Next to Normal is a musical production written by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics). Bare Productions brings this show to the Fringe for its Scottish premiere, directed by Dominic Whitefield-Holbrook, and it is being performed in Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines.
It follows the Goodman family as they fight to live a normal life, with the mother, Diana (Brikaih Floré), struggling with bipolar disorder. She is supported by her husband Dan (usually played by Greg McCafferty-Thomson, but the night I attended I saw his understudy, Gregor Robertson), son Gabe (Zac McGuire) and doctors (Will Jackson). At the same time, as long-kept secrets start to surface within the family, Diana and Dan’s daughter Natalie (Kelsey Mackenzie) is facing her own struggles, and finding comfort in her fledgling relationship with Henry (Ollie Hall).
Floré gives an outstanding performance as Diana in Next to Normal, and is magnetic on stage to the point that it is difficult to look away from them. The way that they command the stage and stare off into the audience at times is equal parts mesmerising and unnerving. Floré’s rendition of ‘I Miss the Mountains’ is where they truly shine and are able to show off their incredible voice. Similarly, Robertson’s performance of ‘He’s Not Here’ is heartbreaking, and Robertson’s voice is so rich and filled with emotion that it’s hard to remember that it’s just a performance.
Mackenzie is perfectly cast as Natalie, managing to balance the line between the character being too mature for her age and the sweet scenes with Hall, where they share fantastic chemistry as the characters experience first love.
Two of the most powerful duets in the show are, first, Floré and Mackenzie’s performance of ‘Maybe (Next to Normal)’, which sees the mother and daughter reaching a long-fought-for peace, and their voices meld together in a way that sent shivers up my spine. This is then matched by Robertson and McGuire’s duet ‘I Am the One (Reprise)’, which moved me to tears with the anger, anguish and grief in their voices.
Bare’s production of Next to Normal is divinely and devastatingly beautiful, and will have the whole audience reaching for tissues to dry their eyes before giving the fantastically talented cast their well-earned standing ovation. It is a truly unmissable performance, and the cast, director and band certainly do justice to the original production.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
