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Next to Normal (Theatre)
- 353 statements
- 68 feature instances
- 71 referencing feature instances
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | type |
TVTItem | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | label |
Next to Normal (Theatre) | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | page |
NextToNormal | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | comment |
Next to Normal is a Tony-and-Pulitzer-award-winning rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers around a Dysfunctional Family consisting of bipolar depressive housewife Diana, who suffers from delusional episodes, her husband Dan, who has been struggling with taking care of her on and off for the past sixteen years, their charming but unruly son Gabe, and their disaffected musician daughter Natalie. Also involved are Natalie's on-and-off boyfriend, Henry, and Diana's doctors, Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden.Originally, it was developed as a ten-minute short called Feeling Electric, inspired by a news report Yorkey saw about electro-convulsive therapy.The show opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on April 15, 2009. It was nominated for eleven Tony awards and won three of them: Best Score, Best Orchestrations, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | fetched |
2024-01-31T05:30:56Z | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | parsed |
2024-01-31T05:30:56Z | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | processingComment |
Dropped link to CallBack: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | processingComment |
Dropped link to IHaveToIronMyDog: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | processingComment |
Dropped link to OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | processingComment |
Dropped link to thesoundofmusic: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | processingUnknown |
IHaveToIronMyDog | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_17a549ab | type |
Sung-Through Musical | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_17a549ab | comment |
Sung-Through Musical: Downplayed. While there is some dialogue, most of the conversations are sung through, and several songs are flow directly into the next. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_17a549ab | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_17a549ab | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_17a549ab | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: In the titular song, "Maybe (Next to Normal)". | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_18d15922 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_18d15922 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_18d15922 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_19211122 | type |
Feel No Pain | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_19211122 | comment |
Feel No Pain: Diana has many complaints that her medication makes her suffer new problems each time it is altered, such as weight gain, sweating for no reason, constipation and nausea. However, after a while she claims "I don't feel like myself...I mean, I don't feel anything." Averted when she throws away her medication in "I Miss The Mountains" because she misses her younger self, who felt pain, depression, happiness, sadness and even mania; but at least she felt. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_19211122 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_19211122 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_19211122 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1aa30797 | type |
Single Woman Seeks Good Man | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1aa30797 | comment |
Single Woman Seeks Good Man: As reluctant as Natalie is to accept Henry's affection, she still falls into the trope. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1aa30797 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1aa30797 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1aa30797 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1b590025 | type |
Dead All Along | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1b590025 | comment |
Dead All Along: As we find out half an hour in, Dan and Diana's son Gabe has been dead for sixteen years. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1b590025 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1b590025 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1b590025 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1ccad9a3 | type |
Villain Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1ccad9a3 | comment |
Villain Song: Depending on how you look at it, both versions of "I'm Alive" and "Aftershocks". "There's a World" is definitely one, considering it's Gabe talking Diana into attempting suicide. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1ccad9a3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1ccad9a3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_1ccad9a3 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_237404cc | type |
Ironic Echo | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_237404cc | comment |
Ironic Echo: Early in the show this conversation occurs. Later on in the show when Natalie has a breakdown during her piano recital, it comes back. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_237404cc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_237404cc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_237404cc | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_24321e44 | type |
Only Sane Man | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_24321e44 | comment |
Only Sane Man: Well, there's the bipolar wife, the angsty teenage daughter, the dead-ghost son, the daughter's stoner boyfriend and the terrifying therapist. And then there's Dan. Although he questions whether even he can be considered sane or not: | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_24321e44 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_24321e44 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_24321e44 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf | type |
Hidden Depths | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf | comment |
Hidden Depths: While Dr. Madden is shown to be very professional most of the time, when Diana attempts to commit suicide and he's recording his patient notes, he breaks down in anger over how upset he is at nearly losing his patient, showing even he's not a flat, one-note character. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc373ff | type |
