There’s a new musical entitled “Next to Normal” and it’s about mental health. The show is beautiful, but the ticket prices are quite expensive (ranging from 2.5k to 3.5k). Make sure your heart and your pocket is ready as you watch this musical.
There are two sets of cast members. SET A consists of Shiela Valderamma, OJ Mariano, Sheena Belarmino, Omar Uddin & Vino Mabalot. SET B consists of Nikki Valdez, Jam Binay, Davy Narciso & Benedix Ramos. We’re grateful to have witnessed both sets because they gave a totally different experience. The review below is solely based on their performances on the January 31 and February 1 shows.
SET A is impressive in terms of vocals. The lights and stage design are not enough to convey what the characters are going through. The family’s journey is scattered in fragments and not experienced as a whole.
Having a crystal voice, Shiela Valderamma shows no struggle on high notes and delivers her lines clearly. Her acting seems calculated. Her emotions feel timed.
Vino Mabalot is effortless in reaching high notes but weak in giving facial reactions and commanding the stage. Omar Uddin’s falsetto is sweet. Sheena Belarmino’s vocals are strong but her portrayal lacks authenticity and her enunciation can get unclear sometimes.
While OJ Mariano delivers a decent performance, he occasionally seems hesitant to fully express his emotions. Aside from his rockstar moment, Jef Flores can easily fade in the background.
The house of SET A family has walls and you can’t pass through it. You’re watching things from afar. Meanwhile, SET B family is easily accessible and relatable because of their outstanding acting performances.
SET B is bursting with emotions. You wouldn’t feel the need to look at the bare stage because the acting performances are more than enough to fill the room. Since you feel their struggles, you’ll also understand their life decisions. Your connection to this family is strong. You are part of their journey. Whether they talk or sing, there’s depth in their words.
Nikki Valdez is not vocally perfect. You can hear her voice struggle on some songs. But that’s the beauty of it. She’s not afraid to explode, make mistakes and cry on the floor.
She can humanize her character and make it accessible to everyone. She turns the stage into her home and we are all invited in. We’re right next to her in every step of her journey. Her willingness to share her heart with us is truly generous. Her portrayal resonates deeply.
You can count on Floyd Tena to be a good supporting husband. Davy Narciso naturally exudes the boyfriend vibe. No complaints for Jam Binay as she greatly embodies her character. Her excellence in singing and acting is balanced.
The brilliance of Benedix Ramos doesn’t end on having a captivating voice. He moves around the stage, makes a mark and owns his character. His sinister facial expressions add another layer to his nuanced portrayal.
Every song has its substance. Every lyric counts. Some of them can be triggering and therapeutic. The band’s accompaniment is not only an ear-pleaser but also a mood-setter.
The combination of 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 (Nikki Valdez) and 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 (Benedix, Floyd & Nikki) stands out as one of the best performances. The intense dynamic among the three characters is palpable. Their conflicting personalities clash in a dramatic push-and-pull, yet their voices merge in harmony.
Tears will fall next to your eyes during the mother and daughter scene. The lines are inherently beautiful, but Nikki and Jam’s delivery transforms them into a heart-wrenching moment.
Overall, the story is enlightening. It could’ve been better if they manage to balance the pros and cons of therapy sessions. Nonetheless, the ending statement remains to be hopeful and uplifting.
𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 serves its purpose well.
Directed by Toff De Venecia, the Next to Normal musical runs from Feb 1-23 at the Power Mac Center Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati. Get your tickets at ticket2me.net/sandboxn2n.

Comments