The Normal Heart 1st Preview- Page 4

[east side story]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 12:00am

Saw this evening's performance, and it was a devastatingly wonderful evening at the theatre.

The entire cast is wonderful, but Ellen Barkin was stellar. I agree with everyone else that said Ellen Barkin will win that Featured Actress in a Play Tony this year. Considering she's a "film actress" with little to no stage experience, wow. Just wow.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 12:18am

I have to agree with everything said here! Just an amazing production. The design is great, the acting is brilliant, and the story is captivating.

I really liked the end scene where they didn't use a typical hospital bed, etc. And I loved how the stage became messier and messier by the end.

I'm still not sold on how I feel about the actual script. I almost wish the show focused on Ned's lover rather than Ned.

[topherkraz78]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 12:30am

Is Jim Parsons different in a dramatic role? I'm a loyal Big Bang Theory fan so I only know his comedy side. How is his drama? Thanks!

[east side story]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 12:32am

The play is definitely a drama, but Parsons gets to contribute a few comedic moments through out.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 10:41am

Just wanted to mention one thing about Ellen Barkin - though she very much downplays her pedigree, she is a life long member (and still very much involved) member of the Actors Studio and did a lot of theatre early in her career.

So while absolutely her performance in THE NORMAL HEART still has to be one of the most astounding Broadway debuts - well, ever - she's coming at it well prepared.

But you don't have the kind of extraordinary stage craft she is exhibiing without years of study - it would be inaccurate to paint the portrait of her as a film star with little or no stage experience

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 2:29pm

Just grabbed TDF tickets for next Friday. Could not be more excited to see what is probably my favorite play. Has anyone seen this via TDF? Wondering about where the seats will be. (Sorry if this has been answered, I'm browsing the boards quickly at work!)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 10:50pm

I just got in from tonight's performance. What a stunning production. It was beautiful, poignant, and brilliantly directed. I cant even formulate sentences to describe how moved I was. I hope this gets the raves it deserves, and I hope that the cast gets many acknowledgements this awards season. The Drama Desk for Best Ensemble better go to this show. Not a weak one in the bunch. And Joe Mantello took my breath away.

ETA: Jack O'Brien was sitting right behind me with David Rockwell, and they both seemed to love it. Updated On: 4/23/11 at 10:50 PM

[Astrid2]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 12:15am

So excited! Seeing it tomorrow!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 6:12pm

I saw it again this afternoon and it was just as brilliant as at the first preview. It wasn't just a fluke of first performance excitement that Barkin stopped the show with her monologue. The applause today was equally electric.

I wasn't sure if I would have the same emotional reaction (all the tears) seeing it for the second time in less than a week, but it was like I was seeing it for the first time. All of the actors are SO brilliant and vibrant in their roles. Kudos again to all involved.

[Astrid2]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 9:32pm

Saw it. LOVED it. Literally three full minutes of applause for Ellen's monologue. Also: Joe Mantello WILL win the Tony. I repeat, Joe Mantello WILL win the Tony.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:59pm

I hope so. I will be devastated if Rylance wins this time. Last time he stole a Tony from Patrick Stewart. If he steals a Tony from Mantello, I will never forgive him.

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 12:11am

My belief is that Joe Mantello and Ellen Barkin will win Tonys for their stunning performances.

I hope it wins revival of a play. It's amazing and still rings true in today's political climate. I was moved to tears by the story and the acting. It's really an incredible production and I'm probably going to return again before it closes.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 1:37am

I saw it Friday night and I'm still in awe of the performances of Joe Mantello and Ellen Barkin. It's also a surprisingly developed production considering that only a month ago, they intended to do just a reading.

[scrapedknees]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 1:44am

I saw it tonight and was blown away. If you get a chance to see it, you should. This cast is amazing.

Anyone questioning TDF seats, at tonights performance it seemed it was mostly rear mezz rows E and F. I don't know about other performances though.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:35am

I got my ticket on TDF, and I was in rear mezz E 112 (center). Not a bad seat, but want to go again and be closer.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 8:16pm

This still proves to be an effective piece, and this production serves it well. Ellen Barkin gives a forceful performance, and Joe Mantello is invested and persuasive in the part. I much preferred his work to either of Mark Rylance's performances this season, and I hope he wins the Tony Award.

