Next To Normal Opening Night at Arena Stage

[hockeynut2]

Did anyone else attend last night's incredible opening night performance of the new and improved Arena Stage production of
Next To Normal? The cast was brilliant and of course Alice Ripley's performance was mesmerizing. I see a lot of shows, but I'll never forget last night. Run, and buy tickets.
My Theatre Schmooze Column

[RentBoy86]

I just can't get past her voice. It's awful. I wish we could combine Amy Spanger's voice and Ripley's acting.

[jordangirl]

Saw it Saturday. Seeing it again this weekend. For this (especially Alice's performance...all of it...LOVE her voice!), I'll travel back and forth a few times. :)

[KChenowethfan]

Ripley's voice? Awful? Maybe unique, but I would challenge you to back up what is so awful about it. Did you see Spanger in the role to compare?

In any case, I have seen the show more times than I will admit on here during this run, and it is in great shape.

[BobbyBubby]

Her voice may not be your cup of tea, but mainstreaming it as awful isn't fair to her really unique instrument.

[RentBoy86]

I can't have an opinion? I love the show, but I think the reason I don't care for any of her solos is because I can't stand her voice. I'm all for a unique voice - love me some Patti Lupone and Julia Murney - but her voice is just hard to listen to. It's so nasal. It sounds like she had a nose job or something. I just don't care for it. None of the songs seem effortless, like I feel like it's hurting her to sing some of the higher stuff, but I do think she's a pretty good actress. And no, I didn't see Spanger in the role, but I heard her. And judging from her vocals, I'd prefer her singing, but no her acting. She seemed uninspired. Although, Ripley comes off as over-the-top. Not sure if that's intentional, but it's a little much considering everyone else is playing their scenes realistically. I understand it maybe a character choice on her part and the director's, but it makes me not care for her as much. If she's always sarcastic, then why would I care? I care more for her daughter and her boyfriend's relationship.

End of rant.

[hockeynut2]

Peter Marks raves about Next To Normal's Arena Stage production. He's right. You have to come to Arlington, VA to see it. Joel
Peter Marks Raves About Next To Normal

[snl89]

^That makes me so happy

If that's any indication of reviews to come, I'm gonna say I'm VERY hopeful for the future of this show!!

[BobbyBubby]

Because you're acting like Ripley sings like Lucille Ball.

[BillFinn]

I don't know. I mean, she's no Carolee Carmello, but what I take away from Alice Ripley's performances are 1) extreme emotional catharsis and 2) heart. From what I've heard and seen on "Next to Normal," she really puts her back into it. You can hear from her inflections in "I Miss the Mountains" just the MOURNING, the pangs. A lot of psychological stuff going on there.

When I saw her at the opening of "The Baker's Wife," I felt the same way. She was so into the character, her vocals didn't really throw me off. Especially on "Where is the Warmth?" I think I teared up during that.

[nexttoelectric]

I can understand people not loving Ripley's voice. It is unique and it took me a little bit get accustomed to, now I love it. As someone else said, with Ripley, its more than the voice. Everything she says (sings) has her full emotional being behind it She could sing the phone book and I would be in tears from the emotional journey she would take me on.


Alice is a goddess

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Ripley certainly has a unique voice, and gave (what I thought...even beating out the brilliant, soon to be historic performances of LuPone and Szot) the best performance in any show last season when N2N was at 2ndStage. And I loved the show, but Ripley was just brilliant.

I'm glad its getting such good notices (if anyone finds any official reviews other than the one already mentioned, let us know what the gist of them are) and I hope it makes its way back to New York although, as I've said before, I'm not sure if that would happen just yet with the economy the way it is. But 2ndStage just bought the Helen Hayes and that would be a perfect venue for it. Hey, if [tos] did it, why can't N2N? Its far superior.

[adamgreer]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Next to Normal is the first show that 2nd Stage puts on at the Helen Hayes. It seems wise not to open this season anyway, with Billy Elliot poised to take the lion's share of Tonys (and attention) this year.

Transferring it this year would certainly make the Best Actress in a Musical race a lot more interesting, though.

I REALLY want to get down to D.C. to see this, but won't be able to until after the holidays.

[exedore]

The thing about Alice Ripley is that she's fierce as can be, she doesn't always come across well via audio alone. Her voice *is* extremely distinct and it can turn people off when they don't have her visual presence to go with it.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

The thing with Ripley's vice, especially with this role, is that she manipulates it well to suit the character she's playing. Her raspy, dark voice makes Diana all the more haunting.

Did they cut FEELING ELECTRIC? I heard they did and I've been keeping my fingers crossed that they re-inserted it...

[Atrias]

I saw the production over Thanksgiving and absolutely loved it. I went in knowing nothing about it, and had a great time. "Feeling Electric" was not in the production when I saw it.

[hockeynut2]

Here is the link to the rave from Gary McMillan at DCTS.

To read all the other reviews in one place go to the button to the right of Gary's Review and click on THEIR REVIEWS. Check all the new and upcoming reviews at "Their Reviews" at DC Theatre Scene.

ALL THE NEXT TO NORMAL REVIEWS IN

[jordangirl]

wickedrocks, no they did NOT put "Feeling Electric" back in. It really doesn't fit with the show as it is now. "Wish I Was Here" is SOOOOOOOO much better. You honestly don't miss "Feeling Electric" at all.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I'm so glad the show is getting better...I really hope it comes back to New York, it has incredible potential as I noted in my review of it last March.

[luvtheEmcee]

Having seen the show for the first time... three years ago, I think it was, I have a hard time imagining it without Feeling Electric; but I must admit my intrigue. I would say I'm more curious than skeptical, though. I hope it makes it way back to NYC soon, and that these rather drastic changes are just as sizable improvements.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

From what I've heard they've kinda retooled the whole show and made it less of an obvious rock-musical if that makes any sense.

It's less loud now and the characters are much more fleshed out so I guess if what I've heard is true in that respect, cutting FEELING ELECTRIC makes sense.

It's a very good song but it does kinda detract involvement in the story a bit.

[luvtheEmcee]

Yeah, I agree, and it does sound like they've scaled down that little bit of rock-concert feel it had, and traded it in for a more character-oriented piece. Which is great. It's a very different direction for the show, but it sounds promising. I'm just so used to the show as it was (hell, it was called Feeling Electric for all those years!), and hope the results are positive changes for the piece.

[jordangirl]

I had a hard time thinking about it without "Feeling Electric" as well, but then I heard some things and I finally saw it last week, and I promise it's much better without it. The whole feel of the show has changed definitely for the better. The new song conveys what they were trying to with "Feeling Electric" so much better ~ there is less confusion than "Feeling Electric" ended up leaving many of the audience with.

[Atrias]

Having heard "Feeling Electric" after I saw the show, I think it would have been out of place left in. I think one of the nicest things about it was that it wasn't, as you said, an obvious "rock musical." The dialogue flowed pretty seamlessly into the songs. The flashing lights were still a bit hard on the eyes for the elderly woman I went with, though

[EnWashingtonHeights]

I still think it could work as a bonus track if it ever got a cast recording.