Berkshire on Stage

Next to Normal is one of only a handful of musicals ever to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama, but despite this honor, I had not seen it when I went to Steamer No. 10’s production, which runs through January 18th. Steamer No. 10’s production of this Pulitzer-winning and Pulitzer-worthy rock musical certainly opened my eyes. It also filled them with tears, as this is not an emotionally light or feel-good musical. It is, however, wonderfully acted, sung, and staged, and for many it may be delightfully cathartic.

For those unfamiliar as I was, Next to Normal is about the family life of a seemingly-typical suburban family whose matriarch is in the throes of severe bi-polar depression. Her inability to cope takes a heavy toll on her supportive but frustrated husband and damages her relationships with her children. Her give-and-take with multiple doctors will be familiar and frustrating to anyone who has ever battled chronic mental or physical illness. As someone who has battled mental illness in myself and my family, I can say this musical hit very close to home for me on multiple levels. In fact, at times I found it so familiar it was hard to watch; but that doesn’t mean I didn’t love it!

Steamer No. 10 is a small and intimate theater with very limited stage space. This production makes the most of its space with a bare-bones set and a platform upstage. But what makes this show so riveting is the excellent work of the cast who bring the show to life. As the mentally-ill Goodman family matriarch, Diana Goodman brings excellent gravitas to the stage–the kind that mesmerizes the audience as she does something as simple as unpacking a box of her son’s things. Kevin O’Toole plays opposite Parker as the husband who struggles to manage everything else as his wife struggles to manage her health; his frustration comes through in measured doses that the audience can feel acutely. These two leads are joined by an excellent supporting cast. But the shining star of this production is Sam Rigney, whose portrayal of the troubled Goodman daughter is gut-wrenching and evocative, while her vocal performance is perfect.

Most of the cast’s vocal performances are excellent, though the show when I attended was suffering from some unfortunate sound-mixing issues that occasionally caused detriment to what might have otherwise been wonderful moments of the show. I saw the performance on opening night, so I hope that by the second weekend the theater will have had a chance to perfect its sound mixing.

In spite of a few technical kerfuffles, I would highly recommend Steamer No. 10’s production of Next to Normal, with the caveat that it is a heavy and gut wrenching play that should not be seen lightly. Next to Normal takes a very hard look at mental illness and how it affects both the ill person and the people in their lives. If that sounds like something that would appeal to you, then the production at Steamer No. 10 can deliver exactly what you need with unbeatable performances and expert staging.

Steamer No. 10 Theatre presents Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, runs January 9-18 at 500 Western Avenue Albany, NY. Directed by Sean T. Baldwin and Eleah Jayne. Musical direction by James Alexander. Cast: Adrienne Parker as Diana Goodman, Kevin O’Toole as Dan Goodman, Kason Mulderry as Gabe Goodman, Sam Rigney as Natalie Goodman, Jack Barcomb as Henry, and Cameron Richardson as Dr. Fine & Dr. Madden. Pit Musicians: Dan White, Dan Lewis, Rit Carroll, Robert Ackerman, Kindle Young, and Mary Weinheimer. Lighting design by Oona Newman. Sound/projections design by Vinny Pruchnick. Costume design by Wren DiCocco. Hair & Makeup design by Jennie Canale. Properties design by Kimberly Collins. Intimacy Choreography by Sammy Wilson. Rehearsal Stage Manager: Hayley Whittset. Performance Stage Manager: Macayla Roberts

Performance dates are Friday-Sunday. Friday, and Saturday curtains are at 7pm and Sundays are matinees only at 3pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for students and seniors. Runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Contains depictions of mental health struggles, psychosis, and substance abuse. Recommended for ages 13+. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit https://steamer10theatre.org.