[NEohioPAL] BERKO REVIEW: NEXT TO NORMAL @ Palace/PHSquare
Roy Berko
royberko at yahoo.com
Thu Jun 9 12:24:23 PDT 2011
Mind blowing, must see NEXT TO NORMAL at Palace/PhSquare
Roy Berko
Member, American Theatre Critics Association
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When I first saw the New York production of NEXT TO NORMAL, the Brian Yorkey
(books and lyrics) and Tom Kitt (music) musical, which was the 2010 Pulitzer
Prize winner, I had a set of questions.
As a theatre reviewer I was, of course, curious about the value and production
quality of the show. As a mental health counselor, I wondered how a musical was
going to grapple with the subject of mental illness without a simplistic,
mocking or evasive approach. My answers to both questions were quickly
answered.
NEXT TO NORMAL is a well-crafted and outstanding script. It is an emotional and
accurate depiction of the problems of coping with bipolar disorder and
situationally-induced depression.
The Pulitzer Prize Board called the show "a powerful rock musical that grapples
with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter
for musicals." From my perspective, and as evidenced by the screaming standing
ovation at the opening night of the show at the Palace Theatre, they were right
on. Remember, the reaction was for a serious-themed musical, not a light
escapist piece of fluff.
NEXT TO NORMAL, which in its early development was entitled, FEELING ELECTRIC,
due to the use of ECT (electric convulsive therapy), commonly known as shock
therapy, concerns a mother who struggles with a worsening bipolar disorder and
the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such
issues as grieving a loss, the difficulty of maintaining a marriage in the wake
of psychological problems, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry and teenage
angst.
Sounds like a downer. No way! Yes, it showcases disturbing issues, but it does
so in a probing way that adds humor and illuminates truth. It is realistic and
shares the fact that 1 in 17 American adults suffer a serious degree of mental
illness which not only affects them, but their families.
The play starts as no other musical has. Suburban mother Diana Goodman waits up
late for her curfew-challenged son, comforts her anxious and overachieving
daughter, hurries off for some sex with her husband, then rises to help prepare
her family for Just Another Day. But when her lunch-making takes a turn for the
bizarre with sandwiches covering the table, chairs, and floor, the family
realizes something is not right. From here, the story unfolds. The goings on
get more and more out of sync and we watch in ever expanding awareness that this
is a family in crisis.
The score is infectious, the lyrics compelling. The songs are so integrated
into the story that there is no separation between the spoken and sung word.
This is not a speech, song, dance, speech script. It is a perfectly integrated
message. The song titles develop a clear idea of the show’s content, Let There
Be Light, Perfect, More…More…and More, and Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist
and I.
The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009 to rave reviews, and ran for over
700 performances. It was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards with the Best
Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical going to Alice Ripley.
Ripley, a Rocky River native and BFA musical theatre graduate from Kent State,
stars in the touring production. She is amazing. The role requires her
literally to have a nervous breakdown every night. In spite of all the times
she has played the role, tears flow, she transitions from mood to mood with
astonishing ease. This is a performance not to be missed!
The rest of the cast is up to Ripley’s high level. Several are reprising roles
they played or understudied in the Big Apple production.
Asa Somers (Dan, the husband) develops a characterization that make us wonder
how he can confront the issues and stay on course. He is outstanding.
Curt Hansen, as Gage, the son, flows around the stage like a shadow. He is
physically compelling, has a great voice and inhabits the role.
Emma Hunton as Natalie, the daughter, shows clearly the effect of being the
survivor child who has been pushed aside due to parental grief and psychological
issues.
Preston Sadleir gives a focused performance as Natalie’s druggie boyfriend.
And, Jeremy Kushnier, who starred in JERSEY BOYS (which ironically will run June
22 to July 17 at the State Theatre), is professionally correct, as the two
psychiatrists who attempt to treat Diana.
Though there was some instances when the band drowned out the actors, in general
the music was well performed. The set creatively allows for multi-illusions as
the see-through screens slide to reveal and conceal the goings-on and the three
levels of scaffold encourage seeing the many angles of the action.
Capsule judgement: NEXT TO NORMAL is the highlight production of this year’s
Broadway Series. This is an absolutely must see, production. Go, learn,
experience a compelling script and a finely tuned production!!
For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to www.playhousesquare.org. The show runs
through June19.
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through
2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at
http://royberko.info. His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com
and www.NeOHIOpal
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