Coachella Valley Repertory, or CVRep as it is fondly known here in the desert, has splashed open its season with Next to Normal. With books and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and music by Tom Kitt, the musical features a six-member cast—and it creates quite an impact.
For those not familiar with the names, Tom Kitt is a winner of two Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award and, for this musical, a Pulitzer Prize. Impressive? I should say! And wait until you hear the show’s rock music. Brian Yorkey shared that aforementioned 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and also a Tony and the Outer Critics Circle Award for this musical.
Directed by Adam Karsten, the executive artistic director of CVRep, the show is about mental health. “EXCUSE ME?” you might say. “Why would I want to see THAT?”
The story is one with which we can all identify. It starts with the introduction of a seemingly typical family, with Mom, Dad, a daughter and a son. Everything looks normal and fine … until the complications start to be revealed. We begin to see some inner pain and suspect that all is not well. It takes a while for us to dig out what the problem is, and who is going to have it.
The part of Henry is played by a real Henry, Henry Crater. He’s the awkward teenager who has a crush on the daughter in the family, Natalie. He is perfectly cast, with an excellent singing voice and a sweet, uncomplicated personality. Natalie is performed by Maya Jade Frank, who possesses an amazing head of gorgeous chestnut-red hair and a powerful singing voice that she often blends beautifully with other voices.
The father of the family, Dan, is played by Eric Kunze. He commands the stage beautifully and goes through a lot of convincing changes in this play.
Tyler Donovan McCall plays the son of the family, and he uses his height and body style to great advantage in this role—he is astonishingly physical in his interpretation of this part. Although he looks so young, he is experienced in his craft, and even has played this role at other theaters.
Bligh Voth plays Diana, the young mother of the family. In this most complex role, she shines, showing her variety of experience. This show gives her a chance to show off her impressive vocal range and power.
Patrick Wallace smoothly plays Dr. Madden, the pharmacist and doctor who loves prescribing pills and even more serious treatments for patients. He makes a surprising turn as “Dr. Rock” as well.
I hesitate to mention much about the plot, as it’s hard to do without spoilers. We get to know the people in the cast through their songs, with titles like “Who’s Crazy,” “Perfect for You,” “I’m Alive,” “Music Box,” “Aftershocks,” “Song of Forgetting,” “How Could I Ever Forget,” “Why Stay?” and the finale, “Let There Be Light.” Music is woven skillfully through the play, sometimes returning to make a point later on in the script.
The author makes us wait before revealing the problem and the characters’ reactions to it. When we finally learned what it was at the production I attended, the sadness and empathy in the theater were widespread. (I was leaving the theater, I overheard two of the volunteers talking about it, and one confided, “I’ve been watching the rehearsals all week and even they made me cry!”) I have never seen an audience so moved.
When you see the names Stephen Hulsey as the musical director, and Jimmy Cuomo as the always-fabulous set designer, and you know you are in for a theatrical treat. A special shout-out goes to to costumer Zoe Trautmann, who dresses the jeans-clad actors with brilliant uses of color.
This is a show that will open your eyes to how people react to the horrible things that can happen, so unexpected, in life. We have all seen good people endure ghastly problems, with everyone in their family affected as a direct result.
Please experience this unforgettable show, because the acting is magnificent and very affecting. The direction is excellent; the actors speak to each other intently in profile until the second act, when three of them suddenly break out and face the audience so that we see them full-face for the first time. The finale is performed with all six actors facing the audience … wow.
CVRep’s production of Next to Normal is a show that’s full of surprises—and that, nowadays, is almost impossible to find.
Next to Normal will be performed at 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; and 2 p.m., Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, through Sunday, Nov. 24, at the CVRep Playhouse, 68510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Cathedral City. Tickets are $90-$94 (opening night, Thursday, Nov. 7 tickets are $120). For tickets or more information, call 760-296-2966, or visit www.cvrep.org.
