How one family deals with
the mother’s mental illness is the gripping story in this rock musical that in
2009 was one of Broadway’s biggest hits, winning three Tony Awards, and the Pulitzer
Prize. Its an
intense, brutally honest story about a bipolar woman undergoing electroshock
therapy, about the impact of her illness on her family, and about the
shortcomings of the medical profession’s understanding of mental illness.
An ambitious subject for a
musical, it works because of the honesty and authenticity of its emotions. The creators focus the show on the family's pain,
rather than on a critique of the medical establishment, and the hard driving rock
and roll score is authentic enough to match the intensity of its emotion.
Diana (Michelle Lane) is delusional with grief over the
long-ago loss of her teenage son Gabe (Harrison
Meloeny). While her husband Dan (Nick
Sarando), and her daughter, Natalie (Isa
Briones), struggle to bring her back to normalcy, Gabe calls her to join
him. Meanwhile, her doctor (Randal Miles) tries what he thinks best, while Natalie
fears that her
relationship with Henry (Blaine
Miller), the
boy she loves, will be scarred and empty.
Directed by Thomas James
O’Leary, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The five-piece
band is conducted by music director Taylor Stephenson. A Triage and Standing
Room Only co-production. Photos by John Dlugolecki.
The Pico Playhouse, 10508
West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, through September 25. Tickets: 310-204-4440 or www.n2nmusicalla.com
or http://n2nmusicalla.brownpapertickets.com
Also printed in the
September issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
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