Comments on: Alice Ripley in Next to Normal http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/ Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:52:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brian http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-13030 Brian Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:59:14 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-13030 I listened to clips of her singing other things besides Next to Normal and she is quite flat on long notes a great deal of the time.  Pity, because she sure has an acting intensity to admire. I listened to clips of her singing other things besides Next to Normal and she is quite flat on long notes a great deal of the time.  Pity, because she sure has an acting intensity to admire.

]]> By: Hank http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-11564 Hank Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:37:43 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-11564 WRT Ripley being off key.  I submit that this is the way the director wanted the part to be played.  Ripley portrays a troubled, broken woman whose off key notes add to the haunting feeling of the show.  This must be very difficult for her to perform, as her ear would instinctively want to correct her pitch. WRT Ripley being off key.  I submit that this is the way the director wanted the part to be played.  Ripley portrays a troubled, broken woman whose off key notes add to the haunting feeling of the show.  This must be very difficult for her to perform, as her ear would instinctively want to correct her pitch.

]]> By: Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-11084 Joel Markowitz Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:06:25 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-11084 Hi Pat: I hope you enjoyed the podcast. I have seen Alice 7 tines do the show at Arena Stage and in NYC,  and I have never had that problem.  She deserved her Tony. Hi Pat:
I hope you enjoyed the podcast. I have seen Alice 7 tines do the show at Arena Stage and in NYC,  and I have never had that problem.  She deserved her Tony.

]]> By: Pat Rogers http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-11083 Pat Rogers Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:17:03 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-11083 IT's true about Alice Ripley's singing.  She is a powerful performer, but I've seen Next to Normal 3 times and just heard a recorded live performance on Sirius radio.....Indeed she is off key.  It has bothered me every time in Normal and now the radio.  I hate that because she is so dynamic.  Whether she is flat or sharp, I could not tell you, but clearly the note that the orchestra is playing is not the same note that she is singing! IT’s true about Alice Ripley’s singing.  She is a powerful performer, but I’ve seen Next to Normal 3 times and just heard a recorded live performance on Sirius radio…..Indeed she is off key.  It has bothered me every time in Normal and now the radio.  I hate that because she is so dynamic.  Whether she is flat or sharp, I could not tell you, but clearly the note that the orchestra is playing is not the same note that she is singing!

]]> By: Lisa Kasamoto http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-7166 Lisa Kasamoto Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:25:24 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-7166 Hi, in case you haven't heard the news: there will be a cast recording for "Next to Normal"!! The cast will be in the studio in mid-February. Then, keep an eye on www.sh-k-boom.com for more info. Hi, in case you haven’t heard the news: there will be a cast recording for “Next to Normal”!! The cast will be in the studio in mid-February. Then, keep an eye on http://www.sh-k-boom.com for more info.

]]> By: Paula Y. Bickham http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-7150 Paula Y. Bickham Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:23:18 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-7150 Pitch may not have always been perfect, but I think Ms. Ripley, along with other cast members got the emotion part really right. The two women sitting next to me shared a three hanky moment the whole time. It was obvious that the two could relate to what Ms. Ripley's character was going through, as well as how it affected the whole family. I could hear sniffles from other audience members as well. Pitch may not have always been perfect, but I think Ms. Ripley, along with other cast members got the emotion part really right. The two women sitting next to me shared a three hanky moment the whole time. It was obvious that the two could relate to what Ms. Ripley’s character was going through, as well as how it affected the whole family. I could hear sniffles from other audience members as well.

]]> By: Beth http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-7148 Beth Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:42:56 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-7148 Again, awesome podcast Joel! gg ~ I freely admit that Alice can have some pitch issues in this show, but I think that getting the emotion right with this performance was probably more important than landing the perfect pitch every time. IMHO anyway. For me the overall performance overrode any occasional (and 6 or 7 times is occasional in a sung-through show) pitchiness. Again, awesome podcast Joel!

gg ~ I freely admit that Alice can have some pitch issues in this show, but I think that getting the emotion right with this performance was probably more important than landing the perfect pitch every time. IMHO anyway. For me the overall performance overrode any occasional (and 6 or 7 times is occasional in a sung-through show) pitchiness.

]]> By: gg http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-7146 gg Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:54:55 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-7146 Sorry to say something negative, but she was noticeably flat several times during the performance. I saw the show yesterday (in its closing weekend) so perhaps she has a cold and it was a one-time thing. Her acting is wonderful, she definitely cries a lot of real tears, and much of her singing was spot on. But at least 6 or 7 times she would be holding a note and would be about a half-note flat. It was especially noticeable when the orchestra would come back in. Sorry to say something negative, but she was noticeably flat several times during the performance. I saw the show yesterday (in its closing weekend) so perhaps she has a cold and it was a one-time thing. Her acting is wonderful, she definitely cries a lot of real tears, and much of her singing was spot on. But at least 6 or 7 times she would be holding a note and would be about a half-note flat. It was especially noticeable when the orchestra would come back in.

]]> By: Beth http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-7125 Beth Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:25:12 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-7125 Aw, what a wonderful interview! Love Alice! Love the show! Love this podcast! You're amazing! Aw, what a wonderful interview! Love Alice! Love the show! Love this podcast! You’re amazing!

]]> By: Jess Speck http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-6780 Jess Speck Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:16:51 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-6780 Great interview, Joel! I saw the show with a huge audience of teens on Monday and just kept thinking, "only women over 30 can really relate to her" and then she said it in your interview. It makes me feel all the more special that you take the time to see our Churchill shows when I hear such a fantastically professional interview as this one. Great interview, Joel! I saw the show with a huge audience of teens on Monday and just kept thinking, “only women over 30 can really relate to her” and then she said it in your interview. It makes me feel all the more special that you take the time to see our Churchill shows when I hear such a fantastically professional interview as this one.

]]> By: Jen http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-6722 Jen Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:43:46 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385#comment-6722 Great podcast Joel. Very good questions. This show is brilliant. I saw it several times at Second Stage and many more times here at Arena. Great podcast Joel. Very good questions. This show is brilliant. I saw it several times at Second Stage and many more times here at Arena.

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