Ghost Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc373ff | comment |
Ghost Song: Technically, from one point of view, anything sung by Gabe. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc373ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc373ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_2dc373ff | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3359c771 | type |
Rock-Star Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3359c771 | comment |
Rock Star Song: Parodied by Diana's hallucinations about Doctor Madden, and in Madden's cut song "Feeling Electric." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3359c771 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3359c771 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3359c771 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_364b9be6 | type |
Flipping the Bird | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_364b9be6 | comment |
Flipping the Bird: Referenced in "Better Than Before": | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_364b9be6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_364b9be6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_364b9be6 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_381855db | type |
Five-Second Foreshadowing | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_381855db | comment |
Five-Second Foreshadowing: At the end of "It's Gonna Be Good", the table is set for four people - but Dan, Henry and Natalie are all seated, leaving no chair for either Gabe or Diana. A few seconds later, Natalie reveals that her brother Gabe has been dead for years. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_381855db | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_381855db | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_381855db | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_383fe1b8 | type |
Embarrassing Old Photo | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_383fe1b8 | comment |
Embarrassing Old Photo: In "Better Than Before". | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_383fe1b8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_383fe1b8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_383fe1b8 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_39d7954e | type |
The Caretaker | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_39d7954e | comment |
The Caretaker: Dan takes this to codependent extremes. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_39d7954e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_39d7954e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_39d7954e | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3c0a4666 | type |
Noodle Incident | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3c0a4666 | comment |
Noodle Incident: During "Better than Before," it's implied Diana caused the family's old house to burn down. How or why is never explained. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3c0a4666 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3c0a4666 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3c0a4666 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3f32da0f | type |
Electroconvulsive Therapy Is Torture | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3f32da0f | comment |
Electroconvulsive Therapy Is Torture: After every other treatment for her bipolar disorder and psychosis has failed, Dr. Madden suggests ECT for Diana, which she compares to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The treatment ends with her losing her memories, but they eventually return, which also brings back her psychosis. This causes the doctor to recommend more ECT, which she promptly refuses, leading to her stopping treatment altogether. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3f32da0f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3f32da0f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_3f32da0f | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_40cc0c7e | type |
Bittersweet Ending | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_40cc0c7e | comment |
Bittersweet Ending: Diana's hallucinations of Gabe return and she leaves Dan to take care of herself without him. But Dan comes to terms with his grief over Gabe's death that he had avoided for over a decade and Natalie patches things up with Henry who promises to stay with her for years to come. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_40cc0c7e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_40cc0c7e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_40cc0c7e | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4733b5a5 | type |
Saying Too Much | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4733b5a5 | comment |
Saying Too Much: When Dan encourages Diana to see a new doctor: | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4733b5a5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4733b5a5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4733b5a5 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4e7c4536 | type |
Wham Line | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4e7c4536 | comment |
Wham Line: In Act One, He's been dead, all these years. In Act Two, And who are you? One at the very end, though it should probably be taken metaphorically. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4e7c4536 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4e7c4536 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_4e7c4536 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_61b576af | type |
I Take Offense to That Last One | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_61b576af | comment |
I Take Offense to That Last One | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_61b576af | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_61b576af | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_61b576af | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_62663d88 | type |
Men Don't Cry | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_62663d88 | comment |
Men Don't Cry: Deconstructed. Dan hides his emotions from his family until it eventually tears them apart, until his wife leaves and Natalie finds him sobbing alone in the dark. Dan eventually agrees to see a therapist recommended by Dr Madden, after a long time of bottling up his emotions. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_62663d88 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_62663d88 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_62663d88 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_643618e5 | type |
