Making sandwiches on the floor is not a usual occurrence for most families, but for the Goodman family, this and other similar wacky-seeming incidents are all too normal. While funny at first, this is the first of Diana Goodman’s mental breakdowns that the audience sees, instantly setting the stage for a heart-breaking performance that tackles mental health and the all-too-familiar effects that it carries.
With pop rock songs and immersive guitar, stage musical “Next to Normal” is able to transport its viewers into the traumatic history of the Goodman family and the effects of those events, while communicating the harsh realities of living and dealing with mental health issues, resonating with many audience members.
Since its Broadway debut in 2009, “Next to Normal,” written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, has redefined the way that mental health and grief are portrayed in musicals. On May 9, PBS aired a professional recording of the 2024 production in London’s West End as a part of their “Great Performances” series. This production is available to stream for free until June 30.
“Next to Normal” follows Diana (Caissie Levy), a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and delusions, along with her husband Dan (Jamie Parker), her two kids, Natalie (Eleanor Worthington Cox) and Gabe (Jack Wolfe) and the impact of her delusional episodes and severe mental health issues on the family. The show not only tackles themes of grief, but also shows the raw and harsh realities of how bipolar disorder affects someone and those around them.
In the song “I Miss the Mountains,” Diana expresses her personal experience with bipolar disorder and the ways it affects her every day. Diana communicates that while on her medication, she feels like her life is stale and not worth living. By saying that she “misses the mountains,” she is saying that she misses the highs and lows of her life before her medication.
The song “You Don’t Know” is Diana’s attempt at explaining to her husband how he cannot understand how much she constantly hurts. Diana asks Dan, “Do you wake up in the morning and need help to lift your head? Do you read obituaries and feel jealous of the dead?”
The set features a kitchen, where characters join together to sing heartfelt, emotionally-disturbing ballads such as “He’s Not Here,” as well as hopeful, high- energy numbers like “It’s Gonna Be Good,” sung by the entire cast. Stairs lead up to glass boxes that enclose the show’s band members. Gabe, Diana and Natalie, are sent to these glass boxes to show their isolation and loneliness. By presenting a set with areas for cast to come together, along with spaces for them to be separated and alone, “Next to Normal” is able to showcase the contrast in mood every moment for someone with bipolar disorder.
“Next to Normal” is a fast-paced musical that presents to viewers jarring realities of bipolar that affect everyday people, and those around them, bringing comfort in not being alone to those who relate, and presenting a new reality to those who do not.
