Next to Normal - Rhino Theater Pompton Lakes, NJ

Great theater, really great theater, should work on many levels at the same time: emotional, intellectual, physically. "Next to Normal" at the Rhino Theatre does just this. It isn't perfect, but nothing in life is. And that is entirely the point of this Pulitzer and Tony winning musical from Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey as directed by Jo-Ann Ventor and Carmela Wolosz which is moving on all these levels. Whatever your weekend plans for the new few weeks, consider making this production part of them. You will be rewarded wholly.

The show is dramatic from the opening chords to the soaring, uplifting, hopeful finale. It has something for everyone - young high school lovers who challenge and corrupt one another; family issues; ignored teens who get to stand up to their parents; love, denial, and ignorance, and an amazing score rendered wonderfully by the talented cast of six.

The show opens on a typical morning - mom making breakfast as family rushes out to school and work. Yet around the corner, something is different especially as mom makes sandwiches on the floor. Diana (Randi Seffinger) holds too tightly to her memories threatening the fiber of her family life - son Gabe (Rob Ryan) and especially her largely ignored 16 year-old daughter Natalie (Anna Nicole Ventor) and her husband Dan (Matthew Haines). Natalie flirts with stoner Henry (Robert Snyder) a biblical serpent - especially with his ability to render an ordinary apple into a bong. While Dan whisks Diana to a series of Doctors (Brendan J. Bartlett) to free them from depression. Heavy doses of pharmaceuticals and electro shock therapy -propel the family toward potential normalcy - despite Diana's losing 19 years of memories. This description really doesn't do justice to Kitt and Yorkey's original creation, which is ripe with intense musical numbers of longing, denial, memory, connection, hope and love.

This is Buzz' second production of Next to Normal - the first premiered in February in Ridgewood. At the Rhino - the set is a bit larger and closer to the original multi-level Broadway design. Yet it powerful and moving. My cohort hadn't seen or heard of the show and we were both moved to tears and laughter through out the evening.

There are wonderful moments writ large and small with this production - from the expressive face of Rob Ryan, the powerful emotive singing of Anna Nicole Ventor, and the overwhelmingly moving Matt Haines. Bobby Synder presents a relatable, loyal boyfriend in Henry and sings and acts wonderfully, capturing nice moments through out the show. Brendan Joel Bartlett's Doctors offer their Mephistophelian verve but also bring welcome emotional resonance and a sense of desire to heal. Randi Seffinger's Diana is plaintive and well acted and sung in a demanding role.

The band led by Sean Cameron comes on a little too strongly in some numbers and Ryan's choreography intended to be macho reads more as too tight pants - but this are quibbles especially as the cast gets to singing.

Sellinger and Ventor in "Superboy & Invisible Girl" movingly convey the loss of the neglect.

Ryan's Gabe pays off beautifully in "There's a World" in Act 1 and even more in "I am the One" his confrontation with Dan late in Act 2. Their harmonic voices blend amazingly.

Haines renders quiet hope and determination to piece his and Diana's life together while failing to see the potential for longer-term damage. While Seffinger's Diana offers a well nuanced performance cleverly showing a kaleidoscope of anger, fear, yearning, sorrow, guilt and the memory of what must have once been love in every note she sings especially in "I Miss the Mountains" her yearing for a life lived differently.

Next to Normal is a wonderfully written and performed musical that serves as a prism into the lives of those dealing with mental illness and the affects it has on family. It's adult themes - home, memory, relationships and the kaleidoscope of emotion touches the audience in a way few shows ever can. Ultimately it is a show about our willingness to rip off the band aid and move forward, past the memories and fear we've willingly allowed to fester far too long.

Theater is a communial experience -- allowing an audience to experience a range of thoughts and feelings, bringing their own experiences to bear but still coming away entertained and enthralled. Buzz and it's crew, cast, and band are to be commended for presenting compelling, moving, powerful theater. And I welcome their future productions enthusiastically.

The production plays weekends through June 20th at the Rhino Theater in Pompton Lakes. For tickets and information to go rhinotheater.com

Elves & The Shoemaker - Silly on Sixth

It is a sad day when your nine-year-old child is largely resistant to the charms of well-produced and executed children's theater. But for the three to seven year olds who are impressed by cute songs, nuanced - not cloying performances by charming actors with solid comedic timing that doesn't talk down, head over to Hudson Theater Ensemble's Silly on Sixth production of the "Elves and the Shoemaker."

Howard Richman's production focuses on Matilda Cobblestone (Nannette M. Matos) and Lockhart (David Silberger) a giving, generous, considerate shoemaker who seeks to have more than just soup for dinner. They owe money to the evil Sneerella Twerm (Florence Pape) who seeks nothing more than to evict them. The determine shoemaker has scraps of leather left but he makes a beautiful pair of shoes which he promptly gives to an old lady (Wendy Eaton) with no shoes. The Cobblestones are rewarded for their generosity by making additional shoes with the help of three elves played by Richard Dwyer, Leah Sayad, and Deborah Michels. The shoes catch on and soon everyone wants a pair. While the Cobblestones only want a factory that will employ everyone in their town and bring jobs and security to one and all.

The message is clear - pay it forward. Pass along something you have to someone else and you will feel good for your generosity. A nice message of teamwork and sticking with your dreams also comes through nicely. There are bits of audience interaction between the elves and even a kindly fairy godmother. The younger members of the audience were rapt with attention and fully engaged. My daughter perked up when one of the songs was sung to a tune she knew.

David Silberger brings a warm, welcome, goofy verve to his role of Lockhart. Florence Pape brings non-threatening evil to her dual roles of Sneerella Twerm and fun as a running obsessed Mrs. Snootbottom. The three elves have distinct personalities and win the audience over with their determination and desire to please. Wendy Eaton and Nannette M. Matos are pleasant and not over the top in their roles. Howard Richman's Mayor is well played and he has a fine cast and firmly directed this charming entertaining fairy tale.

The gift of Silly on Sixth is that even if you are a hot, overly tired nine year old or a three year old seeing your first show or a parent looking to stay cool on a June day - you will be entertained, learn something, and be impressed by the professional love gifted to children of all ages. Something in the script, an actor's turn with a line, a song will gather your attention and draw you into the fairy tale - even if you are firmly at the age of disbelief and prefer the auto tuned laugh track of commercial children's television. This polished production is well produced, fast moving, and wholly pleasant. Embrace the obvious magic of Silly on Sixth's "Elves & The Shoemaker." This production is a bargain with a wealth of benefits and morals compared to the more teenage oriented "entertainment" facing my daughter and I in the years to come.

The production runs weekends through June 20th at The Hudson School Performance Space - 601 Park Ave, Hoboken. Learn more at http://hudsontheatreensemble.com/silly_nowplay.html