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| From left: Bruce Haasl, Lars Foster-Jorgensen, Kurt Raimer, Jana Tyrrell and Gordon Shaughnessy. Photo by Dennis Kurtz |
I was not prepared for Next to Normal. Perhaps I should
have been. I had read about it and even listened to the Broadway cast album
before going to the theater. But nothing can prepare you for something like
this. This is an astounding play, from the opening numbers—the prelude in which
we find the Goodman family unable to sleep in the pre-dawn hours of night and
“Just Another Day,” a song that establishes Diana (Jana Tyrrell, wife of
director Brian Tyrrell) and her family as anything but a normal family—to the
final uplifting song that offers hope but no easy resolutions.
Diana has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her
husband, Dan (Kurt Raimer) is, in Diana’s words, boring; but he steadfastly loves
and supports her through hell. Their teenage daughter, Natalie (Erin Snodgrass)
is a smart over-achiever on the verge of entering a world of romance, drugs, and
a rocking club scene. The Goodman’s son, Gabe (Lars Foster-Jorgensen) is absent
in ways that only gradually come clear. Also making an appearance in their
fucked-up lives are Bruce Haasl as Diana’s doctor and Gordon Shaughnessy as
Natalie’s boyfriend, Henry, a sweet and devoted stoner kid.
I used the term “fucked-up” because that is the word used
in the play—often and most emphatically by Natalie.
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| Kurt Raimer and Jana Tyrrell. Photo by Dennis Kurts. |
Interestingly, the director wrote in the program a couple
of the things I thought about: first that Next to Normal has a lot in common
with Rent—both are hard-hitting, uncompromising looks at contemporary life done
rock-opera style—and second that it is nothing like what many theatergoers
think of when hearing the word “musical.” What Tyrrell wrote was: “…its gritty
realism more closely resembles the works of playwrights like Miller, O’Neill
and Williams than it does Sondheim, Schwartz or Rogers and Hammerstein. It’s
not a musical with huge production numbers of spell-binding spectacle but
rather heartfelt, truthful, face-to-face interactions that are startlingly
moving.”
In that opening number the family appears typical and likeable
as they begin “Just Another Day,” but as the song progresses Diana becomes
increasingly manic and bizarre, and her husband and children are horrified. Dan
and Diana both begin to wonder if it’s just her or if maybe there’s something else
wrong, as expressed in the song “Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I.”
From there the drama becomes more and more intense as Diana’s mind deteriorates,
in large part thanks to the ineffectiveness of her doctor.
The acting throughout is excellent. If it were a movie
both Tyrrells would surely be up for an Academy Award. Jana Tyrrell is so
convincingly manic/depressive that you might think she has spent time in a
mental hospital studying for the part. Her singing is quite strong—mellow and
full bodied.
Haasl does his usual fine job. As the doctor he seems
arrogant and self-contained, and on the hard rocking song “Doctor Rock” he
switches gears with lightning speed to depict the mad doctor Diana fears he
might be on her first session with him. He electrifies the stage on this song.
In addition to being a fine actor and singer Haasl is the
Capital Playhouse resident set designer, and he outdid himself on this one with
a set that is stark and stunning with a house-shaped wall of white slats
against black curtains and an industrial riser. Everything is in black and
white except for turquoise kitchen chairs and painted riser edges that match
the chairs. The stark white on everything else allows for outstanding lighting
effects from light designer Matt Lawrence and light board operator Kris Mann.
Next to Normal was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2009 and
won three: Best Original Score, Best Orchestration and Best Performance by a
Leading Actress in a Musical. It also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It
is the finest show I’ve seen at Capital Playhouse since Rent in 2010. Bravo,
CPH! Folks, don’t miss this one!
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
and 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 17
Where: Capital Playhouse: 612
Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Tickets: $28-39
More information: 360-943-2744, capitalplayhouse.com
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