Review: Next to Normal and The After Party with Marty Thomas

So tonight, finally feeling noticeably less sick, I made it to a performance of Next To Normal at the Second Stage Theater. Now, I had heard buzz about this show ever since Anthony Rapp and several of the cast members from Spring Awakening were involved in workshops last year, but happily managed to avoid any real information about the plot: I knew it was a new rock musical, that Jennifer Damiano - the youngest member of SA's original cast - was in it, and that Charles Isherwood of the Times had been warm but not raving. I love going into musicals cold, ever since I saw Spring Awakening with no real expectations and had my mind and life completely reshaped.

Well, I wasn't reshaped, but I liked it very much. The show deals with some very "heavy" topics but, thankfully, manages to skirt the edge of cheesiness through most of the shows. There were a few moments, especially in the first act, where my eyes rolled at the repetitive lyrics, the predictable plot structures, or the overuse of power ballads; however, the catchy rock score, completely unpredictable plot twists, and sheer talent of the performers, led by Alice Ripley, meant that I was enjoying the show at intermission. Upon realizing that it was only 9:15, however, I was shocked: the first act felt much longer than 75 minutes, and seriously needs to be edited somehow to reduce its drag.

The second act was much better. The score became more complex and less one-note. The lyrics, though still occasionally repetitive, toyed with brilliance a few times. And the story grew much more interesting, with no silly songs about Costco (yes, the first act has a song about Costco) to ruin the flow. And I'm not 100% sure I understand the ending, but I still, somehow, liked it. Maybe because the last song was ridiculously catchy and feel-good, and who doesn't like it when a musical ends on a high note?

As far as performances: Jennifer Damiano's voice is mindblowing - I still can't believe that she's only 16 - and she seemed to be chanelling her character perfectly. Brian D'Arcy James is a pleasure to watch on stage, with a consistently beautiful tone. Aaron Tveit plays his character with exactly the right combination of charm and sinister seduction. Adam Chanler-Berat is occasionally annoying but usually adorable, and Asa Summers is hilarious. The show rides on Alice Ripley's performance as Diana, however, and I have mixed opinions. On the one hand, her emotional range was phenomenal; the audience had no problem reading her face as she sunk into depression, and watching her rebuild her life in the second act is both affirming and suspenseful. On the other hand, there were several moments, at least in this performance, where her voice failed to fit the music. When she was good, she was fierce, but there were definite moments of screechiness and brassiness that brought me out of the groove. I heard others in the audience commenting on it as well. It may simply have been a bad night for her vocally, however, as I haven't read anything but raves about her performance from others.

So it wasn't the best rock musical I've ever seen, and there is definite room for improvement. But with some streamlining of the lyrics, some carefully chosen cuts (like, say, the song about Costco), and some clarification of the less obvious metaphysical points, it could be a big hit. I hope this isn't the last I hear of the show.

The After Party with Marty Thomas
As per normal, after the show my best friend and I went to The After Party at the Laurie Beechman theater to hear some cabaret. We have been there often enough that we've begun making friends with the regulars and sat with a few of them. Unfortunately, the host Brandon Cutrell wasn't there tonight, but his replacement (whose first name was Ben, though I've forgotten his last) was pretty good: funny and a good singer. The special guest tonight was Marty Thomas of Xanadu, who I heard sing a couple of weeks ago. He was phenomenal, singing a few songs I didn't know but loved, followed by one of the funniest and most endearing versions of "Love You I Do" I've ever seen. He then the '80s ballad "Alone" with Alysha Umphress, much like in this Youtube video, only with live music instead of a terrible backing track. It was fantastic. We left after he sang, though, not feeling like a terribly late night.