Stellar cast embodies ‘Normal’
By Stephanie ottey
salem
Spotlight Players is a newly developed group of thespians without a home stage or a planned season that chooses to produce shows as they see fit and where they see fit. The nomadic production team has staged only a few shows and can’t say when the next will be, but is lucky enough to lay claim to Ohio’s first community-theater production of “Next to Normal,” which opened Friday in the Salem Masonic Temple.
This production is proof that when a theater chooses to stage a strong, well- written piece of drama, talented actors surely will come out to fill the roles. Spotlight Players may not be known as a theatrical powerhouse in the local community yet, but the group’s smart choice in producing a Tony Award-winning show has drawn in a cast of known talents from across the area.
The 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner written by Brian Yorkey, “Next to Normal” is a gripping drama about a woman struggling with bipolar disorder and the effects it has on her family. The rock-opera of a musical is poetic and captivating in its ability to shed light on social issues such as the treatment of mental illness and drug use in a subtle but significant way. The show requires a cast of skilled singer/actors, and this production delivers them.
Craig Conrad, a staple in the Trumbull New Theatre talent pool, is making the trek to Salem to fill the role of Dan, the grounded and strong husband of Diana. Conrad’s performance remains calm and borderline stagnant for much of Act 1, maintaining a foothold on the hopeful sobriety of his character. In Act 2, we see that hold slacken as the character reaches his own moment of clarity. Here, Conrad blossoms with anger and then smoothly morphs to feelings of defeat. He expertly crafts moments of frustrated tenderness in songs such as “A Promise” and supports his acting ability with a clean, masculine, singing voice that only enforces the strength and devotion of his character.
Matthew Schomer, recently seen in New Castle’s production of “Rent,” is another vocal powerhouse in a cast of stellar singers. Schomer embodies Gabe, the spirit of Diana and Dan’s dead son, with a youthful and somewhat deranged spin. This role is an unusual one, a character alive only within the mind of his mother, leaving significant room for interpretation. Schomer walks the line between lonely child and beguiling ghost, thus creating an eerie yet sad character.
Natalie, Gabe’s living and neglected sister, is played by Carly Magnuson. Magnuson acts the irritable, ignored teenager well. Her youthful, clear vocal tone is nicely suited to the role.
Tom Kusiowski is appropriately bland but spirited in the roles of Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden, just what one would expect from a seasoned psychotherapist. Though his characters represent the scary, unconventional measures taken in desperation, he avoids making them seem completely villainous.
Paul Sauline as Henry is another strong asset to the cast. The dedicated boyfriend of Natalie, Henry is the least-involved character in the mental-disorder drama and carries a glow of hope that can come only from an outsider. Sauline commits to his role with a lightness that is much- needed in the otherwise heavy drama.
The entire ensemble is undoubtedly one of the most skilled casts to be seen on stage this year, but Brandy Johanntges is the clear star of “Next to Normal.” From her first moments on stage, the audience feels her intense vulnerability and is soon captivated as she sings the powerful “I Miss the Mountains.” Her vocal performance is note-perfect and saturated with layers of emotion and thought. Humorous and devastatingly honest, Johanntges wrangles the tumultuous Diana in a once-in-a- lifetime performance that surely will be a highlight of this theater season.
Director Ryan Newell designed and built most of the set himself, repurposing the ballroom of the Salem Masonic Temple into a theater. The room is not designed for musical performances. The acoustics are a challenge as the large, empty space allows sound to echo freely, but the cast and musicians make a valiant effort to overcome the obstacle.
The orchestra, composed of Alex Marr, Toni Tenzek, Carolann Sterkenburg and Aaron Bowles and led by Lisa Brown, has a remarkable ability to maintain a comfortable volume throughout the show. The orchestra clearly listens to the actors and vice-versa because their synchronicity is hard to miss. Tom Kitt’s score is very well represented.
Although it would be nice to see this cast and pit together in a space properly equipped and designed for theatrical performances, the guttural, contemporary score, multifaceted book and tremendously talented cast make this production of “Next to Normal” a must-see.
Performances run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and next Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Salem Masonic Temple, 788 E. State St., Salem. Tickets can be reserved by e-mailing spotplayers@rocketmail.com.