ABNORMALLY REAL
CV Rep opened it’s 24/25 season this past week with a triumphant production of the rock musical Next to Normal, ably directed by CV Rep’s Artistic Director Adam Karsten. Groundbreaking in its exploration of mental illness, grief, and the impact these issues have on a family, the show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010 — a rare honor for musicals. One of the most celebrated aspects of Next to Normal is its emotional depth and honesty.
The play depicts a suburban American family which, from the outside, appears to be a model of success and harmony. Inside, each member is struggling with either grief, guilt, depression, mental health, drug abuse, and/or medical ethics. While the mother, Diana Goodman, struggles with severe bipolar disorder and the exacerbating side effects of various treatments, her husband, Dan and daughter Natalie do their best to manage her care while battling their own emotions and fears. Ultimately, they begin to see each other for who they truly are, with compassion and clarity, and find a sense of “normal” in which to move forward in their lives. Each character’s experiences are brilliantly expressed through Tom Kitt’s electrifying music and Brian Yorkey’s sensitive book and lyrics. Once experienced, Next to Normal, a powerful theatrical tour de force, is impossible to forget.
The Company
Bligh Voth’s performance as Diana, arguably one of the most challenging roles in contemporary musical theater, is gut-wrenching. Voth captures her mental health struggles — the oscillation between love, anger, confusion, and despair — while still conveying her love for her family. Voth brings the requisite grit and vulnerability to her performance showcased in songs like “I Miss the Mountains” and “You Don’t Know.” Eric Kunze as the husband Dan often provides the emotional anchor, trying to keep his family stable amid the chaos. Kunze shows us a man who is both suffering in silence and resilient in songs like “I Am the One” and “A Light in the Dark,” where his loyalty and exhaustion intersect, capturing Dan’s devotion even as he breaks under the weight of Diana’s mental illness.
Maya Jade Frank does a beautiful job embodying the family’s complexities as the daughter Natalie, who struggles to find her worth and voice. She displays this in “Superboy and the Invisible Girl,” in which she expresses resentment, frustration, and a yearning for normalcy. Frank creates a layered performance as she journeys toward self-acceptance and her attempts to escape her family’s turmoil. Tyler Donovan McCall gives a haunting, emotional performance as the son, Gabe. His charm and charisma in “I’m Alive” can be chilling as he represents a part of Diana’s psyche that refuses to be ignored. McCall brings the necessary physical agility and powerful stage presence to his performance.
Eric Kunze, Bligh Voth and Tyler Donovan McCall
Patrick Wallace commands the stage in his authoritative and empathic portrayal of both Pharmaceutical Psychiatrists Dr. Maden and Dr. Fine. As Dr. Madden, he is calm, as he guides Diana through her mental health journey, often offering a grounding influence amid the family’s chaos. He also brings requisite humor while subtly reinforcing the medical realities of mental illness. Wallace displays both vocal and acting prowess as he delivers these critical roles that critique a medical system focused on quick fixes and symptom control rather than deeper healing or understanding.
As Natalie’s boyfriend Henry, Henry Carter offers a real sweetness and warmth amidst the family turmoil, embodying Henry’s compassion, patience and genuine care for Natalie as she wrestles with the family chaos. His steady support serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of genuine love’s capacity to heal and endure.
Music Director Stephen Hulsey elicits spectacular vocal performances and guides a powerful live orchestra. Each performance is quite stunning. The chemistry and tension between actors create the visceral, intimate atmosphere essential to the show’s impact, drawing us into the family’s world. The cast’s dedication to verisimilitude makes this an unforgettable performance and quite possibly the best we will see all season.
The current state of our nation following last week’s election has resulted in exponential increases in calls to crisis hotlines, underscoring the themes of mental health explored in a show both challenging and pertinent, and ultimately beautiful and touching.
photos by David A. Lee
Next to Normal
Coachella Valley Repertory
68510 East Palm Canyon Dr in Cathedral City
Wed & Sat at 2 & 7; Thurs & Fri at 7; Sun at 2
ends on to November 24, 2024
for tickets ($90), call 760.296.2966 x115 or visit CV Rep