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| “Sing a Song of Forgetting” Lauren McCombs (Natalie), Jeremy Moon (Dan), Melissa Shepherd (Diana), from Next to Normal. Photo courtesy of CenterStage. |
Next to Normal
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by John R. Leffert
A review by Kate Barry
Entire contents are copyright ©
2012 Kate Barry. All rights reserved
Tonight, I had the chance to
catch the regional premier of Next to Normal, a Broadway play that was
nominated for numerous Tonys and earned a Pulitzer Prize. This emotional
musical swept through the tiny audience at the CenterStage auditorium and
definitely earned the standing ovation it received at curtain. With a small
cast of superbly chosen actors, a creative set that resembles that from
Broadway and a rainbow of color, this production is filled with an abundance of
power.
The play revolves around Diana,
played by Melissa Shepherd. She is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is forever
grief stricken. Ms. Shepherd is compelling as a seemingly ordinary housewife
who is continually reaching out to the memory of someone who isn’t there.
Scared, depressed and manic, Shepherd absolutely nails down every emotion in
the bipolar spectrum with every note she belts. Some of her best work within
the show is in “Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I,” a send of the
medical profession; a musical soliloquy about regret and longing “I Miss the Mountains”; and Diana’s hopeless “Catch Me I’m Falling.”
Diana is the matriarch in a
family that is slowly crumbling apart. As Diana’s husband, Dan, Jeremy Moon is
desperately trying to be hopeful. Selfless, giving and compassionate, Moon
shines in his duets with Shepherd, “Song of Forgetting,” “How Could I Ever
Forget” and “A Light in the Dark.” The harmony is matched by Dan and Diana’s conflict
as a husband desperately tries to save his wife and family.
Lauren McCombs plays their
daughter, Natalie. Ignored and angry, McCombs added a cynical, bitter and sweet
portrayal of a teenager who just wanted a normal life. Her duet with Shepherd’s
character in the latter part of the play, “Why Stay”, provides a juxtaposition
of Diana’s battle with mental illness and Natalie’s fear of going down that
same road. The song that sticks out in my mind regarding McCombs performance is
“Superboy and the Invisible Girl” in which Natalie’s anger explodes.
And then we come to Gabe, played
with such an energetic liveliness by Robbie Lewis. Without a doubt, his
rendition of “I’m Alive” has been on repeat in my head since I left the
theater. As Gabe, Lewis is a symbol of regretful hope for Dan and Diana.
Without giving too much away about the Gabe character, since his relationship
with Diana is extremely important to the show, it’s safe to say that Lewis’s portrayal is haunting without being too over the top and subtle without being
too discreet.
I was really scared to review
this musical about a family who is suffering with mental illness, grief and
assorted dysfunctions. How does one approach such heavy subject matter with a
critical eye? Can one find flaws with a show of such emotional magnitude?
Artistic Director, John Leffert and his production team have not put together a
ritzy song-and-dance show with a laugh a minute and boy meets girl mentalities.
With Next to Normal, CenterStage has delicately pieced together a
courageous and ambitious performance that will leave an impression.
Next to Normal
JCC CenterStage
September 6-16
Linker Auditorium
3600 Dutchmans Lane
Louisville, KY 40205
502-238-2739
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