Replacement Goldfish | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_643618e5 | comment |
Replacement Goldfish: Natalie for Gabe. Diana can't quite finish the phrase: "We had Natalie to... and I know she knows..." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_643618e5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_643618e5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_643618e5 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66479d0 | type |
Our Ghosts Are Different | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66479d0 | comment |
Our Ghosts Are Different: It's fair to ask, is Gabe a hallucination proceeding from a damaged mind, or a genuine ghost that can't move on? The fact that Dan also sees Gabe only deepens the mystery. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66479d0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66479d0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66479d0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66dfe36a | type |
Missing Mom | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66dfe36a | comment |
Missing Mom: As Natalie sings towards the end of the show "It's so lovely that you're sharing, no really; I'm all ears. But where has all this caring been for sixteen years?" | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66dfe36a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66dfe36a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_66dfe36a | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6861146e | type |
Epiphany Therapy | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6861146e | comment |
Epiphany Therapy: Averted. Even though Dan seems to come to terms with the loss of his son at the end, he is not suddenly all fine. In fact, its only after this that he even begins going to therapy. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6861146e | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6861146e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6861146e | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6b2b3b59 | type |
The Reveal | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6b2b3b59 | comment |
The Reveal: In Act 1, it's that Gabe is a hallucination in Diana's mind. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6b2b3b59 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6b2b3b59 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6b2b3b59 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30 | type |
Meaningful Name | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30 | comment |
Meaningful Name: Gabriel, perhaps as in the angel who appeared to Mary in The Bible and told her she was pregnant. Diana and Dan have the same consonants, and just a couple vowels' difference— mirroring the codependent way they've grown together, until their neuroses are almost inextricable. Diana is also a Roman goddess, who protected women in childbirth and new babies, and single women— Diana's trauma stems from her identity as a mother, and she needs to break out of her family to heal. The doctors: Dr. "Fine" wants to get Diana to a flat emotional level, so she'll be "fine" (that is, functional) without any extreme highs or lows. Dr. Madden wants to probe the depths of Diana's trauma, and the result "maddens" her and sends her off-kilter. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_70351b6c | type |
No Medication for Me | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_70351b6c | comment |
No Medication for Me: Diana's reaction through the second act. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_70351b6c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_70351b6c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_70351b6c | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_7464705c | type |
Arc Words | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_7464705c | comment |
Arc Words: Only in the first act, there's "He's not here/She's not there." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_7464705c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_7464705c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_7464705c | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_74c9cf33 | type |
Two Girls to a Team | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_74c9cf33 | comment |
Two Girls to a Team: Invoked with Diana and Natalie being the only female roles in the cast. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_74c9cf33 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_74c9cf33 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_74c9cf33 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_768fb522 | type |
Side Effects Include... | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_768fb522 | comment |
Side Effects Include...: "May cause the following side effects, one or more..." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_768fb522 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_768fb522 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_768fb522 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_78e8eba5 | type |
"I Am" Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_78e8eba5 | comment |
"I Am" Song: "I'm Alive". "Everything Else" is an interesting variation, since it's an "I Am" Song sung in the second person by the subject of the song (i.e. Natalie's singing about herself, but from the second person perspective). "I Am the One" | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_78e8eba5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_78e8eba5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_78e8eba5 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_81bdc398 | type |
He's Back! | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_81bdc398 | comment |
He's Back!: When Gabe returns at the end of "Why Stay?/A Promise" behind Dan when Diana and Dan are about to embrace. Diana issues an "oh no" and turns Dan to face the (presumably) empty space where Gabe is, to which Dan yells a long "GODDAMMITTTT!" | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_81bdc398 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_81bdc398 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_81bdc398 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8338de89 | type |
"I Want" Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8338de89 | comment |
