The Normal Heart 1st Preview — Page 4

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.

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

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!)

So excited! Seeing it tomorrow!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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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!

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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.

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