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| Sean Okuniewicz (left) as Gabe, Caitlin McGinty as Diana, Joe Hudelson as Dan (Mark Kitaoka and Tracy Martin photo) |
That point
is stressed in “Next to Normal,” the musical being given an outstanding
production by Broadway By the Bay.
Diana Goodman
(Caitlin McGinty) has been suffering from apparent bipolar disorder for some 16
years. Her loving, supportive husband, Dan (Joe Hudelson), has stayed by her
side throughout her ordeal, taking her to doctor after doctor in hopes of
helping her.
Because so
much attention goes to Diana, their teenage daughter, Natalie (Mackenzie Cala),
tries to compensate by being perfect in everything she does, especially her
studies and classical piano.
Consequently,
she’s highly stressed until a stoner classmate, Henry (Joey Pisacane), befriends
her and tries to get her to relax with pot. Instead she goes off the deep end
by raiding Mom’s medicine cabinet and downing anything she can find. Henry
remains supportive, just as Dan has been with Diana.
The fourth
family member, teenager Gabe (Sean Okuniewicz), wields much influence on Diana
and might have been the catalyst for her illness.
Completing
the cast is Brendan Quirk. He’s first seen as Dr. Fine, who plies Diana with
pills that make her feel worse. Next he’s Dr. Madden, a celebrity psychiatrist
who tries talk therapy, but when that doesn’t help, he resorts to electroconvulsive
therapy, which helps somewhat.
Astutely directed
by Jasen Jeffrey, the acting is first-rate, especially by McGinty, who embodies
Diana’s unpredictability and vulnerability.
The
performers also sing well individually and together. The one exception is
Pisacane as Henry. Some of his songs might be out of his range, or he might
have been suffering a vocal indisposition in the reviewed Sunday matinee.
BBB
artistic director Alicia Jeffrey (she and Jasen Jeffrey are married) is musical
director and conducts five other musicians from the piano.
Design
elements are noteworthy, especially Kelly James Tighe’s two-story set with
modular display niches, and Michael Oesch’s dramatic lighting. Costumes are by
Leandra Watson with sound by Jon Hayward.
The show
features tuneful music by Tom Kitt with the book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.
The book is so strong that it could stand alone as a play, as attested by the
show’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as three 2009 Tony Awards.
Although
mental illness is off the beaten path for a musical, “Next to Normal” takes a
sensitive, respectful approach and -- after all the family’s difficulties -- ends with a ray of hope.
Running
about two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission, it will continue through
Aug. 27 at the Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St., Redwood City. For tickets and
information, call (650) FOX-7770 or visit www.broadwaybythebay.org.
