Defining what's normal

His name doesn’t command top billing but actor Jake Macapagal has things as important as stardom: A body of work and integrity.

More than two decades as theater and movie actor, Jake has portrayed a wide range of characters in major and indie projects. From key roles as healer (in Pandango) to the inconspicuous party guest (in Sakay), the soft-spoken actor has, indeed, been there, done that in a way that allowed him to even work in Japan, Singapore and Germany.

In the next few weeks, Jake will be adding to his back catalogue by playing Dr. Madden, a shrink in Atlantis Productions’ Next to Normal. His patient is the lead character Diana, who has bi-polar disorder, a psychological disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania.

“Not only did I have to research on the disorder but some of the lyrics have medical terms. It’s something I’ve not done before,” he said.

More than testing his mettle in learning tongue-twisting words, Jake said he auditioned for the role because he believes in the message of the story; that is, defining (or in this case, not defining) what is normal.

“What can be normal to you may be abnormal to someone else. Ultimately, the story tells us to not be judgmental of others,” he said.

Next to Normal is a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning rock musical that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse and ethics in modern psychiatry. Sounds heavy? Not if you ask Jake.

“It helps that there are lots of singing and that the music is country and rock, two genres that many Filipinos can relate to. It’s kinda like Rent — you have tons of fun that you hardly notice you’re learning a lot about yourself, the world and your relationships”.

 Jake acknowledges that bipolar disorder as subject for a musical may be taboo, if not left-of-center, to some Filipinos. He points out that many Pinoys still frown on the idea of visiting a shrink unless he is deranged.

“But bipolar disorder can affect anyone even without them or their family knowing that he has it. So how could you address the issue if you don’t acknowledge it first and then do something about it?”

Asked if he thinks his role in Next to Normal could be his ticket to stardom, Jake just smiles. He said that what’s more important for him is that he does a variety of roles and that he gives each one justice.

Spoken like a true actor.

Next to Normal goes onstage on March 11 to 27 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It is directed by Bobby Garcia, who comes straight from his critically acclaimed staging of A Little Night Music in Manila and Singapore.

The music and lyrics of Next to Normal is by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, respectively. It stars Menchu-Lauchengco Yulo and Jett Pangan, who take on two of the most demanding roles written for musical theater originated on Broadway by Tony Award winning actress Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer. Also in the cast are Bea Garcia, Felix Rivera, and Pilipinas Got Talent finalist Markki Stroem. Atlantis Productions’ Next to Normal is the first licensed English Language production of the musical outside the US.