Not your typical summer fare for musical theatre, Next to Normal is a bit of a stretch for JM Drama, as well as the actors involved. Of course, mental health issues – bipolar disorder, specifically – aren’t your run-of-the-mill topics for a musical, but that’s very much the case with the award-winning play.
![Trevor Middleton (Dan), Kez Vicario-Robinson (Natalie), Brett Roberts (Henry), Elise Brisson (Diana) and Nolan Henshall (Gabe) rehearse a scene from Next to Normal, now playing at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener. [Leelind Keary]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/post_arts_nexttonormal1.jpg)
“It’s something that we need to be more aware of,” said Jessica Croezen (co-director with Moira King) of the issue of mental health. “This musical will open up more doors for people to talk about it.”
Next to Normal is the story of Diana Goodman and her family. Traumatized by the death of her infant son from an undiagnosed intestinal obstruction, Diana has lived with bipolar depressive disorder and delusional episodes for the past 17 years. The illness has affected everyone in her life, and has nearly torn her family apart on several occasions.
Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Next to Normal was also chosen as “one of the year’s ten best shows” by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
With book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, Next to Normal explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness.
Recognizing the subject matter isn’t typical of summer theatre, JM Drama’s Cheryl Ewing notes the issue is very much topical right now.
“It was a bit of a challenge for the organization,” she said of the discussions before going ahead with the play, “but it’s turned out to be a really good time for this show.”
The cast has been working with health care professionals to gain a deeper understanding of how mental illness manifests, and its impact on families. Their insight is brought to the stage within a script that is full of beauty as well as pathos. Next to Normal addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life.
A doctor specializing in mental illness addressed the cast a couple of times to talk about the issues and how they play out in those affected and those around them. The play really touches on the complete picture of dealing with bipolar disorder, Croezen said.
The experience has really resonated with the cast and crew, she adds.
“Everyone in the show has said they can relate to their character in some way in their own life,” said Croezen.
“It’s such an emotional show. We had a lot of emotions popping up in the cast.”
The experience has been a chance for the actors to stretch their talents, another reason the musical was chosen as this summer’s show, Ewing explained, adding it was ideal for the group’s mandate and small, intimate venue that is the Registry Theatre.
The musical allows performers to explore dramatic material within the frame of a pop/rock musical showcasing their vocal talents. The cast includes Elise Brisson as Diana, Trevor Middleton as Dan, Nolan Henshall as son Gabe, Kez Vicario-Robinson as daughter Natalie, Brett Roberts as her boyfriend Henry and Sebastian Mateus playing the doctor.
Next to Normal having appealed to audiences and critics alike since its first staging, JM Drama is about to find out how local audiences will respond.
“It is a thought-provoking piece, but it’s also a very beautiful piece. If you like live theatre, you’re going to love this,” said Ewing, predicting this show will appeal to different constituencies beyond the group’s usual theatrical base.
“I know we’re going to be drawing some new audience.”
Though very much based in reality, the character-driven musical isn’t the downer its subject matter might suggest.
“You don’t go away feeling down or negative,” said Ewing.
“It leaves you with a sense of hope,” said Croezen.
The JM Drama production of Next to Normal runs August 6-8 and August 13-15, all shows at 7:30 p.m. at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener. Tickets are $18-22 ($20-$25 at the door), available by calling 519-578-1570 or online through www.registrytheatre.com.
