THE NORMAL HEART Reviews- Page 6

[Dennis-in-ct]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:37pm

We saw this a week ago and were so moved. It was very powerful and we highly recommend the show.

My partner was diagnosed with aids in 1989 and died in 1991. The show brought back so many memories. It is amazing how much has changed now.

The audience went nuts over the Dr.'s speech and made us cheer too. There were other moments in the play with equal power and emotion and the audience didn't explode with applause and that struck me as odd.

The set (Rockwell) felt like a war memorial and it was so simple and clever. The set revealed itself as the show went on. It kept surprising us throughout the night.

All I can say is go see this show. Now.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 3:45pm

I revisited the show again last night. Mantello has fired it up since the earlier preview I saw. Liked him A LOT Better!
I found the hospital scene less moving then at the Public. I think here the hospital bed, beeping machinery, IV bags would have helped so much drive the point home. This is where Ned's anger was directed, this is the scene where he is stripped bare or his one true love and is shown for the lost hurt and yet hopeful person he is. Having the whole thing done standing just didn't quite have the dramatic punch I felt it should have had.
I also felt the food scene a bit lacking too. There was ngot enough of a mess for the two lovers to crawl through to each other to to find solace in each other's arms.

Still very worth seeing.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 1:21am

Dennis, my love was diagnosed in 92' and died in 93' So much has changed and yet so much has remained the same. When I asked Kevin as he lay dying "What am I going to do without you?" He smiled weakly and said "Continue running the shop and make even more beautiful things" That similar line in the play makes me burst into tears everytime I hear it. It is my Kevin speaking to me again.

[Eos]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 4:48pm

My condolences to you Dennis-in-ct and snafu. I saw this a couple of nights ago (I'm finally on my annual NYC trip) and was completely blown away. I blogged about it, and it was one of the hardest things I've had to write about. So powerful and shattering. Joe and Ellen were marvels. SO glad I had the opportunity to see this.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 2:37am

I saw it tonight, so glad I did! It was fabulous!!!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 5:24am

But the great thing about this play, was that even if you didn't suffer a loss like that, or haven't really had those exact same things happening to you, it's such a powerful play, you can still relate to the emotions. I loved it.

[Dennis-in-ct]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 6:48am

I am very happy to hear you felt that way about the show muscle23ftl.

The 30. Tickets for (people under 30?) is a terrific idea.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 10:55am

It really is, and I hope many people are taking advantage of it.

I see it on Tuesday. Can't believe it's finally almost here.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:27am

I saw it last night. Maybe some day I'll be able to talk about it. And I got to meet Larry Kramer, which I have hoped for since I fell in love with this play as a teenager.

It is everything you've heard. Please go see it.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:34am

Was he still handing out his flyers, luvtheEmcee?

Hope you can talk about someday soon - I love reading other people's feelings on it, it makes the play all the richer for me...and you seem very passionate about this play, so I'll look forward to your thoughts!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:36am

Not last night, but he spoke in the talkback.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:40am

Ah, I forgot about those. I'm sure they would've made the experience richer for me too. Actually now that I think of it...I'm sure I saw a video of one of them posted somewhere, but didn't watch...must check it out.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:00am

Yeah, I purposely picked a Tuesday because of them, but I didn't know that he was going to be a part of this one, so that was a really incredible surprise.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 4:13pm

Emcee, what did you think of Mantello? I know how much you loved Raul in the role.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 5:10pm

If you're home for the summer, Emcee, let me take you out for a drink and we can talk and sob about it together!

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:09pm

I've been interested in this show for the past couple of weeks. Is this good for a high school student?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:25pm

If you're a mature high school student. I's very serious stuff--no sets and no helicopters landing. However, it'll move you to tears.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 12:05am

Robbie -- I'm just visiting for a couple of days, but I would love to see you!!

I saw it for the first time when I was in high school and it changed my world. Go for it.

More actual thoughts including an answer for bjh in a few days when I get back to Chicago.

Updated On: 6/16/11 at 12:05 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 12:46am

This production is doing a fantastic job at allowing a younger generation easy access to the production. The $26.50 rear mezz tickets, in addition to the 30 under 30 promotion, are both great.

The letter they hand out after the production made me cry, just as I had finished crying from the actual show. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Kramer as he came out of the stage door last wednesday when I saw the show, and he was nothing but gracious.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/11 at 5:58pm

I saw it again last night before I had to leave town, and this time got to meet almost the entire magnificent cast. I was sort of hesitant about going twice in one week, but it was 100% the right thing to do. I want to write about it. I think. But where do I even start?

Maybe later. A day in transit is good for the gathering of thoughts.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/18/11 at 6:08pm

I have seen this production three times. Each time something new moves me to tears. Having lived through those times, meeting those "Moms who had to fly into town to see their babies dying", having held my Kevin as he breathed his last in the hospital, I can relate. I shake my head at the terrible way the epidemic was handled from both sides of the fence, the government and the Gay Community itself.

[beach2732]

Posted: 6/18/11 at 9:35pm

Absolutely amazing!

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/19/11 at 9:20am

I saw it for the third time last night. It was easily the best of the three performances I've seen--everyone was so on, especially Mantello and Hickey, who were beyond amazing. As long as I live, I will never understand how voters preferred Mark Rylance's hammy, showboating, pointless performance over some of the greatest acting I've ever seen in my life. The production continues to bowl me over because it's so clean, simple, and powerful.

I do want to mention something I noticed last night--in the rear mezzanine, at least. Obviously, this play is incredibly moving, able to produce both pathos and anger in the viewer. I have cried every time I've gone, along with many other people. But what I heard and saw last night can only be called--performative crying. Beginning around Lee Pace's monologue in Act II, a group of maybe five or six people seemed to be trying to outdo each other. Who can sob the loudest. Who can gasp the loudest. Who could hiss the loudest. Who would sniffle the loudest. I felt like I was sitting in the family circle of The Met, where half the audience is on the edge of their seat competing to be the first person to call "bravo" after an aria.

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/19/11 at 9:56am

"As long as I live, I will never understand how voters preferred Mark Rylance's hammy, showboating, pointless performance over some of the greatest acting I've ever seen in my life."

AMEN!!! I feel Mantello should have won for a number of reasons. He really made the role his own-and you feel very deeply for Ned in Mantello's portrayal. Despite his flaws, you really sympathize with Mantello's Ned. His performance is really heartfelt, fully realized and extremely touching.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/11 at 10:23am

As long as I live, I will never understand how voters preferred Mark Rylance's hammy, showboating, pointless performance over some of the greatest acting I've ever seen in my life.

Absolutely agree. I've now seen the production 4 times and Mantello continues to give one of the best performances I've ever seen on a stage in my life. His acting is so natural and nuanced. At times he's quiet and understated, but he knows how to raise the volume at just the right moments. A million times better than Rylance's performance, where you are constantly aware of the fact that he is acting, and you can see the gears turning the entire time. An absolute disgrace that he beat Mantello.