Aftershocks -- a review of Atlantis Productions' "Next to Normal"

Which is worse: the symptom or the cure?

A few months after the Broadway show officially opened, I was curious about all the buzz it made. So, I downloaded the cast recording, played every single track and my life has been changed forever. Next to Normal is a musical you can put on after a gloomy day and weirdly, it makes me happy. After a series of depressing songs in the track, it makes you happy that you don’t have to be happy at all. In Diana Goodman’s words, most people who think they’re happy just haven’t thought about it enough; most people who think they’re happy are actually just stupid. But where can you find happiness? How do you know if you’re happy?

Just a quick history about N2N. The Broadway musical Next to Normal was created and written within a decade. It started as a 10-minute musical project between Tom Kitt and Bryan Yorkey for a workshop they were in. The people responded wonderfully and wondered what happened to the heroine which led the two composers to create a full-scale musical. It had drastic changes before the creative team decided to bring it to Broadway. I have off-broadway bootlegs of the show and there are hella lot of cut songs. One song is “Costco” which got its title from a famous retailing store in the US. The song is about one episode of Diana’s disorder wherein she experienced manic buying. It was cut because the song doesn’t blend well with the theme of the show. A fan asked Alice Ripley (Original Diana) on Facebook if she could sing the song again but responded “I’d rather be dragged on a cactus naked.” Other songs were just replaced and some were completely cut like the title song “Feeling Electric” which was the show’s title off-broadway. The show received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama last year which is a great honor since “Rent” was given the same award in 1996. Okay, too much information—you can learn more about N2N watching interviews of Tom Kitt, Bryan Yorkey or Alice Ripley on YouTube.

I was moved by its Broadway production, and was blown away by Atlantis Productions’ version of the show. It was a different N2N in Manila. It’s more solemn, it’s more emotional, and it has a deeper depth. They retold the story with meticulous details. Bobby Garcia is a genius; I must say. His adaptation is praiseworthy and his character choices will leave you scars in the heart. I can forget about the Broadway production after watching his. Also, the casting is fantastic that Berney Telsey can beg.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

 Starring as the show’s heroine Diana Goodman is Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo a.k.a. “My Menchu”. Her notes are incredible that I can never hear it from Alice Ripley or the vibrato-abusing Marin Mazzie. Miss Menchu made a perfect Diana. Less silly, more passion. She is a Broadway-class talent that will leave you on your knees. Only a few people can give me goosebumps; actually two: Lea Salonga (in Cats, during the 11 o’clock number “Memory”) and the other, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. I cannot believe her management of singing while crying but still, the notes are perfect and words are crystalline clear. That is incredible. Plus, crying numerous times in the whole show? Who else can do that? Hands down, hands down.

Jett Pangan as Dan is agreeably effective and mind-blowing. He plays the hopeful husband passionately with rockstar notes as dessert. He made everyone cry during “I am the One (Reprise)”; he plays Dan Goodman with fake confidence and hiding the obvious pain.

Bea Garcia, the Golden Girl of Philippine Theater, plays Natalie Goodman. While she lacks the angst that Natalie uses to plaster her sorrows, Bea Garcia sheds tears to emphasize the obvious pain she’s in. She breaks down in almost every 15 minutes of the show—real tears that’ll make you shed a river as well. What a Natalie!

Jett Pangan and Felix Rivera

Felix Rivera as the haunting Gabe Goodman; he’s known as the Golden Boy of theater. I’ve seen Felix Rivera in his every show with Atlantis. And I’m not tired of watching and hearing his perfect vibrato. He has played completely different characters in every musical and Gabe Goodman is the most challenging I must say. Felix Rivera’s Gabe is my new Freddy Krueger (or Jason Voorhees); I’m scared to imagine Gabe prancing around me with lighting from beneath. He didn’t bring a much different Gabe to the table; except he delivered his lines funnier and youthful.

Markki Stroem as the stoner, Henry—is pretentious, in every way. I am not a fan of his acting or the way he copies Adam Chanler-Berat (original Henry) with the little laugh after every line. He lacks chemistry with Bea Garcia—and Bea does all the job to make it happen. Even though, he has a wonderful voice for a starter. And no pressure; after all, it’s his stage debut.

Markki Stroem and Bea Garcia

Last of the cast, is Jake Macapagal as Dr. Fine/Madden. He did an original, incredible job with the role; although, with the rockstar appeal, I don’t know.

The set designed by Lex Marcos is very elaborate and symbolic. It might only be two-story unlike Broadway’s three-story, but it still worked. The moment the cracks lit up during “Wish I were here” was phenomenal. Very stylish. The lighting was also brilliantly done. You should watch in the loge or balcony area to see how pretty the lighting is. The costumes were excellent but missed the Broadway production’s symbolic point of its colors. Also, Gabe’s shirts are too loose and lengthy.

Also, buy Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo’s album, “Light” which comes with the souvenir programme. The selections are fantastic. And contains songs from Ms. Menchu’s past shows.

Atlantis Productions’ Next to Normal is brilliant and ground-breaking; it’s a show you don’t want to miss. Truly “A feel-everything musical” and a great triumph in musical theater. It will be your loss missing the show.

Yay, hooray.

Next to Normal runs until March 27 in the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.