Next to Amazing Brilliance!!

My busy schedule and empty wallet have prevented me from seeing lots of shows this summer, but I was fortunate enough to see Next to Normal with my mom a couple weeks ago. If this is the only show I see this summer that is completely fine with me. I was blown away by this honest and poignant depiction of a woman's battle with bipolar disorder as her family is falling apart at the seams.

The fact that a musical about depression is on Broadway is a testament to the fact that the musical as a genre is evolving. The fact that a musical about depression had me laughing out loud shows that the writers have a good grasp of how to mix pathos and comedy. The show is an emotional roller coaster ride set to a Tony Award winning rock score. I was laughing out loud one minute and near tears the next, and the whole time I was surrounded and enamored by amazing music that ranged from thoughtful folk songs to head-banging rock.

I thought all of the actors did a great job. Alice Ripley is brilliant as Diana Goodman, the woman battling bipolar disorder. Her unique voice helps bring life to the character. As an actress, she's so good at her craft. There were so many little things she did that were so in character even when she wasn't the focus of the scene that make her so engaging to watch. I was also very impressed by Jennifer Damiano who plays Ripley's neglected daughter, Natalie, a sarcastic and bitter teenage genius looking for a reprieve from the constant madness at home. It would have been really easy to play this role very angry, but Damiano added a lightness to the role that really opened the character up in my opinion. Adam Chanler-Berat plays Natalie's stoner boyfriend Henry with unassuming charm and likability. I am in love, and I think every girl deserves a Henry. I'm pretty sure he's gay though, so my fantasies will never be realized, sadness.

I thought the show was well written though there were times it got heavy handed, especially concerning the parallels with Diana and Natalie. On the flip side, I thought there were times in the show where subtlety was used perfectly. They did a good job of leaving certain factors up to the audience to interpret, which I loved because subtlety is almost never a bad thing in my book. The set was very cool and visually interesting. It is more conceptual, which works for this show because it allows certain areas to double as other places easily without slowing down the pace of the show. There are tons of lights on the set, which give the show a rock concert feel during the bigger flashier numbers. The band being on stage adds to that feeling.

I really feel that everyone should see this show. It's a new original music with contemporary themes like family, love, reliance on medicine, mental disorders, pharmaceutical abuse and isolation. It's funny because right before we went to see it, my mom and I were discussing pharmaceutical abuse and reliance on medicine in general. She's a pharmacist who often comes face to face with people swearing they need more medicine. Someone should tell them their profuse sweating and quickness to throw fits gives away their addiction. Anyway, I highly recommend this seeing this musical if you have the opportunity. If this is any hint on the future of the American musical, I am very excited to see what's in store.

Unfortunately the videos I wanted to add won't embed :-( Here's a link to them, and I'll try to embed them later.

COOL VIDEOS :-)

P.S. I am in with the promotion photographs taken by Evan Kafka. I find them so interesting. Here's a link to the photos. Check them out!