and lyrics. I am able to separate the message from the artistic efforts here.
As to the peaks and valleys, I know what you were referring to, but I was making a different point about the drama as a metaphor for the illness and its consequences. The version I saw was early in its development- Costco was still in it...

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:58pm

I liked Costco

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:12pm

Teka, I did not mean to imply that YOU said the show was "crap." My only comment in my last post actually addressed TO you was the first one. I'm sorry if that's the impression you got, but that was not my intention. I was speaking in generalities.

I don't have a problem with an work of literature or theatre or anything else taking a position that is different from mine. I may not like the show, but I don't negate the perspectives of others. I know people who have been served extremely well by the medical/psychiatric profession and I know others who have not...in fact, some who have been damaged by their experiences. I also know people who have had shock therapy. I will reserve my opinions about that particular procedure.

Some people feel very strongly that certain approaches to treating patients are too cavalier and that some doctors are too quick to write a prescription rather than deal with the particular needs of that patient. It happens. The opposite happens, too, I know, and we should all be grateful for the advances of modern medicine and research...and for professionals who make a marked difference in the lives of patients. It's a blessing.

It seems to me, though, that some people see this show and say, "They're wrong! It's not like that!" And they are speaking to their experience, so that's fine...and valid. But it doesn't mean that the experience of others is false.

(P.S. I saw N2N in March, during its extension. "Costco" was out at that point. I still feel the show was stronger then than it is now. My comment about Diana's "sickness of the soul" is something she says; they are not my words.)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:26pm

Are there any discount codes or student policies for this show? I noticed that the night I wanted to go it is a "student night." Does that mean anything?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:35pm

I think student night tickets are $10.00!

Here's another thing that just occurred to me. Since they've excised many of the "humorous" bits, it's much more difficult to laugh at anything that IS funny. It's as though the audience isn't "clear" if they should be laughing at something or not. Without the comic moments being more defined, the piece has become more of a "I don't know if it's okay laugh here" kind of deal. It's sort of like "standing over the coffin" humor. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm not very eloquent just now. Sorry.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:40pm

Student night tickets are $15 (after fees) and there are still good seats left. I got 3rd row center on thursday.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 5:08pm

Technically, the $10 tickets aren't reserved for students. They are for anyone 30 and under (more theatres should do this...). If you buy them online, they are $12 though with another $3 in fees bringing it to $15.

I never have any trouble getting these for any of Arena's shows. The catch is you can only buy them the week of that particular performance.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 5:11pm

I was talking about Dec. 22nd though KC. Dec. 22nd is specifically "Student Night" and tickets are on sale now.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 5:16pm

Ah, I see. I was actually responding to RentBoy86 who asked about discount policies.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 7:09pm

my bad, thought you were responding to me.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:58pm

Wait, really? I tried to buy tickets for Dec. 22 and it was like "$65" or something. Do I need to type in a certain code, or call the box office or what?

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 12:09am

You can probably get better seats by calling the box office. Online it was only showing me extreme side seats (2nd row) but when i called the box office i got 3rd row almost dead center. If you go online, in the code box type STUDENT (not giving away some secret emailed thing here, its all on their website) or just mention the student night stuff when you call the box office.

Heres the student night page Updated On: 11/24/08 at 12:09 AM

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 12:09am

30 and under tickets don't go on sale until the Monday of that week's performances (although they made a special exemption for this weeks performances, which went on sale last Friday).

I got a 6th row ticket for the November 30 matinee this way, at 1/4 of what I paid for the same row at the first preview.

I'm going to be watching Arena Stage's site every Monday, hoping to see this show as much as possible.
$10 for 30 And Under Description

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 11:57pm

Yeah! Thanks. I got Row DD on the side - not extreme side though. Are the sides decent? I hope so. I'm taking my brother and I don't want him to be disappointed at the view. But heck, it was $30 for two tickets, not bad.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 12:04am

The sides eats will be just fine. There really isn't an "extreme" side in this theatre.

I'm really looking forward to what people have to say about the show as the run progresses.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 7:57am

i'm going back down on friday... i'm excited to see if anything else has changed since last friday...

the things we do for shows we love.

[snl89]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:16am

So I haven't actually seen it yet (the minute I find someone who will go to DC with me, I'm down there!! haha), but just on the audio alone, I feel like the show has probably gotten MUCH stronger. It definitely DOES seem darker and more serious (Wish I Were Here- the song that replaces Feeling Electric- is actually quite sad, and not nearly... fun, like FE was), but I don't think that's such a bad thing.

The thing is, I personally might not have wanted it to go that way, but the main complaints that came from the 2st production were that the show was far too sarcastic and campy for its subject matter. Again, I personally didn't feel like it was offensive or too campy at all, but if making it darker and more focused is going to make a majority of the audience like it better, then I have NO objection to the fact that they took it that way.

It's hard for me to judge yet without having actually seen it- but I trust the creative team. And it SOUNDS like the show is in a really good place. :)