What ever happened to Alice Ripley — Page 2

At the time there was certainly A LOT of hype of ‘greatest of all time’ for Ripley and it’s because of the intensity of her emotions, the strange uncanny feeling that Ripley’s performance was coming from a deep place of genuine trauma, and the unusual and thrilling quality of her unusual rock voice that is tested in all sorts of ways throughout the score. 

I fully accept that without the voice everything seemed to collapse. I did see her on tour and everyone’s complaints are justified - it was painful watching her struggle with ‘so anyway’. But I will admit I still find myself occasionally ‘listening’ to the tour vocals intentionally because it’s like the most broken and sad version of her Diana - as if she has been trapped for years and has almost given up hope. I watched Ripley give every breath and ounce she could deliver the notes in ‘light’ and it was moving (and you'll find some way to survive....) - I don't think I've seen this moment so moving another time because of how desperate and real it looked like Ripley was trying to hold on, although she then missed the two following performances. 

For what it’s worth, I think Ripley’s vocals improved a bit for the Barcelona version than the tour (but they also changed the ending of so anyway so she doesn’t have to hit those notes). 

I have a feeling that people really don’t like vocal damage in actors. It was deadly for Bernadette (especially Follies), it was deadly for Ripley, it is deadly for Billy right now in Cabaret. 

People seem forgiving for people who never really had a voice. But for people who did have a voice, when it goes, people don’t like it. Personally, I think it can add a certain broken quality to the performance and character but I always accept everything is always better when the voice is healthy. 

Updated On: 8/18/25 at 03:20 AM

I have a feeling that people really don’t like vocal damage in actors. It was deadly for Bernadette (especially Follies), it was deadly for Ripley, it is deadly for Billy right now in Cabaret.

Gotta include Barbra Streisand here as well. She’s self-admitted to only once in her entire life ever use a vocal exercise and found it so mundane she never did it again. She’s accepted her vocal limitations today are due to this negligence and has embraced the reality her legendary vocal prowess days are now far gone. She now focuses on perfecting the limited range her voice has today instead. 

LOL she is 83 years old. Get real.

This is HER own assessment not just my opinion. If that’s her excuse as an 83 year old, it’s hers - not mine. 

binau said: "I actually saw her in concert in late 2023 at one of those small off broadway spaces (the green room?). She was in glorious voice. Unfortunately, the room was almost empty. Seriously just a hand full a fans and one of the writers of ‘side show’. It was a little sad. I think she has been caught up in a lot of offstage behaviour plus her obvious vocal damage I think people just got a bit off her.

Still a massive fan and saw her also do an absolutely amazing job in the Barcelona next to normal a few years back."

I'm planning a trip from Brazil to Argentina to see this production with her and J. Robert Spencer. Is it worth it? Is 1 hour long, right? Any advice for ''seating''?

Ripley appeared in some readings of Joy (playing the mother role) but obviously didn't continue into the current production, for whatever reason. I have no idea if that was her choice or a production decision.

Regarding Next to Normal, I'd say her performance was already becoming mannered and overwrought in the early months on Broadway, before she won the Tony, and that her voice declined significantly between the Second Stage and Broadway runs. She compensated by ramping up the intensity of her characterization, but to me, it dipped into caricature after a certain point and never recovered. I know Marin Mazzie's interpretation of Diana wasn't to everyone's taste, but I appreciated that she brought a different style to the score and gave a fully formed performance that was totally her own.

binau said: "I’m a bit confused. Is this happening again? Can you link?"

I actually saw an ad a couple of days ago on Instagram for an upcoming immersive production of Next To Normal in Buenos Aires, with Ripley, Spencer, and Pascal reprising their roles. I couldn't find anything about it on Google (and still can't), so I decided not to post about it here, but I swear that I saw it. 

instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNayEfSN4H1/?hl=en&img_index=2

their account links to this for tickets: https://www.plateanet.com/obra/32418?obra=NEXT-TO-NORMAL-IMMERSIVE&paso=inicio&custom_discount=true&discount=6775&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad33ply9I8IUd3J0BraR1700wK-wp4jTHiwNM-vDybKE4Vvl02sJ3xvienv8Q_aem_bqlieWJdCMeCFIQppiyiaQ

Can't tell if its sold out or if the promo link is no longer valid

I'll just note that this BWW scoop went up a few minutes after we were discussing it on this thread. It's possible it was a coincidence, but I don't think it's likely.

kdogg36 said: "I'll just note that this BWW scoop went up a few minutes after we were discussing it on this thread. It's possible it was a coincidence, but I don't think it's likely."

It’s not they often get scoops from the posters haha. 

Wow to see the two original leads! I’d run. And yes Pascal’s part is pre recorded but it’s super cool they project his entire face on a wall it works. 

 

Updated On: 8/20/25 at 01:55 AM