Book and Lyrics by
Brian Yorkey
Music by Tom Kitt
Directed by Darylin
Ramondo
Doorstep Arts in
association with Hayes Theatre Co.
Hayes Theatre, Sydney
January 8 to February
1, 2015
Review by Len Power
14 January 2015
When you’re only a few minutes into the opening song of
‘Next To Normal’, you can already feel that you’re going to see something
extraordinary. Winner of three Tony
Awards on Broadway in 2009 and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010, this
production by Geelong’s Doorstep Arts is really something to experience.
The story concerns the battle of a woman suffering from
bipolar disorder and the impact it has on her family. It doesn’t sound very entertaining, I know,
but you are immediately drawn into the action by interesting and well-written characters
that you care about and there are flashes of unexpected humour along the way as
well. It’s chilling and confronting at
times but it’s never depressing.
The contemporary rock score by Tom Kitt is full of memorable
group and individual songs. The lyrics
by Brian Yorkey are insightful, at times witty and always very real. The 6-piece band plays the score with clarity
and sensitivity. It’s conducted by
Alistair Smith who also plays piano.
This is a show where you have to hear every word and the sound balance
between performers and band was just right.
Natalie O’Donnell gives a stand out performance as Diana,
the woman struggling with mental illness.
It’s a huge role that requires a strong singing voice as well as the
ability to give depth to the highs and lows that this character
experiences. Anthony Harkin, who plays
her husband, Dan, is excellent, showing the pain of coping with the illness of
someone you love deeply and unwittingly adding to her problems.
 |
| Natalie O'Donnell as Diana |
Alex Rathgeber gives clever and subtle performances in the
multiple roles of two of Diana’s treating doctors. You quickly dread the thought of being in the
care of these well-meaning but ineffectual professionals. Brent Trotter’s extraordinary singing voice
is perfect for the role of Diana’s son.
Without giving too much away, it’s this character that is at the core of
Diana’s suffering and Brent Trotter plays this difficult role superbly.
Kiane O’Farrell gives a particularly multi-faceted and heart-rending
performance as Diana’s teenage daughter struggling with her mother’s illness
while striving to establish her own identity.
Clay Roberts gives a very warm and realistic performance as the
boyfriend who sticks by her in spite of exposure to the family’s problems.
 |
| Left to Right: Clay Roberts, Kiane O'Farrell and Natalie O'Donnell |
To represent the state of mind of the leading character, the
performers constantly add, erase and redraw on the set and the floor in
chalk. It’s a startling concept that
works very well. Director, Darylin
Ramondo has done a remarkable job with this show. It was a full house when I
saw it last Wednesday and it deserves to be seen by a wide audience. If you’re in Sydney, make a point of seeing
this one!
Originally broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ showbiz program
with Bill Stephens on Sunday 18 January 2015 from 5pm.