NEXT TO NORMAL is a 2008 rock musical, with a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and a score by Tom Kitt. The story follows Diana Goodman (Cassie Levy) as she deals with her mental illness and the impact it has on not only her, but everyone else in her life. The musical originally appeared off-Broadway before transferring to the Booth Theatre in 2009. The show had an incredibly successful run, winning three Tony Awards, as well as a Pulitzer Prize. In 2023, the show was revived on the West End, with American actress Cassie Levy taking on the starring role of Diana. During the run, the show was professionally filmed for a “pro-shot” to be aired on PBS’s Great Performances series. It is one of the most touching pieces of art and modern theater we have, and it breathes so much power into the reason we have theater AND public services such as PBS.
Even if you’re not a musical theater fan, I beg you not to deprive yourself of this experience and make time to indulge in this masterpiece.
Theater has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. The first musical that truly rocked my world was HAIRSPRAY LIVE! in 2016 on NBC. I remember coming home after school on a December afternoon and sitting in front of the TV in complete awe, and the rest is history. To this day, I think the live musicals produced by companies like NBC and Fox are so incredible and necessary to making art more accessible, the same thing PBS did with their Great Performances collection.
Theater is not accessible to everyone. Speaking from the experience of a huge theater fan who has never gone to New York, these big Broadway experiences are not attainable for every child to experience. I grew up on Bootlegs, which have an incredibly controversial reputation. However, when there are no other outlets to watch these performances, you will resort to shaky videos filmed from the last row with poor audio quality to get a small taste of the magic. That is why I think pro-shots are so integral to keeping theater and art alive. I commend PBS for filming one of my all-time favorite musicals and introducing it to a new audience for FREE. Even with numerous pro-shots, such as COME FROM AWAY, for example, it is behind an Apple TV+ paywall. I grew up with PBS and SESAME STREET and have written college personal essays about the impact it has had on me, the empathy I learned as a child, and how it has overall made me a kinder person. I am so glad to know they are still supporting me the same way they did back then.
Now that I’ve talked about the backstory on why art like this is so important, I can get into the musical itself. NEXT TO NORMAL is a musical so powerful, raw, and touching that I would recommend it to anyone I encounter without even knowing their previous thoughts on theater. The musical explores dark themes of mental health, grief, love, connection, and self-discovery. The story interweaves so many elements of the human psyche that it hits you directly in your heart. It features plot twists that are not typically utilized in theater, and while it evokes sadness and emptiness, it ultimately leaves you with an overall sense of hope and optimism when you walk out.
The acting is beyond superb. My personal favorite is from Jack Wolfe, who plays Diana’s son, Gabe. Wolfe’s performance entered my life one day and has not left my mind since. It truly takes up every thought I have. He transforms into an absolute creature of talent on that stage and conveys anger and fear and hurt and love, all with the glare of his eyes. Eleanor Worthington Cox does not get enough praise as their daughter, Natalie and I will be the first to admit that even in this review, Natalie was cast to the side to talk about how spectacular Gabe is. Eleanor brings a unique take to any role in the show. These characters have been portrayed so many times, and we have a preconceived notion of who they are based on previous performances, but Cox takes all of that and turns it on its head. She transforms Natalie into something so true and devastating, almost extending the audience into a branch of her experience to feel just how she does.
Jamie Parker is brilliant as Dan Goodman and is truly a pillar of support in this dysfunctional group, even though he is broken himself. Parker does not have the most flawless accent you will hear, but his performance is so great that it makes up for it. I have left Cassie Levy as Diana for last because I genuinely do not know how to encompass my thoughts on her. I have zero clue how she makes everything seem so effortless. She IS Diana. She gives every inch of herself into the performance emotionally, physically, mentally, and DEFINITELY vocally. She drives the vehicle with no flaws. Haunting and so touching.
The set, costumes, and props are all simple but serve their purpose, and when they need to stand out, they do so 100%. I never thought a toy car would affect me as much as it does in this. I think the set is perfect for the show — a modern house with stairs that lead to an upstairs level, where the accompaniment is housed. The bottom level switches from a kitchen, dining room, doctor’s office, living room, and hospital within seconds. The minimalist vibe, in my opinion, really works and does not detract from the actors; instead, it serves as a blank canvas for them to showcase their vivid performances.
NEXT TO NORMAL deals with pretty serious and triggering topics, so I recommend doing your research before you watch. However, this musical will change your life. The original cast is excellent, but this fresh take, along with the new West End cast album they recently released, is art in its truest form. It is innovative, real, and pulls at every heartstring.
NEXT TO NORMAL is currently streaming for free on the PBS app or website.
