Alice Ripley is Diana – the role which won her the 2009 Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. From what we can initially tell, Dianna would appear to be the average suburban mom and housewife. The show opens with a conversation between her and her son Gabe (Curt Hansen), who appears to be sneaking in after a late night. Pretty normal so far. The first song in the show is “Just Another Day,” which introduces us to the entire family and what seems to be a typical routine. But things turn strange when Diana’s behavior becomes more and more erratic, and by the end of the number she is making sandwiches on the kitchen floor. Her husband Dan (Asa Somers) comforts her as her daughter Natalie (Emma Hunton), who seems eager to escape her home life, leaves for school.
Right from the start, Ripley shines in her breathtaking portrayal as the bi-polar mother who tries to keep her family together while struggling with her mental illness. The role is one that calls for a rainbow of emotions throughout the show, and Ripley gives a performance which hits every note – high and low. The entire cast, who comprises the family as well as Diana’s doctor (Jeremy Kushnier) and daughter’s love interest Henry (Preston Sadleir), each put on a scintillating show. Each of them goes through an intense struggle of emotions in their relationship with Diana, which amounts to one of the best modern dramas of our time.
It is no wonder as to why the music in the show earned it the Tony for Best Original Score and Best Orchestration. Right away, the music and lyrics give you the feeling as though they are old favorites, as they become instant hits. The lyrics by Brian Yorkey are at times clever, and often emotional – as the music by Tom Kitt gets stuck in your head. “Perfect For You” between Natalie and Henry and “I Miss the Mountains” give us insight into what the characters are going through in their lives – the latter being one of most heartfelt performances in the show. A quick transition into “Superboy and the Invisible Girl” featuring tremendous vocals from Emma Hunton, and “I’m Alive” by Curt Hansen quickly get your toes tapping. Those, along with several other numbers, envelop the audience with a rock n’ roll attitude reminiscent of “Rent.”
For more information and to purchase tickets to “Next to Normal”, visit metrotix.com or the Fabulous Fox website.
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