What i missed was the whirlwind dynamism that Raul Esparza brought to both the part and the play in the Public's revival some years ago, which made it a galvanizing theatrical experience. When Esparza is in top form, he's in a class by himself.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 8:33pm

"What i missed was the whirlwind dynamism that Raul Esparza brought to both the part and the play in the Public's revival some years ago, which made it a galvanizing theatrical experience. When Esparza is in top form, he's in a class by himself."


Totally, totally agree!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 9:01pm

While I think the performances are quite great, I'm just not sold on the show. I feel like it was almost too much information. Like, I felt like all Ned did was walk into a scene and say "We're not doing enough! Get up and do something!" I just didn't find him that interesting as a character. I was more interested in the ex-soldier who was scared to come out, or his lover who was also scared to come out, etc. I felt like those were the stories worth telling. These people who were so scared of who they were but were contracting this awful disease and did not know how to explain it.

[uptowndowntown]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 9:33pm

I agree. Mantello and Barkin will definitely be nominated for Tonys. Mantello will probably be a coin flip to win against Mark Rylance for Jerusalem. The other three nominees I predict will be Al Pacino, Bobby Cannavale and Brian Bedford or James Earl Jones. I predict Barkin will be up against Estelle Parsons, Judith Light, Becky Ann Baker and Elizabeth Rodriguez, unless they put her in the Lead Category for her performance in Motherfuc*er With the Hat. I thought Barkin and Rodriguez and Parsons were all electrifying. What a year for theater on Broadway!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:00pm

"What i missed was the whirlwind dynamism that Raul Esparza brought to both the part and the play in the Public's revival some years ago, which made it a galvanizing theatrical experience. When Esparza is in top form, he's in a class by himself."

That has actually been one of my concerns. Though I couldn't be more thrilled to see this production (I'm going on Tuesday), it's just very difficult to imagine it being done any other way. Raul's performance is the definitive version of the play in my head. I knew nothing about The Normal Heart or The Destiny of Me when I saw Normal Heart, and it was quite the theatrical experience. Actually, until a few days ago, it was the best thing I'd seen. Ever. All these years later, the main thing I remember about that play, is Raul unbuttoning his coat. Such a simple task, but it was the intent behind it that I remember.
I'm so excited to see this production, but it is definitely a bit bittersweet.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:15pm

As a piece of drama, The Normal Heart is compelling but cannot be considered great writing. But that isn't the point. Larry Kramer didn't set out to write a Miller play- he set out to voice the injustices and the hypocrisy and the rage. At the time, there was no such thing as "too much information". And honestly, this many years later, I still think that's the case. The mishandling of the AIDS crisis is something all too often overlooked.


That being said, this production is stellar, as are all involved. Ellen Barkin must win the Tony. She should perform that tour-de-force monologue on the broadcast- because, honestly, it was far more compelling than most of the technically impressive solos on Broadway right now.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:52pm

Gosh, I cannot WAIT to be able to schedule this. I don't think I've ever been more excited by reactions to any single piece of theater!

Thank you for all your insights everyone!

[topherkraz78]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 12:11am

I'm kind of surprised at the lack of mention of Jim Parsons in this. He must not have that big or important part in this. I'd imagine there are fans of both tv and theater and would know who he is. Hmmm.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 12:22am

Maybe it's because, I don't know, people are focused on THE PLAY -- which is only one of the most monumentally important pieces of dramatic literature of the 20th Century, finally getting a landmark production -- and not the celebrity of yet another television actor on the stage.

His part isn't the smallest, but it's also not that big.

It's unfortunate to me to see that one actor is all people care about when it comes to something as major as this. I see that's all you care about, and I suppose that's your prerogative, but it might do you well to read the play and actually see what the big deal is if you like his work so much. It's great that you're invested in his career; I respect that, I really do. BUT there are a lot of people here who care deeply about this play and what it stands for, and I'm probably not alone in finding it more than a little bothersome that you seem to expect the focus to be on the famous actor.

Updated On: 4/25/11 at 12:22 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 12:48am

I don't get it. Is this a passive aggressive way of trying to get people to talk about Jim Parsons?

It's a small cast and Jim Parsons spends a good amount of time onstage. He got the biggest laugh of the night when I saw it. But he's not the star, and he's not going to get any major critical accolades for this performance.

From what I could extrapolate from conversations around me the other night, many people (namely groups of girls) were there to see him. I don't mind if people want to see the show for him. I just hope they take away more from this play than just Sheldon Live Onstage.