Next to Normal
As much as I've been picking on the American theatre lately, you will NEVER get something like this out of the British theatre. The British, generally speaking, are technically so much more proficient, but when I think about shows like this and Rent, for example, and I realize they are terribly flawed, sometimes a bit trite, I am fine with that because besides the fact that these shows are written with tremendous balls, these shows have people spilling their guts on the stage, the way the reserved British just don't seem to ever do it. I saw this show last year off-Broadway, and remember being less than thrilled, but I suppose I've softened the critic in my head and surrendered to story, and I was a snotty, teary mess during this show. I say this every once in a while, but if this is the road the American musical is taking, let me jump in the car. Maybe I'm going way out there with this, but I can't help but feel that with all the "the most groundbreaking thing since RENT" claims people like to throw around every time a "rock" musical comes out, that this might ACTUALLY be it. I mean, for God's sake, its an ORIGINAL "rock" musical, and it's REALLY got something to say, and despite its flaws, its spilling with passion and I think they're beginning to take story-telling with this more contemporary rock sound to a new level.
But who am I kidding? This is all rambling--I have no real critical say here. I feel like my emotional being was just taken and squeezed out like a dirty sponge. I need a nap. And to give my family a hug.
And Alice Ripley? Bitch, please...did they bother nominating anyone else for the Tony? Yeah, yeah, another thing I can see people criticizing, but again..passion is overriding technical nitpicking here. I mean, does she REALLY get up there on that stage and go there every night? For real? Is that real? Do people really do that? Is that even possible? No, honestly, most acting teachers will say eventually you do it too many times, and you just have to externalize and act it, but Alice Ripley's soul appears to be going through some serious and actual trauma every night. This is what I want when I'm in th theatre.