Theatre Review: Next to Normal

On my last trip to New York a couple weeks ago, I decided to treat my mom to a night out on Broadway. I had heard that the director of Rent, one of my favourite musicals, had created a brand new musical: "Next to Normal", which has 11 Tony Award nominations including "Best Musical". I had also heard that it was very different than most musicals- mostly because it deals with a very difficult topic, the death of a child.

Now, you may ask: "How do you make a musical out of an event like the death of a child"? And my answer must be: Very carefully... and Next to Normal really does it perfectly.

Early in Act 1, I was getting a little worried. I really thought I might end up hating it and was worried my mother might dislike it as well. Its described as having a "vibrant score" and "provocative themes". This is true. The New York Times called it "A brave, breathtaking musical". This is also true. But the beginning of the show didn't grab me, although it did pique my curiosity. The plot also tended to move quite slowly. However, towards to the end of Act 1, I was in tears and truly committed to the plot and the characters. I found the songs fun but not that catchy (other than "I'm Alive" which I could sing all day long in my shower). The music is meant to be more "rock" than your typical musical-type songs where you would interlude with alternative clapping and snapping throughout, and it succeeds greatly.

Essentially, the show is about a bipolar mother trying to hold her family together while she falls apart amidst delusions of her long-deceased son. The audience never discovers how the death of the infant occurred, but you get the sense that the event is something that, although it occurred 17 years in the past, penetrates every element of the mother's life. The show explores some seriously controversial themes including electro-shock therapy, or EST, the treatment of psychological disorders, mental illness and a plethora of modern problems which every family faces (read: bong smoke). Although in retrospect it probably wasn't the best play to take my mother too, considering she wept through most of it!

I have to say, for me, the most impressive element was the acting- the actor who plays the deceased son is incredible, his name is Aaron Tveit and he is going to be an absolute super-star. He is seen by the audience through the delusions of his mother as the perfect 18 year old (who incidentally is very attractive and has the voice of an angel!)

The show has incredible energy and although it might not be your typical musical, this is one of the show's many redeeming qualities- that it is so unusual and controversial and intense. It's on at the Booth theatre on 44th Street in Times Square and has only been running for a very short time now. Go see it now- you can get tickets at http://www.nexttonormal.com/.