"I Want" Song: "I Miss the Mountains" | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8338de89 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8338de89 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8338de89 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_83a903f6 | type |
Stepford Smiler | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_83a903f6 | comment |
Stepford Smiler: The entire family sing about the struggle of having to keep the act up in "Just Another Day". | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_83a903f6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_83a903f6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_83a903f6 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8a1215e0 | type |
Bratty Teenage Daughter | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8a1215e0 | comment |
Bratty Teenage Daughter: Natalie is a teenage jerk but mainly it's an act she puts up for dealing with her family problems. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8a1215e0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8a1215e0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8a1215e0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8e3b5b4d | type |
Minimalist Cast | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8e3b5b4d | comment |
Minimalist Cast: It's a 6 person show, with the only characters being Diana, Dan, Gabe, Natalie, Henry and Dr. Fine/Madden (the doctors are played by the same actor). | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8e3b5b4d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8e3b5b4d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8e3b5b4d | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8fd7af48 | type |
Sir Swears-a-Lot | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8fd7af48 | comment |
Sir Swears-a-Lot: Most of the characters swear occasionally, but Natalie uses curse words almost as punctuation. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8fd7af48 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8fd7af48 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_8fd7af48 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_96fbeaf | type |
There Are No Therapists | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_96fbeaf | comment |
There Are No Therapists: Zig-zagged, Diana has been going to therapy for a very long time, it's just not been very effective at treating her symptoms, even though her doctors seem very earnest and sympathetic in wanting to help. No matter what they try, medication, electroshock treatment, nothing seems to work. However, one has to question how helpful they actually are considering they let her go home after electroshock therapy erases so many years of her memories she still thinks she's in college in 1991 when George H.W. Bush is president. Her doctor blithely thinks this is just a normal side effect and will wear off in time despite it being quite alarming for her family. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_96fbeaf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_96fbeaf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_96fbeaf | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97926168 | type |
Rewatch Bonus | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97926168 | comment |
Rewatch Bonus: Early in the show, Gabe tells Diana "You've got to let go, Mom. I'm almost eighteen." On first viewings, it's just Gabe annoyed at his mother worrying about him. On second viewings, it's the ghost or hallucination of Gabe trying to convince his mother to stop grieving after so many years. Also early on, during "Just Another Day", Gabe says "Good morning, Sunshine" to Natalie, who walks passed him without a word. On first viewings, it's just Natalie ignoring him, because he's being annoying. On subsequent viewings, it's because Gabe was never really there in the first place. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97926168 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97926168 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97926168 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97980a6e | type |
First Law of Tragicomedies | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97980a6e | comment |
First Law of Tragicomedies: Though it has a Bittersweet Ending instead of a Downer Ending, the show is equal parts funny and heartrending until about the last 20 minutes. After Diana remembers that she had a son who died, the show quickly drops all humor. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97980a6e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97980a6e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_97980a6e | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: During the opening number, when Dan comes into the living room because he hears noise and Diana says it's "Just me. Talking to myself, you know", to cover for Gabe having come home late. We later find out that Gabe is a hallucination in Diana's mind, and she really was talking to herself. Also within the first number, there are two subsequent lines that counterpoint Gabe being very cheerful and optimistic and his sister and father being much more pessimistic, highlighting a disconnect between them. This makes more sense with the reveal that he is the hallucination of a currently manic Diana. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a2492aff | type |
Dogged Nice Guy | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a2492aff | comment |
Dogged Nice Guy: Henry, who is determined to prove his love to Natalie. Dan, who is very determined to bring his family together despite a number of... setbacks. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a2492aff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a2492aff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a2492aff | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a45651a4 | type |
Ironic Birthday | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a45651a4 | comment |
Ironic Birthday: Gabe's birthday, when the delusional Diana bakes Gabe a cake, is when the audience explicitly finds out, from Dan, that "he's been dead sixteen years." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a45651a4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a45651a4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a45651a4 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a4c37cbe | type |
Mood Whiplash | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a4c37cbe | comment |
