rOcKS @ 'Next to Normal' — Page 3

I didn't get a chance to see the 2nd Stage or Arena so I went in really knowing nothing. I literally left the theater speechless, what a performance Alice gives, so honest and just amazing. I sat the last row center and seats were great felt as if I didn't miss anything...There can't be a bad seat in the house. They are selling T-shirts, caps, Window cards, and CD pre-orders. I stage-doored after Alice was the sweetest thing ever. Took pictures and signed everyones Playbill, she really took time to listen to what everyone had to say and was so sincere and gracious. What a wonderful night...I will be back many many many times.

Completely random, but there was a Story of My Life playbill in the armrest of my seat. I found that amusing. But back to the show... I didn't think it was possible for Ripley to give a better performance than in previous versions, but her characterizations were brilliant and heartbreaking. I hope she stays hydrated because the tears were heavily flowing throughout the entire show.

--- "And, if there is a god, in my next life I'm coming back as Aaron's blue boxers."

Who wouldn't??!!


I'm so excited to hear all the amazing reviews! I plan/hope to go on the 18th...a double header with Hair. (Prays to the planning gods!)

---

I NEED TO SEE THIS LIKE NOW!

---

Thanks guys!

I love the show too! I saw it at 2ST-though it was not perfect but I like it! I'm getting to excited to hear promising news about the show!! wo-hoo!

Yes. BILLY ELLIOT most likely will win the TONYS. Alice Ripley better win the TONYS!!

J*

I thought Billy Elliot was fantastic, but I absolutely did not feel the way I do right now after seeing that show. I'm still thinking about Next to Normal right now, and can't wait to go back. I really think the Tony race has gotten a lot more interesting now...

Thank goodness we have you to let us know these things, WAT. Maybe we shouldn't even bother waiting until June to hand out the awards, since you're so sure. And really, what's the point of mentioning the WSS revival in this thread, which has absolutely NOTHING to do with that show?

It's the same thing as the logo. Purple, with the eyes, the house, and the musical note, with the title in the white font.

It might end up like 2003 where a lot of people thought wicked would win and it did not. Maybe Billy Elliot is the Wicked and N2N is Avenue Q. I love the score to the show cannot wait for the cast album.

<< BILLY ELLIOT has the award, Jaystarr. Don't even bother to spend time worrying about it. NEXT TO NORMAL will surely be nominated, but it will not win. >>

I agree, about "BE", but would not be shocked if "N2N" won.

<<...and I still want the brilliant WEST SIDE STORY to win best revival... >>

Wat... you really think "WSS" is "brilliant"? Gotta very respectfully disagree with you. I thought the women were good (Olivo the best, by far), but the rest was very underwhelming, at least for me.



<>

Agree here, but if there is any justice, "N2N" will win for score. The "BE" score is totally forgettable, and by far, the weakest part of the show.

I decided to wait til today to post my comments as not rain on everyone's first preview happiness last night. While I thought the show was good, I also found it to be very flawed. I did see the show at 2nd Stage, and actually liked it better, even though some of the performances are better now.

Sorry if this is a little scattered.

What I liked:

Alice Ripley, Aaron Tveit, Jennifer Damiano and Adam Chanler-Berat. I will agree with everyone else that Alice is giving an absolutely amazing performance here. She definitely deserves any praise she will receive, and although we haven't seen 9 to 5 yet, she will be a front runner for the Tony easily. It is worth it to see the show just for Alice.

Aaron Tveit is the most improved since 2nd Stage. During that run I found him to be quite bland actually, but not last night. He has grown SO much into the character and his vocals sounded great. I still feel like the authors don't know what to do with his character in act two, but that certainly isn't Tveit's fault. He really stepped up to the plate and surprised me.

Jennifer Damiano was also wonderful. I liked her off Broadway, but appreciate her much more now too. She isn't "acting" Natalie so much now as "feeling" her, if that makes any sense! Her chemistry with Adam is good.

In general I feel like these four actors have taken a journey together, well in fact they literally have, and it really shows. Their performances are now so layered and fulfilling. This only adds to my frustration about J. Robert Spencer and feel like it only makes him stick out like a sore thumb.

But sticking to what I like, I generally like the score, although I wish there were a few more buttons to the numbers. The design and direction are all well-executed. I loved the three tier set at 2nd Stage and still like it now.

Now on to the not so good.

The second act needs a little shaving, especially near the end. The show seems to end four different times, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if they left it as is. I really missed Feeling Electric at the end of act one. I guess I really liked the song and I thought it brought you into intermission with bang, and not the new limp act one finale. I would love to have them reinstate it, although that probably won't happen. I was also partial to Growing Up Unstable, and thought it fleshed out Natalie a little more.

As I mentioned above, my biggest problem with the evening was J. Robert Spencer. I felt like he wasn't at the same level as the rest of the cast, and was really giving a wooden, bland performance. The humor of the early scenes was totally lost on him. The dramatic moments were lacking as well. This was especially evident in the scenes with Ripley when she was acting rings around him.

All in all the show was good, but could be better. Still, even the best production of the material could not rival Billy Elliot, [tos] or The Story of My Life this season for me. The story and characters didn't connect with me the way the characters of Passing Strange, A Catered Affair or any of the aforementioned shows did.

---

After thinking about it, I agree with Whizzer on one front: Spencer.

It's not going to make me change my final "rating" of the show but I do agree that while he's solid, he's just not at the same level as the rest of the cast. He's nowhere near as good as D'Arcy James was, and it's a shame because I feel like D'Arcy James would have an actual shot at winning Best Actor in a Musical if he were in N2N. Spencer and Ripley also need to work a bit on their chemistry.

But, after a night of thinking about it, I am still blown away by the show. Like I said, it's so refreshing to have a musical like this that many consider a rock musical that simply doesn't sacrifice characters or plot for the sake of rock ballads. When there's a rock song, it makes sense. When there's a more pensive, quiet, intimate song, it makes sense as well. I just really thought it was a powerful evening of theater and did something no new musical since SPRING AWAKENING has done, it showed the audience something fresh, new, and worth seeing because it's something Broadway hasn't seen yet. I hope the critics are as kind as we are to it.

And my thought is that this may become something of a "XANADU" or "LUPONE: GYPSY" type show in that the reviews will be positive and the box office will jump after the reviews come out and then kind of flatline after the Tonys and all. It may run for a while but will it recoup? Doubtful. For the 849th time, I hope I'm wrong.