Upright Theatre Co. presents Next to Normal
Next to Normal
Directed by Natalie Burkhart
Music Director - Noel Clark
Tango/Waltz Choreography - Jake and Brandy Raper
Scenic Design - Conor Clark
Properties Design - Megan Guerra
Costume Design - Jourdain Blanco
Lighting Design - Branson White
Sound Design - Natalie Burkhart
Assistant Sound Designer - Mary Ridenour
Mic Operator - Mary Ridenour
My thoughts on Next to Normal or…coping and hoping
Upright Theatre Company presents
Next to Normal
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Natalie Burkhart
Music Directed by Noel Clark
Next to Normal is never going to be a happy play and you’re probably not going to walk out of the theater humming one of the 34 or so songs in this sung through musical. However, you will leave the theater thoroughly entertained and moved by this story of a wife and mother’s mental illness and its devastating effects on her husband Dan and daughter Natalie.
The main character Diana Goodman has been traumatized by the death of her infant son some sixteen plus years ago. This trauma has brought on bipolar and delusional episodes in which she imagines her deceased son to not only be alive, but also to be growing up and the age he would have been had he lived. Needless to say, this presents multiple difficult problems for the Goodman family, as Diana’s husband and daughter seek some sort of normalcy in their daily lives. Diana’s unpredictable erratic behavior keeps the family in an almost constant tailspin.
Mental illness. The perfect topic for a musical, huh? Well, in this case it is. I saw the original cast of the musical on Broadway. I admired it, but cannot say that I enjoyed it, so I was a bit less than excited to see another production. but i am delighted to report that the Upright Theatre Co.’s Next to Normal is a direct hit to the heart. The intimate setting of the venue allows for connection to the characters that just can’t happen in a large theater. Diana’s problems are just as much in your face here as they are in her family’s, and that connection draws us into this story that examines mental illness and its treatment through terrific music and clever, often biting, lyrics.
Due to her illness, Diana’s family lives in a sort of gray area where life is never what it is supposed to be and that is reflected by Conor Clark’s scenic design of a living/dining room with washed out colors and frames without pictures. Jourdain Blanco’s costumes mirror the current time and establish the Goodmans as middle class. Director Natalie Burkhart designed the sound and Branson White did the splendid lighting, which highlights the characters and provides smooth transitions.
Director Burkhart and Music Director Noel Clark have done a remarkable job with this challenging musical. Burkhart creates wonderful tableaus of family life and always keeps us centered on the Goodman family and I cannot imagine the challenges for a music director in a sung through musical, but Noel Clark has gotten impressive vocals from the entire cast.
And impressive is indeed the word for this cast. Even with some mic problems on the night I attended, Jacob Waters makes Dr. Madden a convincing medical professional and is great fun when Diana imagines him to be a rock star. As Henry, Natalie’s boyfriend, Nick McGeoy, is a bright spot in the play. His character brings in some humor and gives the audience a break from the Goodman household problems for a while as he develops an attachment to Natalie. McGeoy has an appealing presence and a very nice falsetto. As the long dead son Gabe, now a teenager in Diana’s mind, Levi Skoog, is outstanding, Skoog is very strong vocally and makes Gabe a malevolent lurking spirit, always ready to lead Diana toward tragedy. Katelyn Sarbach, as Diana’s daughter Natalie, is a musical theater gem. Sarbach has a wonderful voice and the ability to make you feel every word of a song with her expressive face. I kept sitting there thinking what a great Eponine she would make, and I would even sit through Les Mis again if Sarbach was performing. Jericho Thomas as Dan, the husband who sacrifices so much for Diana, is simply perfection. Thomas has the acting and vocal skills that create true compassion for Dan and brings an aching reality to the character. As Diana, Brandy Raper, gives among the best performances I have seen on local stages. Raper is blessed with a glorious voice and the ability to totally inhabit a character. Her Diana, whether manic or depressed, is a real person and the audience feels every bit of her struggle. Creating empathy for a character, especially for one as troubled as Diana, is a tremendous task for an actor, but the immensely talented Raper does just that with her stunning performance. Brava.
If you can possibly get to Euless to see this cast in this venue, you will have a memorable evening of theater. Director Burkhart’s Next to Normal is a moving and emotionally satisfying journey that explores tough mental health issues with a cast that interprets the material flawlessly.