Mood Whiplash: The perky, bouncy, hyperactive "It's Gonna Be Good", followed abruptly by the revelation that Gabe has been Dead All Along; even more abrupt on the album, when the song ends and goes straight into "He's Not Here". Also "Hey #1" after "Song of Forgetting." The former is Henry asking Natalie to the spring dance, whereas the latter shows Natalie's fury and frustration that her mother cannot remember anything. "What a lovely cure, it's a medical miracle! With a mind so pure, that she doesn't know anything!" Better than, before! *Gabe enters* | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a4c37cbe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a4c37cbe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_a4c37cbe | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Natalie, particularly during the song "Better than Before". | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b6cc7fc0 | type |
Dysfunctional Family | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b6cc7fc0 | comment |
Dysfunctional Family: "So my son's a little shit, my husband's boring, and my daughter, though a genius, is a freak." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b6cc7fc0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b6cc7fc0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b6cc7fc0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b9c3de84 | type |
Bumbling Dad | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b9c3de84 | comment |
Bumbling Dad: Natalie wants Dan to be "a typical parent and lie" that everything with Diana will be OK. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b9c3de84 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b9c3de84 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_b9c3de84 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ba440e1 | type |
THeUnfavorite | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ba440e1 | comment |
The Un-Favorite: Natalie has shades of this, all due to her brother's untimely death in infancy. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ba440e1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ba440e1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ba440e1 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_bdc453a0 | type |
Incest Subtext | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_bdc453a0 | comment |
Incest Subtext: The relationship between Gabe, Diana, and Dan; inverted as this trope doesn't affect Gabe's development as much as Diana's and Dan's. Depending on the production, Gabe's approach toward Diana can be very seductive especially when he incites her to commit suicide. In "You Don't Know/I am the One", Diana is very caught between Dan's steadfast support and the memory of Gabe. Depending on the production when Gabe says "Look at me", he is either angrily saying it to his father who refuses to acknowledge his death or almost seductively to his mother. Most promo performances of the song with little context for it tend to go with the latter version. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_bdc453a0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_bdc453a0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_bdc453a0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c3448a6f | type |
Informed Attribute | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c3448a6f | comment |
Informed Attribute: Subtly enforced with Gabe - Diana claims that his day consists of "Jazz band before school. Class. Key Club. Then football" despite him never being shown doing any of these things. The reason he's never shown doing these things is because he's just a recurring hallucination that Diana thinks is doing these things. The long list of activities serves a different purpose— it accounts for long periods when Gabe is "out," or, not appearing in Diana's brain. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c3448a6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c3448a6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c3448a6f | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c75df49a | type |
Shout-Out | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c75df49a | comment |
Shout-Out: "Didn't I see this movie, with McMurphy and the nurse?" "These are a few of my favorite pills..." | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c75df49a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c75df49a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_c75df49a | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec | type |
No Name Given | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec | comment |
No Name Given: It isn't as blatant as other examples of this, and its averted at the end, but Gabe's name isn't actually said until right before the final number. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 | type |
Broken Bird | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 | comment |
Broken Bird: Diana definitely is one given the trauma of losing her infant son has been affecting her for eighteen years and she still hasn't gotten over it. Natalie is also one given how dysfunctional her family is, especially with the lack of love and support her parents have been able to provide. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d33e263 | type |
"Somewhere" Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d33e263 | comment |
"Somewhere" Song: "There's a World" is a very dark example, as Gabe's describing a flawless paradise to convince Diana to kill herself and join him in the afterlife. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d33e263 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d33e263 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d33e263 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d63358ae | type |
Give Him a Normal Life | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d63358ae | comment |
Give Him a Normal Life: | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d63358ae | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d63358ae | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d63358ae | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d97f6f0c | type |
Musicalis Interruptus | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d97f6f0c | comment |
Musicalis Interruptus: The music abruptly stops as Dr. Madden mentions Gabe in act 2. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d97f6f0c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d97f6f0c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d97f6f0c | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d9cf40fa | type |
Screw This, I'm Outta Here | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d9cf40fa | comment |
