The City adventurers were lucky enough to be invited to see Next To Normal at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Written by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), Next to Normal has already won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Awards. We’d seen the posters saying it had been nominated for 4 Olivier awards this year, including best new musical, and we knew it was a story about mental health, but we had not really researched it before we went.
Sitting down in our seats, the lady sitting next to us began to tell us how excited she was to attend this performance. She had missed out on seeing it at the Donmar warehouse and was overjoyed to get tickets now it had transferred to the Wyndham’s Theatre. She went on to say that this was the show that got her into her love for the theatre, having seen it as a production years ago on Broadway. “It’s a rock musical,” she said, “but so much more. Really powerful.” She was not wrong.
True, this is a heart-wrenching story about a suburban mother in the throes of a mental health crisis. But rather than being maudlin, this story is told in a way that really makes you think. It also makes you think about things you have gone through and things people you know, or know of, have gone though.
It is a truly thought provoking musical.
Having said that, the musical also has funny moments that lift the mood, including a rock star doctor.
And the rock music itself is great, which is good as this production is largely sung-through,
The show begins with a “typical” family comprising mum, dad and two teenage children. We see mum waiting up for the boy to come home and having a “typical” conversation about him being out late. It seems perfectly normal that he can talk to her but is estranged from his father, even though the live in the same house.
But this is not normal.
And as the play progresses it soon becomes clear that what we took at face value is not a “typical” suburban family and life is anything but normal.
Diana Goodman (the mum) battles with bipolar disorder and the Goodman family must confront the challenges of mental illness. Not only that, but the family are living with grief. A long standing grief that they have tried to deal with in different ways. The love between Diana and Dan (the mum and dad) is obvious, but will it be enough to get them through the trauma? Is the love between Diana and their son, Gabe, even stronger?
We are treated to flash backs to when Diana and Dan first got together and we get to see the parallels between their first love and the blossoming relationship between their daughter, Natalie, and her boyfriend Henry.
We also get to see the affect Diana’s condition has on Natalie and how the family focus on Diana means that Natalie’s mental health doesn’t get enough attention.
Then there is the living with grief. How does anyone cope?
As you would expect by the title, this production contains some adult topics, including depictions of various mental health conditions and disorders, themes of bereavement, and strong language.
This is a musical that will get you thinking long after you have seen it. It will make you think of people you know who have experienced similar grief or mental health issues. It may even make you grateful that, but for the grace of God, it has not happened to you.
This is a powerful musical with great music and a story that makes you think. Recommended.
Next To Normal tickets are available until 21st September, 2024 at Wyndham’s Theatre
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