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jemppu's review against another edition
4.0
As a non-connoisseur of musicals, it's nice to have found out about the existence of this (particularly themed) production through a GR recommendation.
And a delight to encounter a familiar foreword to it.
Read along the soundtrack.
And a delight to encounter a familiar foreword to it.
Read along the soundtrack.
booksandbigideas's review against another edition
5.0
GUYS. Guys. If you, like me, were ever worried about this show from hearing some of the songs out of context or because Yorkey wrote the 13 Reasons Why TV show...fear not. I can say with both my own experience and all the research I've done as a dramaturg for an upcoming student performance of this show (!!!) that it gets everything right (although the specific diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorders has changed since it was written). Also, it's so so good from both a literary and viewer perspective. I cried and we haven't even rehearsed yet so I'm going to be a mess. So many parts of this mean so much to me personally, though I'm not going to elaborate (at least right now). Oh, and the music's pretty awesome, too. (My voice range is most similar to Gabe's, so I can rock "I'm Alive.")
Can Brian Yorkey go back to writing musicals now?? (I also love If/Then.) And please stop taking "My Psychopharmacologist and I" and "I Miss the Mountains" out of context, as great as they are musically.
Can Brian Yorkey go back to writing musicals now?? (I also love If/Then.) And please stop taking "My Psychopharmacologist and I" and "I Miss the Mountains" out of context, as great as they are musically.
emmapaigereads's review against another edition
5.0
If there was an option to give more than five stars, this is the one thing that would need it.
I am a lover of all mediums of storytelling: film, television, books, musicals, plays, etc., and it is no exaggeration when I say that Next to Normal is my favorite fictional work of all time.
While reading the libretto does not give you the complete picture of this show's beauty and importance, it is a great way to dig textually deeper into the show and read into lines that might not seem as significant when listening to the cast recording or watching the show.
I discovered Next to Normal about a year ago, and I still find new ways to interpret the characters and constantly feel the emotional impact in new ways. It's a compelling and courageous story that never gets old.
I am a lover of all mediums of storytelling: film, television, books, musicals, plays, etc., and it is no exaggeration when I say that Next to Normal is my favorite fictional work of all time.
While reading the libretto does not give you the complete picture of this show's beauty and importance, it is a great way to dig textually deeper into the show and read into lines that might not seem as significant when listening to the cast recording or watching the show.
I discovered Next to Normal about a year ago, and I still find new ways to interpret the characters and constantly feel the emotional impact in new ways. It's a compelling and courageous story that never gets old.
emiliek's review
5.0
So glad to read this again! The musical follows the intricacies of a family's home life in unexpected and refreshingly new ways. It deals with mental illness, drug abuse, and loss beautifully, realistically, and in an enlightening manner. The score is gorgeous and lyrics superbly detailed. It's one of my favorite musicals!
hazmat's review
Offered new insights and off this show is a lighting design dream.
bohowallflower's review
5.0
This will always be my favourite play/musical of all time. The characters are wonderful, the plot is moving, I could immerse myself in the Goodman's world again and again.
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