Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MA
through June 1, 2014
by K. J. Rogowski
Musicals by their very nature can present a challenge, in
finding the right singers who can act, or actors who can sing. But, add to
that, a serious central theme such as a family struggling with the impact of a
family member with a long history of bi-polar disorder, and that challenge is
increased.
That said, this presentation of "Next To Normal"
meets and exceeds on both of those challenges. Working with an excellent
script, which relies on very little dialogue but conveys the characters' inner
struggles and situations, and interpersonal conflicts between the family
members through their songs, this cast of six easily draws the audience into
the instability and anxiety of trying to get through a single day and some of
the most mundane daily tasks, when no one knows what might happen next.
Greg Trochlil's set design, comprised of clean institutional
lines and generic panels, with smooth gray steel furniture, and puzzle piece
gray floor reflect and enhance that gray zone that is the Goodman's life, and
the disorder that they must deal with. The strength of this show is the strong
voices of the cast, both in their ability to deliver on the music and to create
characters who are real/next door people who tell their story, and make us care
about what happens.