Next to Normal review Hamilton: Bold Theatre’s emotional Pulitzer musical

Next To Normal Hamilton: Zac Clarke as Dr Madden and Courteney Mayall as Diana. Photo / Mark Hamilton

What: Next to Normal, written by Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt

Presented by: BOLD Theatre

When: until May 9

Where: The Meteor, Hamilton

Tickets: online via themeteor.co.nz/event/next-to-normal/

Reviewed by Cate Prestidge

It’s not often I reach for the tissues at the theatre, but BOLD’s production of Next to Normal was an emotional ride that affected many in the audience.

First performed in 2008, the musical explores the impact of mental health and won a Pulitzer Prize for drama – rare for musicals.

It’s a deeply personal story that more than meets BOLD’s aim to “open people’s eyes to new experiences and connect with audiences on an emotional level”.

It centres on Diana (Julia Booth), a woman struggling with worsening mental health, husband Dan (Kyle Chuen), their children, and the wider issues of ethics and treatment.

Despite its challenging material, at its heart it’s a tale of a mother, a wife, a woman, and the competing positive and negative facets of her personality and her illness.

An excellent opening scene shows this, drawing us into the family’s lively morning preparation (Just Another Day), before the wheels fall off.

Booth is simply extraordinary. Her strength as a performer is not just an award-winning set of pipes, but in her emotional range as she takes Diana through highs, lows and the blank spaces in between.

It’s a huge and demanding role, with a slew of solos and parts in at least 20 songs.

I Miss the Mountains a standout, but there are many.

For this production, the role of Diana is shared evenly between Booth and the very experienced Courteney Mayall.

Chuen has taken on the huge challenge of directing a complex show with over 30 songs, many involving multiple parts and crossovers and action split across the stage.

Kyle Chuen (Dan) cradling Diana (Julia Booth) in one of many powerful scenes. Photo / Mark Hamilton

His Dan is a supportive everyman, holding the fort, loving Diana and managing the chaos.

Chuen plays this role with strength, skill and sensitivity.

High-achieving daughter Natalie (Zara Thompson) is focused on maintaining full control of her formidable routine of school and music, a regime that is almost certain to unravel.

Thompson combines vocal control and strong characterisation to make Natalie compelling.

A strong presence in the family is son Gabe, played by Jonathan Herd.

Herd exudes a sort of irrepressible, focused energy in everything I’ve seen him in, and this role is no exception.

Like the rest of the cast, his vocal talent is confident and assured.

Zac Clarke gives a beautifully weighted performance as he plays Dr Madden, balancing authority with some big rock moments.

Zara Thompson (Natalie) and Felix Rowe (Henry) in a scene from Next to Normal. Photo / Mark Hamilton

Felix Rowe rounds out the cast as relaxed, affable Henry, a hopeful love interest for Natalie, and a grounding presence.

With most of the action conveyed through music, the show demands and delivers exceptional talent from the cast and band, with powerful voices and tight harmonies.

In some company songs, overlapping vocals made lyrics difficult to follow, but the emotion and well-choreographed action carried the story.

Musical director Nick Braae led a superb band with a mix of seasoned veterans like Mark Connolly (guitar) and Steven Smith (bass) alongside Damon Taylder (drums), Charlie Garcia Gil (violin) and talented Year 12 student Peng Xie (cello), providing a solid score throughout.

The slightly bland, representative set comes to life with projections by Luke McConnell and lighting by Guy Coker, with key set pieces doing multiple jobs and a realistic use of props.

The stage is used to the full and movement, choreographed by Aroha Whaanga, enhances at every turn.

Despite some dated elements, reflecting the 20 years since the genesis of Yorkey’s writing, it remains a hugely relatable story.

Afterwards, my friend and I found ourselves unpacking its many resonant themes all the way home.

It’s a deeply affecting show, superbly performed.

NB Content warning: Themes of loss, grief, mental health and suicide

Cate Prestidge is a principal academic and co-ordinator of journalism and communication programmes at Wintec. She has been writing theatre reviews for NZME since 2021.