I loved how Horby's element of progression worked in this musical. A specific moment that demonstrates this is in the recurrence of the song "I Am The One". In the beginning of the play when Gabe is revealed to the audience as a figment of Diana's imagination, he appears to comfort her saying that he is the one, her one true son. The song is again used as a tool for comfort towards the end of act II after Diana leaves Dan. He and Gabe sing the song. At its end, Dan addresses his son for the first time in the play, calling him Gabriel.
I love when songs reoccur in musicals, especially when they are used in a different light or are somewhat turned on their head. In this play, "I Am The One" is a demonstration of Gabe's love for his family. It is initially used in competition with opposition of his father and sister who do not see him. In the end, it is the confirmation that he is theirs. He is watching over them. This song is his cry to be remembered.
I agree with your post and I basically said the same thing in my own post about Next to Normal. I also love when songs reoccur because it does make the audience think about the scene and how it is different from the other scene where the song is used in. It is also nice to have something played that the audience already kind of knows so they can hum along.
ReplyDeleteWell I essentially said the same thing about Next to Normal, but what I find fascinating about the songs connection between Gabe and Dan in act 2 is that it makes you question why Gabe was around the whole time. Was he around to comfort Diana or was he around to make Dan notice him and acknowledge that he was real and he is very much alive even though is isn't physically alive.
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