Midvale Main Street Theatre’s Next to Normal is the Perfect, Healing Summer Kickoff Utah Needs

By Ashlei Havili Thomas

Midvale Main Street Theatre’s Next to Normal is the perfect blend of dysfunctional suburbia and rock vocals to kickstart your summer of theater.  The almost black box, found space feel of the theater is perfect for this show, allowing the actors to be right in your face for this very raw, intimate musical.  This piece does deal with mental health issues, suicide, and substance abuse, so it can be very emotional and hit close to home for many, but its look at these issues (while not mincing words or sparing any feelings) allows for beauty in the mess.  This is a show not often performed in Utah, so do not miss out on this beautiful opportunity.

Next to Normal follows the story of Diana, a woman suffering from bipolar disorder, and her family.  Diana has been struggling with severe episodes.  Her daughter Natalie and husband Dan bend over backwards to try to help Diana through both her manic and depressive episodes, while trying to keep some semblance of normalcy.  Natalie, an overachieving high school student, meets Henry and they begin dating.  Henry helps balance out Natalie as she acts out more and more to try and get her parents’ attention, trying to help her stay grounded.  As Diana’s mental state deteriorates, her prescribed treatment becomes more and more aggressive, until she loses all sense of who she is. 

Valerie Packer as Diana is striking. The commitment to the character and the effects of her mental illness (and the effects of its treatment) makes it impossible to take your eye off Packer.  Watching her interactions with Parker Rawlins, who plays her deceased son Gabe, is fascinating.  The relationship created between Rawlins and Packer is symbiotic, until it becomes blurred as to if Diana’s choices are her own or fueled by Gabe and her mental illness.  Rawlins is amazing, making the extremely difficult vocals of Gabe seem effortless.  Rawlins does well embodying Diana’s angsty teenage son as well as the demon she must excise from herself.  Rawlins also is the perfect antithesis to Hannah Roskelly’s Natalie.  Roskelly as Natalie has the most obvious arc—going from the anxiously precise and perfectionist daughter to the rebellious, devil-may-care teen and then mellowing out to the strong ingenue we know her character to be.  Ryan Hoskins as stalwart, ever-hopeful Dan fades to the background; usually this is a negative, but it fits the character perfectly.  Hoskins is the personification of “burnout,” and any caregiver will instantly relate to him.  The whole cast is amazing, their voices melding together in chilling harmony.  Their command of the space and commitment to the ensemble make this well-written show phenomenal to watch.

The entire set is in black and white, which works as a perfect backdrop for the fantastic lighting design by Kyle Esposito.  Esposito creates the perfect ambience for each character, as well as help show the character arcs.  Although no specific costume designer was listed, this reviewer was impressed how the use of color and patterns was used to show change in the characters.  Similarly, the change from grayscale to colors at the show’s denouement helps set the tone for the bittersweet ending of the show.  Cassidy Ross, the show’s director, does a remarkable job creating different scenes and dynamics in the show with how she uses the intimate theater space to its fullest capacity with levels, a minimal set and keeping the focus on the actors, their presence and their voices.  Truly, the production team for this show does more with a minimalist mindset than some large companies do with the enormous help of extravagance.

Next to Normal at the Midvale Main Street Theatre is raw, vulnerable and bittersweetly healing.  It deals with the topics of mental illness, drug abuse, suicide, and death and has vulgarity throughout.  This show is not suited to younger audiences, though a mature teenager may enjoy the production.  Parental discretion is advised.  Do not let these warnings deter you from this show; it is close to many hearts and especially to this community, where our own suicide rates—especially in teens—are so high.  This show is the perfect way to escape the heat and start your summer.

Midvale Main Street Theatre presents Next to Normal, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, music by Tom Kitt.
June 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, 2021 7:30 PM
Tickets: $15-18
Contact: 801-208-0435
Midvale Main Street Theatre Facebook Page
Next to Normal Facebook Event