Next to Normal Twitter Version- interesting insight

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 8:35pm

I'm reading the Next to Normal Twitter performance version, and it's given me a few insights into the Diana-Gabe-Dan relationship that I never had before.

SPOILERS:
Many people have wondered about the meaning of Gabe's appearance to Dan at the end of the show, as well as the incestuous undertones of Gabe's relationship with Diana. However, in the "Twitter Novel" on May 11 at 1 PM, Diana tweets, "my husband doesn’t get me. My son does. He reminds me of Dan, way back
when..."

I had always seen Gabe as purely a construct of Diana, becoming her fictional "son" and "lover" the same way she imagines Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden as attempting to seduce her. However, drawing a direct connection to Dan, as sort of a semblance of who Dan "used to be" before the death of his son adds a new layer to both characters. Does anyone else see this too?

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 8:51pm

I see what you mean. My interpretation of who or what Gabe is, and who can see him, changes all the time.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 9:01pm

Now that I'm seeing Gabe as a revenant of the "old" Dan, that has grown and developed like a person, it makes the ending make a lot of sense. Not until Diana leaves and Dan is alone with himself is he forced to confront, not only the death of his son, but the change in himself and the person that he has become. Thus, the reunion with "Gabe" in the I Am The One Reprise takes on a very significant new meaning- the person who died is not Gabe, but Dan, and the two of them finally see each other again.

[rjm516]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 10:27pm

AND both Dan and Gabe sing "I am the one who watched while you died" so that becomes so much deeper.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 10:27am

It brings a whole different meaning to that whole song...