Grief, loss, and healing: How ‘Next to Normal’ authentically portrays mental illness

Ejay Yatco’s musical direction can’t be understated. His decision to incorporate a live band in the production makes the musical’s electric soundtrack much more pleasing. Listening to Next to Normal’s songs on Spotify already sets you in the mood to become vulnerable, but hearing The Sandbox Collective’s rendition is night and day—amplifying every emotion to make you feel everything.

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The whole show uses lighting and colour to paint each character’s mental state. During sombre moments, the stage is illuminated by a dark blue light to portray Diana’s depressive episodes while her manic attacks show a flurry of colours—showing the audience what it’s like to be in them: messy, chaotic, and you don’t know why. 

The casting of The Sandbox Collective’s adaptation was on point. Both sets of cast looked like a real family, and each character bounced off each other seamlessly. Valderrama and Valdez’s performances as Diana captured the many nuances of bipolar disorder and the treatment journey. Whether she’s in a frenzy to clean the house and retile the whole roof or skipping her medication due to the side effects, Valderrama and Valdez delivered an emotional rollercoaster. Another notable quality is that they both sound very close to the original Broadway cast recording.

Mariano and Tena’s depiction of Dan was painful. Both actors portray a broken and codependent man trying his best to hold everything together for the sake of his family and to perfection. The two’s experience in the industry is evident as they exhibit numerous subtleties in body language and diction. One thing to note is the difference in Mariano’s approach compared to Tena. The former was softer, indicating a touch of softness in his voice, while the latter was firmer and more stern. This contrast changes the dynamic of the whole musical, allowing for more interpretations and making rewatches much more enjoyable.

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Vino Mabalot and Benedix Ramos’s portrayal of Gabe Goodman made audiences feel the weight of his presence on stage once the big reveal had been made—making us dread their appearance while loving the two’s performance of the character’s iconic song, I’m Alive.

Belarmino and Binay’s rendition of Natalie had the audience convinced that they were 16 years old—depicting teenage angst paired with parental neglect to the T Henry, on the other hand (played by Davy Narciso and Omar Uddin), showed us what love can and should look like, commanding the audience to root for the two characters. Finally, Jef Flores, as Dr Madden, gave respite amidst the heavy themes. As the only cast member without an alternate, his dynamic with both ensembles is a testament to his versatility as an actor. His soothing voice, alongside his musical talent, gave us hope for Diana despite her instability.

Overall, The Sandbox Collective’s Next to Normal is one of the company’s best so far. Their depiction of mental illness straddled the line between realistic and theatrical without being out of touch. While some scenes may trigger some, it offers a cathartic experience while continuing an important conversation that we should never stop having.

The Sandbox Collective’s Next to Normal runs until February 23 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight ⁠Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati⁠. For more information, visit their social media pages.

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