It is not every day that you get to see a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical in the flesh. Recently, I had that immense pleasure with the University of Southern Mississippi's latest production, Next to Normal. The 2009 Tony Winner and 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama debuted to the general public o October 6th, and I can assure you that it is something you do not want to miss out on.
At first glance, the Goodman household is just the stereotypical suburban household. Under the surface, however, it is revealed that they are far from that mold. The matriarch of the family, Diana, struggles with s mix of schizophrenia and depression due to a traumatic death eighteen years prior. Along with the daily struggle of her disease, she has to somehow manage a household with her husband, Dan and daughter Natalie. However, always looming above is the vision of what could have been in Diana's vision of lost son Gabriel
The set was a gorgeous, yet simple one. I loved the simple design, as it allowed audience members to fully immerse themselves into the story without frilly elements. Also, the fact that it was framed allowed viewers to "frame" the story out in their own way.
Overall, I thought that the cast was the perfect fit for their roles. Each one of them accurately personified the characters that they aimed to portray. In times of both singing and when in general dialogue, there was a clear purpose to the movement, a good indicator of the excellent direction in the show.
Another thing that struck me as an audience member was the fact that the music, book, and lyrics seemed to play themselves off of the page. Each song was just as electrifying as the next, paving the way for the next number or act. One song in particular that made a huge impact on me was "Maybe (Next to Normal)." It was in this particular number that I saw Diana as a mother and Natalie as a daughter for the first time. With excellent execution, it allowed the audience to, if for a minute, see Diana without her diseases.
This show is an absolute must-see for all types of people. Not only does it touch on somewhat "touchy" subjects like anxiety and depression, but it also further identifies some of the underlying issues in American households. Life has a way of not being "normal" sometimes, but at least we can get close to it.
Next to Normal runs through October 16 at the Hartwig Theatre on campus. To purchase tickets, please see the Southern Miss box office.