Review: Next to Normal

The psychological problems within the family, and especially the mother’s, are not a topic that you would first think of as a musical. But when you’ve seen the Broadway musical Next to Normal, written by Brian Yorkey and composed by Tom Kitt , at the Helsinki City Theatre’s Theatre Studio Pasila, you’re convinced that this is just the right format.

As spoken theatre, the same story would have been extremely difficult. Almost composed throughout, the difficult subject has become a lively, but touching and touching performance that shows the pain points, but also gives hope and faith in human survival. The criticism is directed not only at the strong medical treatment of mental health problems, but also at people’s own attitudes.

All-understanding and enduring love is not necessarily always the right way to help, and the journey towards a better future cannot begin until a person agrees to face the source of their own pain.

The musical unravels the situation of a small nuclear family like a psychological thriller, and everything may not be quite as it seems at first. It’s enjoyable when, like lighter musicals, you can’t be sure in advance where everything will lead. The plot is addictive and the story has its surprises.

The performance flows and the most important encounters between the characters also take place almost non-stop with the songs that follow one another. The spoken parts only complement the content of the songs. Kitt’s compositions range from almost rock to a typical musical waltz, with the style of the songs being related to the current emotional situation. Mikko Koivusalo’s Finnish translation is natural and rough today’s spoken language, which fits the songs and the roles of its performers.

Wonderfully interpreted songs

Markku Nenonen’s intensive direction makes use of Markus Tsokkinen’s open and spacious home sets, especially its stairs, in many ways. The songs are part of the play’s flow, not just a live performance for the audience.

At the heart of the story is a mother played by Jonna Järnefelt , whose mental illness that has continued for years has taken both the family’s internal and external relationships into quite a twist. The situation begins to unravel when you dare to break the years of silence. The mother’s counterpart is the high school-aged daughter played by Vuokko Hovatta and her rebellion against the family’s situation that finally breaks out.

Järnefelt and Hovata have the most ingredients for a multidimensional role, and they sometimes make their characters very bloody. The male roles in the performance, Juha Junttu’s husband, Tuukka Leppänen’s son, Petrus Kähkönen’s boyfriend and Antti Timonen’s two doctors, are clearly less central. Still, Kähkönen and Junttu in particular get a lump in their throat when they show their status when they receive the enormous amount of love and care they have for their women.

The entire five-person cast sings wonderfully, and the energy level of the performance does not wane for a moment.

Next to Normal captures something very typical of this time: through and with the help of music, it is possible to bring a tough and difficult topic close to people. The skilful interpretation touches the viewer’s emotions and the hopeful ending gives faith in life.