REVIEW: Was NEXT TO NORMAL Worth Waiting For?

NOTE: Spolier warning is missing from the video - when warned you can skip to 12:00.
We finally have the UK premiere of this Broadway musical at London's Donmar Warehouse. Has it been worth the wait?
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[@EllieTalksTheatre]

I accidentally left out the timestamp to skip past spoilers - skip to 12:00 when prompted in the video to avoid spoilers

[@courdeleon]

I have one negative comment about this review.....It was so good that it upset me that because I live in the US, I will never get to see it! You had me tearing up because your review was so powerful. I have known about the show for many years and listened to the music, (I am a big fan of Tom Kitt!) so I do know the heaviness of the material. Good to know this production gives justice to the subject matter. This is also why I love your channel, you are so real with your opinions and share them so well, bravo!!

[@tdopp89]

Keep an eye out regional theaters and colleges. I've seen it 3 times since December 2022 3 different casts in the Chicago area. 1. My sons collage did it in December 2022 (North Central College) 2. Coal City July 2023 and just this past week The Copley Theater in Aurora, IL. Pre covid saw it 4 times. 1st was part of my Broadway in Chicago series. 2 and 3 Drury Lane in Oakbrook, Illinois (2013) and 2017 I think at out local community collage.

[@v1ntagecassette]

i love that jack's take on gabe is so much less Cool And Confident than aaron tveit's. his voice is so clear and delicate and he looks like a porcelain doll that gained sentience but at the same time he's such a powerhouse it's insane

[@ellaaa23x]

I watched this production on Thursday and left it saying that if it was the last piece of theatre I saw in my life I would be content and I have never meant something as much as I meant that. That is how a show is done and what a show… act one ended and me and my best friend just sat next to each other in silence for a good two minutes just processing and feeling it all - I have never felt that many emotions at once before or cried that much at a piece of art ever and probably won’t ever again. It was a difficult watch but SUCH a worthwhile one and what I would give to go back and see it again. I genuinely don’t think there is another show and ever will be another show that is that consistent for me - with the music, the book, the message… everything about it. A feel everything musical and one that felt incredibly real and poignant - I left the theatre with so much more love to give and if I had to recommend one piece of theatre it would be that. I agree with absolutely everything you have said and am so glad to have relived it through this review. Still not over it and don’t think I will be for a longgg time to come.

[@mwmheps]

Saw it earlier this week - it was really amazing!! I've also been waiting for a long time to see it too and agree it did not disappoint. An incredibly intense show - by the end of Act 1 I was reeling at how much had already happened - but so glad to have seen it. The spoilery moment you talked about was so incredibly powerful and striking, it was incredibly effective. Also agree about Dan's last scene being a highlight as well. Sad it's a short and sold out run or I would try and catch it again to process it more!

[@amitmeir8109]

Saw this production on Thursday and honestly I couldn't describe it better myself.
It was such an amazing show!!

[@itsmonday7450]

Alpine Theater Project filmed their production and posted it here on YT. I watched as soon as I started hearing you all talking about the production there.
I cried almost the whole time.

[@scswp6945]

I saw this production at the Donmar (and had also seen the original on Broadway with Alice Ripley). I enjoyed both productions, but I really feel the intensity of the piece was heightened by the fact that it was in a small space like the Donmar. Everyone was close enough to really ‘feel’ the emotions of the characters.
For that reason, I probably wouldn’t see it again if it transfers to a larger theatre in London. Not because I didn’t enjoy it (quite the opposite - I thought it was extremely powerful), but because I think it would lose something upon transfer to a larger space. I think I would rather keep the Donmar version as a ‘great theatrical memory’ rather than possibly tainting it.
A big well done to the cast and crew for this one.

[@coolerthanyourmam9902]

Great review. I totally agree with you. I had seen some clips of the Broadway show but was in no way prepared when i saw the show at the Donmar.
Cassie levy and Jack Wolfe were for me just unbelievable. I prefer his Gabe. Jamie Parker broke my heart. Just a beautiful nightmare of a show. Somehow managed to get a ticket to see it again next week. What a treat.

[@michaeladkins6]

Going into your review, I have had a 8 to 9 day obsession with Jack Wolfe. Starting with Mickey Jo's review. I had somehow never heard of Next to Normal. There was only the original Broadway version. There were other videos of Jack Wolfe. I couldnt imagine him doing the same role as Aaron Tveit. Then, I heard the power and range of Jack. I really want to see this performance, but I live in the US.

[@gstone8255]

I think i cried too when i saw it.