Next to Natalie

Natalie is a very interesting character in Next to Normal. As Diana and Dan are dealing with Diana’s mental illness, Natalie is off carrying out her own life. There are not many times when Dan and Diana ask about what Natalie is up to in her personal life. Only once is Henry introduced during “It’s Gonna Be Good” as he is invited over to dinner. There is also the moment when Diana comes back from the hospital with Natalie and Diana encourages her to go to prom with Henry. With Dan’s time being preoccupied with Diana and Diana’s fixation on Gabe, Natalie is often left out, leading to “Superboy and the Invisible Girl.”

As we see Natalie’s stress from her mother’s disorder increase, there are more signs that pop up that may signify Natalie has some type of bipolar disorder as well. Bipolar disorder can develop is there is prior history in the family, and as stated previously, develops during your teens or early 20’s. Natalie has many of the symptoms of Bipolar II Disorder, especially of the lows of a depressive episode. When it comes to Henry asking Natalie out and asking her to go to prom, she has difficulty making a decision mixed up with her emotions as well. She also tries to pull away from Henry, telling him that she is “crazy.” During the prologue of the play, Diana asks why she is up so late and it’s because she is up studying (lack of sleep). She also has some feelings of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem.

One major warning sign that she may have bipolar disorder is the prescription drug abuse. This is one of the more deadly symptoms of Bipolar II Disorder. Near the end of Act One, Natalie is going through her medicine cabinet and takes some of Diana pills to feel better. She starts to take more prescription drugs Diana isn’t using and going out to parties to take her mind off of troubles at home. What is terrifying is that Dan and Diana are so preoccupied with Diana’s illness that they do not see the illness forming in Natalie. The only time Diana notices is in her electrically induced hallucination (“Wish I Was Here”.) The only person who really notices Natalie’s drug abuse is Henry, who finally coaxes her out of it.

Henry brings up two exceptions to the list of symptoms for bipolar disorder. There are two constants in Natalie’s life that tend to keep her away from her mental illness: music and Henry. While Natalie is playing piano during “Everything Else”, the first lines are:

"Mozart was crazy

Flat fucking crazy

Bad shit, I hear

But his music’s not crazy

It’s balanced, it’s nimble

Its crystalline clear"

-Natalie ("Everything Else")

She is stating that while the musician may be crazy, the music is always the same. This shows that she admits she may have some type of mental illness and that music is therapeutic to her.

Henry is also there, bringing her back to reality. Whenever she gets stressed or angry from her family life, Henry tends to calm her down. It’s a case of opposites attract, as Natalie is more uptight and structured while Henry is relaxed, a stoner. That’s why Henry sings “Perfect for You” throughout Next to Normal. When everything else is off balance, Henry keeps Natalie upright. She feels safe around him, though she is afraid to admit it. The reason she pushes him away is because she is aware something is wrong with her. It’s interesting because while people with bipolar disorder usually push people away that might hurt them, the opposite seems to be happening in her case. Natalie doesn’t want to effect anyone else the way Diana’s illness has affected her life.

This is part of the reason I believe played into Diana leaving the family during “So Anyway.” Not just for her own sake, but for Dan and Natalie’s sake as well. Diana even tells Natalie in “Superboy and the Invisible Girl” that she loves her “best that she can.” Diana isn’t a bad mother; she can’t help it on account of her mental illness. However, leaving the family and taking away the stress of her disease is the best thing she could have done for her daughter.

Just as Diana has to figure out how to live with this disorder her own way, Natalie does as well. Natalie has seen what drugs and ECT have done to her mother and decides that Henry and music are better medication to balance out her life. This musical ends on a note where Natalie takes control and tells her father that they have to keep going and see where life takes them.

"But clearly, I can’t stay

We’d both go mad that way"

-Diana ("So Anyway")

"Give me pain, if that’s what’s real

It’s the price we pay to feel."

-Natalie ("Light")