And I took you by the hand, and we stood tall.

Alyssa and I had been talking about going to see a show for a while, and after we started dating, kept talking about one show in particular. It had been a show, a musical even, of which I could probably recite to you at least one full song. I could do this only because both Stephanie and Alyssa were obsessed with the musical since spring of last year.

Well, tickets to this show seemed like a great idea for a Valentine's Day celebration, so that's what I did. Now, unless you know who I'm talking about, you're probably asking, "what show could you possibly be describing?"

I'll tell you what show. It's titled Next to Normal. Now, before this past friday, I might have jokingly rolled my eyes while knowing full well that I probably would have liked the show. In fact, almost every show I've seen so far that I fell in love with has been a show I might have wrinkled my nose at, given it was mentioned prior (aha) to me seeing the show. Pride and Prejudice, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, even Les Miserables are all examples of this.

Next to Normal was no different. The show was just so amazing, I can't even really describe the shock. I knew I was going to like it, but I did not expect to love it. The singing was great, and although Alice Ripley might have sang a bit low at some instances, she was incredible in her role. The one thing about this show that really got to me was the emotion. This show communicated so much pain and emotional hurt that it nearly brought me to tears.

Twice.

I had to resist the urge, and believe me, it was difficult. I'm a sucker for a good tragedy. In reality, I hate all the sad stories we hear in the news so often these days, but presented from the stage, I see it as brilliant and I can't get enough. This whole show was just one thing after another, but they did it in such a seamless way, I didn't even think about it like that. Some shows that go for the continual breakdown sort of storyline just heap it on you like a pile of bricks.

The show starts. Then BAM you have this whole crap load of death and despair and depression pounding on the doors yelling "HERE I AM!", and it's almost laughable at times. But Next to Normal had every one of the D's I just mentioned and even more letters of the alphabet, and yet it seemed so real. I sat there thinking that this all happened. I guess the only true word to describe it was powerful. It hit me hard, and I loved it.

Personally, the Dad, Dan, is my favorite character in the show. He tries so hard to keep everything in order and expresses his love to his wife so deeply; he just throws everything that he is on the floor for her and everyone else to see. And in the end, it accomplished exactly the opposite of what he intended. Was his fatal flaw that he cared too much? Can one care too much? Dan has a lyric that says something along the lines of, "Who's crazy? The one who visits the doctor or the one who sits in the car?" He deals with so much and once all the screaming and crying is over, he's sitting in a bloodstained chair, in complete darkness, with only the company of memories/ghost of his dead son to "comfort" him. Simply an amazing character. And of course I told Mr. Somers this once I saw him after the show. I mean, why not congratulate an actor on having the best part in the musical, right?

Needless to say, even if I hadn't gone to that show yesterday, it was a completely perfect day, and I loved it so much. I am so lucky!