Next to Normal @ Upright Theatre Co.
—Review by Jan Farrington
Next to Normal will twist at your heart, whether or not your life has been touched and changed by mental health issues. And the Upright Theater Company’s compelling production of this Broadway-changing musical (it won three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama) ought, by rights, to run for another month. As of this writing, though, there are only two performances left.
This is not (I repeat, NOT) a musical comedy. But if you’re looking for theater worth your time, Normal is the show to see this weekend.
Directed with frankness and sensitivity by Natalie Burkhart, and music directed by Noël Clark, this is a story about loss, loyalty, grief, depression, bipolar disorder, pills, shock therapy—and how one family tries to hold on and get through it all.
Mom Diana (Brandy Raper), diagnosed years ago with bipolar disorder (and perhaps a touch of schizophrenia), tries to cope with “Just Another Day.” Her husband Dan (Jericho Thomas) is the steady, never-give-up type—and still loves his wife, though he wonders if staying is always good (“Who’s Crazy?). Son Gabe (Levi Skoog) has a mysteriously clingy, even scary relationship with Mom—and driven daughter Natalie feels lost and ignored in her troubled house, especially when there’s a “Gabe” getting all Mom’s attention (“Superman and the Invisible Girl”). Natalie meets Henry (Nick McGeoy), a smart, loving classmate who says he’d be “Perfect for You.”
And then there are the doctors Fine and Madden (both played by Jacob Waters), who race through lists of pills and side effects, offer treatment options, and turn into raging rock stars (in Diana’s head). Like her, we’re all dizzy with listening to their warp-speed songs and pitches.
In a five-actor musical sung-through with minimal dialogue, there’s no place to hide a weak singer. Fortunately, Upright doesn’t have that problem: the cast is almost shockingly good at the complicated, fast-patter lyrics and tight harmonies. Skoog, a recent transplant from Chicago, is notable as teenage son Gabe, whose intensity and dangerous intentions come out in searing songs, especially “I’m Alive.” Jericho’s controlled tenor and Raper’s clear, edgy voice mix nicely in duets—as do Sarbach and McGeoy in Natalie and Henry’s sweet, searching numbers. And Waters’ rock-star moments (as Diana’s imagines him) are startling and funny.
Brian Yorkey’s interesting lyrics are, for me, more memorable than Tom Kitt’s music, which makes too many songs rise to a belting multi-voice conclusion. But that’s a complaint to take up with the creators—Clark and her cast do a lovely job with the challenging, intertwined melodies.
Upright’s storefront theater space is arranged airily, with small round tables offering “cabaret” seating. It was a nice change from being crammed into rows that still feel too close for comfort. I’ll say it again: if this sounds like your kind of show, there are just two more performances, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Git a move on.
WHEN: Through September 25
WHERE: 250l N. Euless Main Street
WEB: uprighttheatre.org
