Next to Normal

One Hornby element in Next to Normal that caught my attention is tempo, particularly in the music. The tempo choice that intrigues me happens in “The Break.” This song moves at a frenzied pace as Diana reels from her relapse and runs to Dr. Madden. But then the tempo slows dramatically as Diana makes a revelation. As the music slows on page 90, Diana sings, “What happens if the cut, the burn, the break / Was never in my brain or in my blood / But in my soul?” This is Diana’s turning point as she leaves treatment and her family. From that point, she seems to have a sense of control over her life, as her remaining songs are slow and relaxed. I think that Diana has found her own capital-T Truth that differs from the conventionally accepted Truth of the psychiatrist. The sense of serenity that follows finally gives her the control to say an understated goodbye to Gabe.

One of my favorite aspects of this show is its ambiguity, especially regarding Gabe. What exactly is Gabe? During most of the show, the people in Diana’s life assume that he is simply a hallucination. But if he is simply a figment of Diana’s imagination, why does Dan see him at the end of the show? This also raises a number of questions. For example, has Dan been able to see Gabe the whole time? Would this make Gabe a spirit who can communicate to whomever he chooses, since Natalie never sees him?

I personally think that a key moment in my understanding of Gabe happens in the reprise of “I’m Alive.” After he reappears to Diana, Gabe sings on page 87, “Until you name me, / You can’t tame me—“ After this line, the stage directions say that Gabe turns to Dan and pursues him. Then, during the reprise of “I Am The One,” Gabe releases Dan when he finally acknowledges him and calls him by name. During the reprise of “It’s Gonna Be Good,” Dan refuses to say Gabe’s name, showing the depth of his denial. So, in the end, what is Gabe? I’m not entirely sure, but I think that it could be any one or a combination of choices. I think that the answer to this question can be subjective, just like Diana’s Truth. For me, his nature hinges on the element of naming that I mentioned above. I’m interested to hear other people’s theories on the matter.