The Williamsburg Players’ adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Next to Normal,” is garnering acclaim near and far.
“I’ve been telling everyone, ‘You have to go see this show,'” said Suzan McCorry, Lafayette High School’s theater teacher. “It’s such a phenomenal production.”
She enjoys seeing her theater colleagues in the community perform, something she also encourages her students to do. The Players didn’t disappoint.
“I had such empathy for each of the characters whose lives were so chaotic,” she said. “It made me question what was normal.”
McCorry said she expects theater to be informative and entertaining, and “Next to Normal” satisfied those requirements.
“The educational part of this show was so emotional,” she said. “It was so impressive.”
That extends to actress Sadie Westbrock, a student of McCorry’s.
“It was really fun to watch Sadie so into this very, very mature production,” she said. She found the performances “top-notch” all around.
“Drop this cast on a Broadway stage and you would not know the difference,” she said, adding she doesn’t make such claims lightly.
McCorry found the singing also moved her. Now, she wants to buy the musical’s soundtrack.
“The songs were just as powerful,” she said, urging viewers to “listen to the lyrics.”
The story aims to raise awareness about mental illness and its pervasiveness in society and in many families.
“Every character is so isolated,” McCorry said. “They’re working out their own grim picture of what’s happening in their lives.”
She said the act reminded her of “August: Osage County,” another drama that tackles family dynamics in a time of crisis. She also compared it to “Ordinary People,” which she directed at Lafayette.
“I liked doing that dark show because it did educate,” she said. “I love shows that educate, being an educator.”
The Players also caught the attention of Broadwayworld, a New York-based website that covers Broadway and London’s West End while occasionally highlighting smaller communities in the process. McCorry encourages her students to use as a resource for seeing professionals discuss theater and keep up with current developments.
“Director Christina Westenberger has assembled some of the finest talent in the region for her production of ‘Next to Normal,'” said the site’s critic, Jeremy Bustin, who also praised her “bold directing choices.”
He particularly praised lead actress Rani Wachter’s “raw and vulnerable performance” anchoring the journey.
With only three shows left Friday, Saturday and Sunday, intrigued theater fans may want to set aside time this weekend for the Williamsburg Players’ latest.
“I know the community would love this show.” McCorry said. “It’s an important achievement by the Players.”
Birkenmeyer can be reached by phone at 757-790-3029.
Want to go?
“Next to Normal” plays 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Williamsburg Players Theatre, 200 Hubbard Lane. Adults $20, seniors $18, military $16, students $14. Tickets available at williamsburgplayers.org or by phone at 229-0431.
