“I would notice that, instead of watching Disney stories, a lot of times she would be snuggled up next to me watching documentaries, history shows, 'Frontline' and things on PBS,” he said. “And I thought it was kind of amusing. But then she started to ask questions and make observations that were really intelligent observations for a five-year-old.”
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Often times in high school, the students who gravitate to theatre and the arts are depicted as “nerds”, and not associated with the “popular groups” or the jocks. (We have all seen the SNL Crucible Cast Party Sketch) These social groupings are often the punch line of jokes about high school, however, this article covers how the strive to fit in during high school, which is often a very scary part of a young person's life, can be hurtful. More and more, I think that it is important to emphasize the importance of students who have varying passions, and who choose to get involved in art organizations while in high school. The purpose of the musical Normal - C unpacks the standard of normal and works to celebrate differences. A show like this, written by a young person, is very inspiring, especially to students who may be struggling, some of which may be the playwright's peers.
Often times when I hear about families of children with disabilities, they tend to be doing whatever it takes to make that child feel normal. That is, medications, therapy, or any other prescribed treatment to normalize the child's world. It is interesting to hear that these parents felt as though those things had the potential to take away from what made their children special, and that they did not want to "conform" to societies idea of "normalizing" a child. In actuality, that child maybe much more full of life and happiness than a child who is considered to be normal. I think people like these are important because they are the ones looking for other ways. In their rebellion, for lack of a better word, they are actually forcing themselves to do their own research which can be successful and help others. Though these disabilities are common, each individual is different and I'm sure some people will respond to new methods of handling the disability better than they respond to doctor prescribed treatments. With that being said, this address some very important topics from an unexpected angle. The idea of having to choose between being "normal" or having your special talents, such as being an artist, is just tough and unfair, but that may be some people's reality. And like the actress who plays Chloe say, "There is no normal." So what are we asking of these children with disabilities?
I really enjoyed reading this article. It really took me on a slightly emotional journey. I liked the opening of it talking about the one girl that was diagnosed with ADHD. I think our current education system is broken to the point where some kids that have a lot of curiosity and willingness to learn, such as a kid who watches documentaries and asks thought provoking questions, are being labeled or diagnosed with ADHD/ADD when really the curriculum at school is too simple and boring for these kids. Aside from that, the rest of the article talks about this musical that addresses the question “what is normal?” The title was a little misleading at first for me because it mentioned high school musical which made me think of the early 2000s Disney movie, but then I realised that it was just talking about a musical that was produced in a high school. The musical that is being discussed throughout this article sounds like it is tackling a lot of very important topics including autism. I would love to have the opportunity to see this musical.
This dad’s inspiration for writing this show is so wholesome, and I feel like his personal connections to the topics makes the show that much more genuine. With that, the opinions and of the high school students who are playing the roles must add a certain unwritten depth. In other words, I feel that if the students playing the roles would take the pill in real life, the show they put on would have a much different tone than the one they have, considering that all of the actors revealed that they would not take “a magic pill that would make them neurotypical”. I believe in their statements that there is not a true normal that exists in the world, therefore even if we all were neurologically equal, there would be another standard that would call for conformity. Reading about the character who has dyslexia made me think of my own reading disability that has similar symptoms. I would not sacrifice my artistic style for the opportunity to make reading neurologically easier. That’s why conformity is so taboo: there are always sacrifices that have to be made in order to be “normal”.
There’s certainly a lot to unpack here, and I would certainly be fascinated to see this show. I’d love to see more play like this done in the school of drama because it’s topical, interesting, and relevant to our live in this day and age. The first thing this article made me think about was the representation of people with noticeable differences onstage and how they are being portrayed. Because it’s difficult for atypical humans to make it in the acting industry, many physical and mental disabilities are portrayed by actors that don’t deal with the same issues, and I just hope people find it to be a fair representation. Dear Evan Hansen deals with this issue. However, in contrast, it is good to be representing very real people, I just hope that people feel like they are accurately represented. The last thing that I find interesting and overall a good message that people exist on a spectrum and that we need to stop thinking about everything in binary terms which we naturally do about all sorts of stuff even though it’s harmful and it reinforces negatives stereotypes.
