There are not many Broadway plays that attend to the subject of mental illness. Many that have brought the issue to the theatre usually ended up not being so successful. But that is certainly not the case with Next to Normal, a superb play that will make you laugh in utter joy and cry over the course of the show. It is a fantastic show with amazing emotional contents; prepare for an emotional roller coaster if you are planning on watching this show, and I mean that in a good way.
The story of Next to Normal is about a mother that is seriously depressed. Her mental illness quickly affects her relationship with the rest of the family, creating conflicts and interesting twists along the way. There are times when you will laugh and enjoy the show – almost feeling good too – and there are also times when you are dragged deeper into the emotional aspects of the story, so deep that you feel like you are part of the simple sub-urban family portrayed in the story.
It is director Michael Greif who did a fantastic job with the script. He arranged the plot so perfectly with his gifted mind, enabling the audiences to take part in the show emotionally. It is not surprising at all to see over half of the audiences watching the show leaving the theatre still crying; that’s how fantastic the show is. Visit the Booth Theatre if you want to see Next to Normal and enjoy the show.