The show: “Next to Normal”

What is it?: A Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical. This is the second go-round for this show that I’ve seen in Connecticut, following TheaterWorks Hartford’s production years ago.

What makes it special?: Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who won a Tony Award for his performance an Angel in the original production of the musical ”Rent” (yikes, 27 years ago) plays a featured role in this production. Marcos Santana who did an impressive job staging “In the Heights” at the playhouse returns to direct. There’s also a terrific Tom Kitt-Brian Yorkey score that hits many musical genres..

What’s it about?: Diana., a multi-tasking mother/wife is experiencing mental health issues and pill dependency caused by long-time grief over death of a family member.. The manic-depressive mother’s effects on her daughter and husband are profound and she seeks help through a therapist — and even undergoes shock therapy — to come to terms with her illness and her loss. It’s a bumpy ride for all but one that leads to a satisfying-not-sentimental conclusion.

About the production: In the opening night performance that I saw , the sound balance was severely out of whack with most of cast singing at a disconcerting loud and at a muddy level, all obscuring the important lyrics that set up the characters of the family. It may have been intended as a dynamic opener but it was just an audio mess. Things calm down eventually and became better balanced as the show went on, with just the occasional sonic flare-up.

After this uneven start, Dar. Lee. See. Ah (that’s not a typo; that’s her name; respect) grows into the role of the haunted, bi-polar mother and is quite compelling in the second act. But much of the first act was merely angst-filled, missing the more powerful private quiet ache, especially in songs like “iI Miss the Mountains. ” The second act brought more subtlety and oh, how her gorgeous lower register makes some of the songs quite touching.

Wilson Jermaine Heredia strikes the right balance of support and frustration as the architect-husband who is trying to do his best to be supportive but becomes as lost and hopeless as his wife in how to cope with what is happening to their family.. Ashley LaLonde strikes a singular pained note as the overlooked and overwhelmed daughter Natalie, missing her character’s quirks , humor and gentle poignancy.

Katie Thompson in a gender switch as Dr. Madden is perfectly pitched as the understanding therapist who offers Diana help and options — and is killer good in rock star mode — offering understanding and options, not just easy answers. Gian Perez is delightful as the steadfast Henry, Natalie’s nerdy, faithful and loving stoner friend. As son Gabe, Daniel J,. Maldonado gives a riveting performance, even if he misses some of the dimensions that would make this figure more interesting. (His devilish performance kept me thinking how good he would be in “Beetlejuice”

All in all, the performances and direction don’t always trust the text and songs to do the work, too often robbing the audience in discovering the emotional truths of the work for themselves.

Who will like it?: Fans of richly nuanced, unsentimental, often-witty, contemporary-set and sounding, family drama.

Who won’?t: Big Pharma. Those who aren’t fans of rock scores, especially when they turn up the volume to uncomfortable levels..

For the kids?: Smart teens will relate, especially those who have experienced family dependency issues.

Thoughts on leaving the parking lot?: Westport Playhouse (and when will it drop the brand-killing “Country” from its name?) has shown it can be a home for intimate musicals. (“In the Heights”is prime example though we won’t talk about “Camelot.”) Being so well positioned Next to Manhattan, it could be a place not just to put on revivals, but new musicals, too.