I was really moved by this article. The idea of having to be normal is so toxic and I love that that was explored in the musical Normal-C. The world needs to hear that it’s ok to be different. There’s no such thing as being “normal”. Everyone’s special in their own way. I’m so glad that this message is being expressed in a high school setting. Schools seem to want all students to be the same when that’s just not possible. Everyone learns in their own way! It’s also very interesting to hear that a lot of people who have disabilities would not want to take a magical pill that would make them “normal” because their disabilities make them unique! I love that they are embracing their differences! Now more than ever people need to hear that it’s ok to be different! Especially in America, people are afraid of anything that’s different and we need to change that!
I would love to see this musical and hope to see many others like this come to light. Societal pressure to be "normal" can put an insane amount of pressure on people both neuro-diverse as well as neuro-typical. It was heartwarming to read that when asked if they would take a magic pill to make them neurotypical, students all said no. Yes, a person with autism may communicate differently or have to discover a different way of learning, but there are so many other things that would make them unique. My cousin has autism, ADHD, and ODD. This makes both his schooling as well as social life a bit difficult as he often reacts negatively to things that are simply required, such as school. However, I call him a tech genius. He is incredibly knowledgeable about technology. He was able to program our grandmother's TV in order to display what was on her laptop from an age where he could barely reach the top cupboards in the kitchen. He's always been extremely intelligent when it came to technology, and I wouldn't want him to take any magic pill to make him "normal." I'm glad that Hall decided to play with this idea of being able to magically become "normal" and how that affects the different qualities of the characters that make them special.
It's hard to really say how much something like this means to me. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was about 9 or so, and was put on medication that did exactly what this story is about. I was depressed, lost all interest in things like baseball and building with legos, and I just wasn't myself. We ended up stopping until about halfway through my undergrad when I gave another run at medication to see if being older had any difference, which it didn't. It can be hard at times working through a lack of focus in such intense programs, but it is even harder not feeling like yourself. Even worse, it is hard believing that when medication makes you feel like someone else who is "Normal", as if the real you wasn't good enough. Nobody should have to go through life feeling like who they are isn't enough for anyone. I'm glad to see stories like this being told and hopefully others have the chance to hear it and feel like they're enough as themselves.
I think it’s absolutely wonderful not only that this show was brought into existence (and actually performed) but also that the playwright has such personal connections to the content. Given that escapist theatre has been so prevalent for so long, I think it is important that shows such as NORMAL-C start becoming more the norm; that we bring formerly “taboo” topics such as mental health and race and nonconformity into an open space where they can be discussed. The actress who plays Chloe remarks that “there is no normal” - which is true. Unfortunately, however, that is not necessarily a commonly shared philosophy. It is interesting the format in which Hall portrays the characters, too, offering a perhaps more palatable exchange to some people: would you trade your child’s most special qualities for someone who presents as more neurotypical? I think that - to those who might not have the same outlook as the actress who plays Chloe - this might be a simplified way to garner understanding and compassion.
I really enjoyed the article, which I see is a common theme from commenters, but to be totally honest, I enjoyed reading the comments more. Since I have been diagnosed with ADHD I have pondered exploring medication as an option. I consider my roommates who have to deal with me forgetting basic things like to shut the door and to remember my keys, I consider my classmates who may be distracted by me doing silly things at my desk in class when I lose focus, but I also consider who I am and if that’s worth risking for some brain skills back. I also think about side effects and I wonder “is this going to improve my life, does my life need improvement?” I also know medication isn’t right for everyone, but it is a very useful tool to help people who are struggling and definitely not an enemy. I am really curious about the ending of this play. Particularly I wonder if any of the characters choose medication as the right option.
