I saw 9 pieces of theatre in New York. Some I blogged about. Some I didn’t.
I didn’t share my feelings about some shows because they were negative, and I figured, why criticize something that just isn’t my cup of tea? It just seemed better to try and advocate for the shows I loved. But then there’s Next to Normal, a musical I saw for the second time. I didn’t write about it not because I didn’t like it, but because I wasn’t sure what to say. Or, rather, I didn’t know how to say what I felt.
A mom who is bipolar depressive with delusional episodes is not a traditional premise for a musical.
Next to Normal is not a traditional musical. The set is seemingly minimalistic – three levels of stark metal, the vague impression of a house seen through glass panels. Songs include “My Psychopharmacologist and I,” Superboy and the Invisible Girl,” and “Who’s Crazy.” The cast is small – mom, dad, daughter, son, daughter’s boyfriend, psychiatrist.
Like all great shows, through the specifics of this one family, you can see its universalization. And like all great shows about difficult subjects, there is plenty of humor. Every time I see this show, or hear its cast album, I find myself gaining a better understand of one of the characters. Their lives, their experiences, could not be more different from my own, yet I still relate to their feelings. And that’s why I think Next to Normal is a great show.
Next to Normal