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In "So Anyway", Diana leaves her family and tries to sort through her issues on her own. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d9cf40fa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d9cf40fa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_d9cf40fa | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e0aed924 | type |
No Antagonist | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e0aed924 | comment |
No Antagonist: The closest thing the show has to an antagonist is Gabe, but Gabe has been dead for 16 years, and Diana and Dan's grief is the real problem. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e0aed924 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e0aed924 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e0aed924 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e16cd2c8 | type |
Grief-Induced Split | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e16cd2c8 | comment |
Grief-Induced Split: Diana and Dan's son Gabe died as a toddler sixteen years prior, though he continues to live on in her hallucinations and cast a shadow over the family's lives. Near the end of the show, Diana leaves her husband, recognizing that though they love each other, they need to come to terms with their long-buried grief on their own. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e16cd2c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e16cd2c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e16cd2c8 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e680af6f | type |
Grief Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e680af6f | comment |
Grief Song: "How Could I Ever Forget?" | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e680af6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e680af6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e680af6f | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e963adf1 | type |
Bad Girl Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e963adf1 | comment |
Bad Girl Song: Diana's cut section of "Feeling Electric"; "Wish I Were Here" and the cut song "Growing Up Unstable", for Natalie. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e963adf1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e963adf1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_e963adf1 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ee9bf817 | type |
Sanity Slippage Song | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ee9bf817 | comment |
Sanity Slippage Song: Apart from the rather obvious examples, the usually "steadfast and stoic" Dan in "It's Gonna Be Good (Reprise)" as he refuses to name their son to Diana, and eventually smashes the music box that reminded Diana of Gabe at the end of the song, causing Natalie to issue a "Jesus, Dad!". | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ee9bf817 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ee9bf817 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_ee9bf817 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f332d990 | type |
Too Much Information | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f332d990 | comment |
Too Much Information: Does this to Natalie at the very beginning of the show so it seems that they are leading normal lives. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f332d990 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f332d990 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f332d990 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f3fd818b | type |
Dark Reprise | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f3fd818b | comment |
Dark Reprise: "It's Gonna Be Good" is a bouncy, happy tune about Dan's excitement for dinner with the family. The reprise is a tense argument between him and his wife. "I'm Alive", while very dark in substance in its initial iteration, becomes even more overwhelmingly vicious halfway through its reprise — Gabe becomes very vehement in tone and word choice as he re-asserts his control over both Diana and Dan. "And the medicine failed and the doctors lied..." Technically, when you think about it, all the reprises in Next to Normal are dark- except for the reprise of "Perfect for You." "You Don't Know" itself is a dark, sort of vicious-sounding song- but the reprise is even darker, talking about Diana struggling to regain her memories- and then it goes into Mood Whiplash when Madden says "Have you talked of your depression, your delusions, and your son?" and Diana remembers that Gabe is her son who died sixteen years ago. Similarly, the reprise of "I Am the One" is pretty dark, as Diana has just left her husband and Dan sits alone- that is, until Gabe shows himself to his father. "But you've always known who I am..." "I Am The One" is an odd reversal. The first one starts out, while not happy, positive as Dan tries to tell Diana that he will always be there for her then Gabe appears and asserts his control on her as he berates Dan for acting like he doesn't exist Then in the reprise, it starts out darker as Diana is leaving Dan and he sings about his frustrations that he has stayed with her for years through her problems and yet she chooses to leave. Then Gabe appears again, but this time he is staying with Dan to make him come to terms with his son's death. Thus, although not quite happy, the song ends on a positive note. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f3fd818b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f3fd818b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_f3fd818b | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_fa74c41c | type |
Distant Duet | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_fa74c41c | comment |
Distant Duet: There are a number. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" is an interesting variation of the trope, as Gabe is singing to Natalie by the end of it but she can't see him. | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_fa74c41c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_fa74c41c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_fa74c41c | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | comment |
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| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | featureApplicability |
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| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | |
| Next to Normal (Theatre) / int_name | itemName |
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