The ideal of normalcy, especially to an adolescent person, is so skewed and artificial. like other comments above said regarding the representation of disabilities, whether the discussion be regarding neuro-atypicality or having a physical disability, is a very relevant topic when it comes to representation within theater. I think that often when we talk about theater representation or representation in film we gravitate towards discussing representation regarding race. I don't think that we should be disregarding discussions about any type of representation, and able-bodied privilege should be just as front line as other talks regarding representation in the media and in performing arts. Often characters with disabilities are portrayed by able-bodied people, which is viewed a lot of the time, as a controversial decision. I think that normalcy is a very subjective term and normal looks different for every person. The concept of normal can be very emotionally damaging and pressuring to a lot of young people .
I think this is a really interesting show which brings some more diversity to the table than we normally get to see. That said, I think as far as discussing the pros and cons of medication, I prefer a different format. For instance, the play Distracted by Lisa Loomer explores the exact same topic: a young boy is diagnosed with ADD, and the parents must decide whether medication is the correct measure to take. Even the ending message that medication can take away who you really are is similar, but what I enjoyed about Distracted was that it was real. I think the play discussed in this article focuses more on the philosophical argument of whether we should view disabilities as disabilities or somehow entirely reject the concept of the neurotypical mind. Distracted, on the other hand, tackles a more specific and more realistic situation. The reactions Jesse has to his medication are real side effects to a real drug which is not the case with Normal-C. I think the philosophical argument presented by this show is compelling and important to discuss especially when deciding what language is appropriate to use for disabilities, but I also really enjoy the discussion about medication and prefer shows which explore real medications and real people.
I am really glad that this play exists and this is becoming more of a topic of conversation among people. The idea that there is no normal is one that I think everyone needs to be reminded of constantly. This world seems to try so hard to convince people that they belong in one box and need to change themselves to be more like what society thinks is ‘normal’. I also think the question of what would you be willing to sacrifice to be “normal” which this play brings up is an interesting one. I have heard a lot about people, especially with Bipolar disorder who don’t want to take their meds because when they are at their highest they excel in something, usually some sort of art form and they don’t want to lose that just so their personality can be seen as “normal”. Or they are willing to experience the low lows as long as they can still get the high highs.
Middle and high school are some of the most uncomfortable times in adolescence, as there is a constant pressure from peers to fit into some kind of category. I remember in high school, through this struggle to be ‘normal,’ those of us with learning disabilities or mental health problems often had trouble finding a place to fit. I like that this musical does a really good, clear job of addressing the fact that this is the reality that so many people face. I also enjoy that the resolution of these struggles is to find your own normal, not one that forces you to align with the preferences of others. This play also opens up a conversation about the debate surrounding corrective drugs for neurological disorders that aim to make people taking the drugs more “neurotypical.” It begs the question of whether the drugs are ethical, and whether they curb the talents and individuality of the individual. Ultimately the usefulness of the drug is up to the individual taking it, but it is important to recognize that using them is not a clear cut street, and there are people who respond in negative ways.
It’s pretty cool to see this kind of diversity onstage since it’s so much different than the kind of diversity we’re used to seeing and thinking about. A lot of times in media, we see disabled people as either being strange/ underneath/ dangerous to the rest of society, or that their neurodivergence is glorified and they’re superhuman. So it seems cool about Normal-C is that the characters with disabilities are portrayed as real people. There are probably so many more people that struggle with various disabilities than we may think, so the idea of trying to fit everyone into the same confined box can be pretty harmful. It’s also interesting to see the conversation about medications added in, which also tends to be a pretty taboo topic in most everyday conversations. Often it appears that, at least in America many are quick to jump to medications to try to ‘fix’ people when that might not be the right way to go. However, there are certain situations where medications may in fact be the best course in order to give someone a better life and hopefully this play doesn’t steer people into thinking that all medications are going to make them into uncreative zombies.
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