Next to Normal - Donmar / Wyndham’s

I’m going Wednesday

Have a great night everyone who is lucky enough to be going tonight! I had tickets for Saturday’s cancelled show and can’t get to see it until 2nd September. Have an amazing time, I have a feeling this is going to be very special. Been waiting so long to see this again!

I've managed to bag a return ticket already, but before that I had been pinning my hopes on the Dailys. Out of curiosity, I went onto the Donmar ticket website today to see what the Daily rush is like. While they say they release Dailys at 10am, the tickets actually appeared for me at about 9.57am, so do refresh just before 10am as the tickets I saw vanished within minutes. Unless I missed some that went quicker, today's Dailys released just 6 seats (in 3 pairs) this morning for the Monday 21st Aug show. Four of these were front facing ones priced at £60, two were cheaper restricted view seats at the end of the right side. All were Circle level. 

Not sure if the Dailys will be the same 6 seats each day but that's what I saw on offer this morning.  

Audience feedback from the first preview is overwhelmingly positive!

I rarely book first previews, which can often be like a final dress rehearsal, replete with mistakes and technical issues, unless they are heavily discounted.

I definitely did not book the first preview of Next to Normal, and www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/donmar-warehouse-2023-season-next-to-normal_57567.html/ confirms that. Yet, according to tonight's programme, which I've looked at only just on the way home, I have just seen the very first public performance tonight at the Donmar. (I'm not sure why I'm even surprised that theatres think they don't need to let people know there's been a change. Common courtesy seems to be an unnecessary luxury these days for many people.)

But, I'm actually rather stunned. I never realised at any point that this was the first outing. It is so polished already.

Going in, I knew nothing of the subject matter, and that is undoubtedly a requirement to extract maximum rewards from this drama. Unfortunately, the numpty who has put together the programme disagrees, and the first major reveal is highlighted in the headline to the first article. Thank goodness I didn't have time to flick through beforehand.



All you need to know is that this is a realistic drama about a present-day American family struggling to cope with what life has thrown at them. Musical theatre tends towards schmaltz. This is the polar opposite. It's heavy going with little light relief.

But that is also its virtue. What plays out is eminently relatable, and all the more moving for that.

The score, played by a six-piece band ostensibly located in second-storey rooms of the family home above the stage, is a delight. Every song is instantly appealing capturing the mood of each scene perfectly, helped by simple but clever lyrics that are never mawkish.

The cast of six are all stand-outs. Jamie Parker and Caissie Levy excel as the parents, but each of the six shine, especially vocally. I said Jack Wolfe was a star in the making after the RSC's The Magician's Elephant, and that view is reinforced tonight.

The sound design is excellent (from stalls centre) and, if released, a cast recording will be something to treasure.

The set features a revolve, but the stage height has not needed to be raised to accommodate it.

Highly recommended.

Five stars.

Act 1: 19:35-20:41
Act 2: 21:01-22:00
(The Donmar had us all back in our seats for 20:55 after a very rushed interval, but then made us wait for the full 20 minutes to elapse.)

There was an awful lot of whooping and hollering by some in the audience after songs, and that felt wholly inappropriate and was spoiling the contemplative mood of the piece.

Absolutely blown away by this, especially Caissie and Eleanor.

I’ve seen the show numerous times on Broadway, I saw all of the Broadway Dianas (Alice, Jessica, Marin) and Caissie has found a beautiful place for her Diana that is so incredibly different to the others in the most special way. I was absolutely blown away by some of the choices she’s made.

Eleanor made every single second she was on that stage just break your heart, there are some tiny things she’ll do, even when the focus isn’t on her - just these really tiny moments that absolutely break you. there’s a moment when dan puts his arm around her at the start or act two, and her reaction to this being a moment when her dad is embracing her, watching her process that, then reach to embrace him as he then walks away from her… Those small moments were just remarkable.

Jack Wolfe was one I hadn’t heard of prior to his casting but his Gabe is absolutely brilliant, definitely much prefer his portrayal to Aaron/Adam.

Jamie Parker’s acting is brilliant, I think he needs a little more time to settle into the score.

I am so glad this is hitting home. Can’t wait to see it. On Broadway it was the best thing I’ve ever seen.

I am hearing question marks from within the production about the actor playing Dan. I am sure he will improve going forward.

What makes me so happy is they have done such justice to the material, it has never seemed better. I’m sure everyone is going to love the show, but if they don’t we can’t blame the Director, actors or production in this case in my opinion as a whole. They’ve tried and succeeded to honour what was written on the page.

I hope he settles into the role - ideally before I see it for the first time in a few weeks! I’m hearing he is really struggling vocally in the role, which unfortunately doesn’t surprise me as he has never been the best singer. I am sure his acting though will be excellent.

Unsurprised about Caissie, even before this opened I already had her nailed on to win the Olivier based solely on her calibre and video of “I Miss the Mountains”.

I think some of the comments regarding Jamie are a little unfair. I said he needs a little more time to settle into the score, not that he is struggling, which I think is an unfair comment to make. His belt was actually very impressive, I think he was just concentrating a little too hard so some of the notes/phrases got cut a little short.

the one thing I will say is that (as is the case with most early previews) the sound design needs to be fixed (and probably will be over the next few shows) there were times where the band drowned out the singing, and Jamie was the most affected by that, absolutely nothing to do with him or his abilities.

I think he sounded fine, too. He did drop a few lines in a song and my take on him right now is that he’s still finding his footing in the role and will only get better once he becomes more comfortable. Remember it was a first preview not opening night.