3.5* I prefer the graphic novel, but this brought a lot of intense, confusing emotion through its musical arrangements. That’s a good thing for this title as it suits the original theme really well.

The final songs from Helen, Bruce and Alison are the most impactful in my opinion. They answer very well, what I subconsciously wondered would be the inner thoughts of Helen and Bruce as the events were unfolding in the graphic novel. And the last song really pulls on your heart strings. I thought it was a beautiful ending with a lot of somber tones that revealed Alison’s yearning to be a kid again and live those “rare, perfectly balanced” moments once more. The moments that make her forget the pain that her family went through together; to instead, highlight the shared joy. The last line points to that as well, though it also has an air of ambiguity to it. I like that it’s left up for interpretation, just as the book did. The complexities of Alison and her family are adapted well here.

**If you decide to read it, I recommend playing the music as you go along with the play.