When Rent closed on Broadway, it did not take as long as I expected to find my new favorite original musical on Broadway. And then Next to Normal closed on Broadway. But this week, Broadway fans in the Philadelphia area are coming together to see the cast and crew of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning hit musical on tour and it is fantastic!
Photo Credit: Craig Schwartz
It was wonderful to see Alice Ripley again in her 2009 Tony Award winning role as Diana, a wife and mother with a mental illness who is struggling to find happiness in her life, herself, her mind – which is far from normal. Ripley played her part to the nines, even though it seemed as though this already husky voice was a bit under the weather.
A line here and there was inaudible or flat which is why it seemed she could have been under the weather. But it worked because Diana seemed more down on herself than the first time I saw the musical. Whether that was due to Ripley’s cold or due to character growth is anybody’s guess, but it worked.
Emma Hunton (Spring Awakening) is just as wonderful as original Broadway cast member, Jennifer Damiano. In fact, there were some instances when watching her, I thought I heard Damiano’s voice. Now there’s a unique tone to original Broadway cast member’s Adam Chanler-Berat voice that makes me melt every time I hear him sing. So, Preston Sadleir had very big shoes to fill as Henry. It brings me great delight to share that Sadleir not only filled those shoes but molded them into such a colorful way that fits the story so well. What a talent. What a talent.
Curt Hansen (as Gabe) will never let me hear the song “I’m Alive” the same. He truly brought this song to life in a way that I had yet to hear (and see), so it is now one of my favorite numbers of the musical. Other favorite numbers that I enjoyed all too much opening night in Philadelphia were “I Am The One” as well as “Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I’m Falling.” The harmonies were off the chart incredible. The way that these singers play with the scale and the way that these actors deliver their lines, it is quite fascinating to see. While a drama, there is quite a bit of comedy, so to see how different actors portray certain lines and sing certain songs, it makes or break a number. And the entire cast made every number that much more memorable.
Asa Somers (as Dan) was a delight to see. He took a less aggressive approach as Dan, which was refreshing to see. There were certain high notes that he struggled to hit but he brought every number home just as rock star, Jeremy Kushnier did as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine. The casting was truly brilliant for this touring cast. The cast was honestly just as wonderful as the original… and that is not easy to do!
The musicians were wonderful as well. Having seen Next to Normal in a partial view the first time, it was quite a thrill to see the musical from the center this time around where I could see not only all of the cast but all of the musicians, who are placed on the stage, within the house. In fact, because of the way that the house is set up on stage, nothing gets lost in translation from Broadway to the tour.
There are no excuses not to see this musical when it comes to your town. And the music is so good! Less than a handful of times did the music overpower the vocalists but for the most part, the two played hand in hand very well. More on the music in a bit.
Photo Credit: Craig Schwartz
Next to Normal is truly one of the most gripping family dramas I have ever seen. And the emotions are just as strong after the first viewing. In my first viewing of the musical on Broadway, tears would not stop pouring during the numbers, “How Could I Ever Forget,” “Why Stay?,” and “So Anyway.” Having witnessed a friend experience events scarily similar to Diana’s since then, I approached the musical with brand new eyes this time around and was gripped to my seat with empathy that I thought I witnessed the first time around but really hadn’t until now.
There are so many messages to get out of this musical, but my favorites have to be those of self-reflection, sacrifice, and defining happiness. There is so much depth to this story, it has really earned the right to its own class for a Psychology major.
The rockin’ music by Tom Kitt (which will have you feeling electric) as well as the book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey alone will take listeners to an emotional level they have never been before. You can simply listen to the Next to Normal original Broadway cast recording to understand why the show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2009. But you’ll be doing yourself a great disservice by not catching the musical when it is in a town near you. Next to Normal is definitely worth taking the entire adult family to see. So what are you waiting for? Go see Next to Normal!
Next to Normal runs at the Academy of Music June 21 – 26, 2011. The show runs at 2 hours and 20 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Tickets range from $20-$100 and can be purchased by telephone (215-731-3333), the Kimmel Center Box Office, or online.