Next to Normal - Donmar / Wyndham’s

Post show report:

Yeah, this is it folks. No major changes outside necessary staging changes, though the finale has one word that is performed slightly differently and is so intense. Instant standing ovation before the lights even came on, Eleanor seemed overwhelmed and it was truly a magical night. I wouldn't expect ticket sales to stay slow after previews, so get them now while you can. This is a top 3 live performance of anything (plays, musicals, concerts) I've ever seen. The cast is perfect. In fact, I would say that while it is missing the intimacy of Donmar, the cast's vocals have (somehow) gotten better in the time. Jamie Parker is even stronger than before. Caissie is a powerhouse. Jack Wolfe's I'm Alive was the best I ever heard it.

The one thing to be aware of is that I think Donmar had a slightly better sound system, but also could have been where I was sitting.

Not going to be able to stop thinking about this for a while (yet again)

After tonight, I stand by my opinion that Jamie Parker was absolutely robbed of an Olivier nomination (and the award). I don’t know how, but the cast are even better than last year. Caissie’s I Miss the Mountains was on another level. I’m booked in for the final night, but I’m sure I’ll be back again before then.

Merch is…eh. Mostly pieces with the main artwork (t-shirt, magnet, pin, pen, socks with the stars, moons and pills), a mug that says ‘Living on a latte and a prayer’ on one side and ‘Next to Normal’ on the other, an ‘I Miss the Mountains’ pullover, and then a comic book style ‘Superboy and the Invisible Girl’ tote bag.

Those booking seats - further back may in fact be better … I would not recommend anything closer than Row E. Stage is quite high.

It's so evident that they spent 9 months thinking about the bits of this that could be improved, and it's thrilling to watch.

It was spectacular at the Donmar.
It's grown in ways I didn't think possible, and I couldnt have foreseen - some of the tiny changes as someone who knows it inside out are SPECTACULAR and unbearably moving (particularly the redirection of the opening of I Miss The Mountains - I had to catch my breath)

The cast are just as wonderful before, with a special shout-out to Jamie Parker who was my performance of 2023 and should have an Olivier for playing Dan.
He's even better now, and the four Goodman's are so special in this.

I hoped I wouldn't have to go weekly, like I did at the Donmar...
I absolutely will.

Just checking out tickets for the final performance after tonight’s first preview 🥰

I was there this evening. It's as brilliant as it was in the Donmar. Instant standing ovation after the lights dimmed.

Some of the intimacy has been lost, but the Wyndham's is small enough for the performances to be impactful, even from the Grand Circle. Jamie Parker clearly has a chip on his shoulder about not getting an Olivier nomination for this role, because his performance was heartshattering. I don't think I've ever heard more sniffing in a theatre than in the aftermath of "I Am The One (Reprise)".

Also, can we just have a moment of appreciation for the piece itself? When you know a show as well as I know Next to Normal, it's easy to take its technical quality for granted, but we really shouldn't. Book, music and lyrics that blend so seamlessly into one enrapturing whole are rare. Every time I see it there's another detail I catch - tonight for instance was the first time I noticed Natalie's line "You don't give up, do you?" to Henry in "Hey #2" parallels her "You give up way too easy" in their first scene. It blows me away that Natalie's entire personality and character arc (and all of her songs excepting "Superboy et al.") were rewritten during workshops, yet they got her final version this right.

The one downside was the audio mixing. The vocals were sometimes indiscernible - "Didn't I See This Movie", "Wish I Were Here" and "The Break" were especially bad. Hopefully they'll adjust as the run proceeds.

Oh, and that artwork is abysmal. I was naively hoping it might look better in person... but no, it's worse. Completely fails to capture the spirit of the show. Also, it's just f*cking ugly!

Can you tell us about it with the spoiler tag?

Caissie posted on instagram about being one of the performers on the Broadway cruise March 31-April 4. Obviously not impossible that N2N transfers but those would be some pretty important days of previews to miss for a spring 2025 transfer. 

People pulled out of the Broadway Cruise before; I was on this year's and four of those initially announced did not take part after all: Daphne Rubin-Vega, Philippa Soo, Steven Pasquale and Eva Noblezada - the latter two because they joined Teeth and Gatsby on Broadway respectively. So there are get out clauses, in case NtN would transfer at the right time.

Seeing it tonight, for the third time - cannot wait!

Well, that was the most incredible night I’ve had at the theatre for a while.

There’s not much I can add to the praises already heaped onto the show, so I’ll just say this - as someone who has been in love with this show since he was a teen, this production is everything I wanted it to be. Phenomenal vocals, incredible acting and direction, and a final scene that left me sobbing.

How the main four did not walk away with Oliviers (and how Jamie wasn’t even nominated!) I will never know.

Just absolute perfection all round.