Henry

Henry is a character from the musical Next to Normal. In the original Broadway cast, Henry is played by Adam Chanler-Berat.

Biography
Musician. Romantic. Stoner. Slacker. Philosopher king. Seventeen.

Act I

Henry is introduced shortly after Natalie Goodman' s solo, "Everything Else," where she is established as overworking herself, striving to be perfect, and wanting to get out of high school quickly so she can escape her parents. He makes it clear that he's listened to her before, implies that he's done it often, and is interested in her.

After that, an unstated amount of time has passed and we see him and Natalie in his bedroom, where he professes his love through his only solo, "Perfect for you." It's implied that this turns into Henry walking her home, as Natalie's mother, Diana, witnesses their first kiss.

A few weeks later, Henry walks Natalie home again, and gets dragged into the house for dinner by Natalie's father, Dan. It seems to be going smoothly until Diana brings out a birthday cake for Gabe, her and Dan's son who passed away sixteen years ago. Natalie bolts to her room, and Henry attempts to politely excuse himself and follow her.

Henry tries to console her by joking around and offering her weed from a pipe that he made from an apple and is disproportionately proud of. Natalie proceeds to vent her frustrations with her family - constantly being forgotten and shown up by her dead brother - to Henry, "Superboy and the Invisible Girl."

Soon, Natalie goes to her Yale audition, which her parents promised to attend. Henry is the only one present and has brought her flowers. She freaks out about how she doesn't see her parents while Henry attempts to soothe her because he's 'sure they're here.' Eventually, Natalie gets on stage and realizes that her parents, indeed, failed to show up. She tries to play despite that, but messes up multiple times, until she quotes something Henry had said when they first met and argued about piano, about how classical is too structured and rigid.

Henry watches from back stage, and says "oh no," right before Natalie starts to play something that most definitely is not her piece. After she's done, Henry comes onto stage and coaxes Natalie to come home with him.

If pre-broadway, we first see Natalie attend a club in "Feeling Electric," where Natalie goes into a club while Henry protests, yet hesitantly tags along, presumably to keep her safe.

Act II

On broadway, we are introduced to Natalie's issues regarding drugs and clubs before "Wish I Were Here," where she goes into a a club while Henry protests, yet hesitantly tags along, presumably to keep her safe. "Wish I Were Here" ends with Natalie telling Henry that her mother is returning from ECT, and she will call him if she needs him.

Needless to say, she does not call him.

Henry is next seen in "Hey 1," where he approaches Natalie during school. He's worried about the fact that she still might be using, and Natalie immediately deflects because she feels he's being hypocritical. They argue for a moment. Then, Henry invites Natalie to a formal dance on March 1st. She leaves.

Next, Henry visits the Goodman house, where Diana spends a second too long looking at him, as he reminds her of Gabe, who she has forgotten due to her ECT. He asks for permission to go up to Natalie's room, which Diana grants. Henry goes up to Natalie's room and asks her, once again, to the dance, reminding her that it's tomorrow. She says that they'll see.

The next day, Henry shows up at eight pm to pick Natalie up for the dance. He wears a pastel blue prom suit. As he enters the Goodman house, Dan shatters Gabriel's old music box on the ground. Natalie, who was going to the door, reacts and runs back to her room. Henry follows. In "Why Stay/A Promise," both Dan/Diana and Henry/Natalie argue. The women critisize their respective partners for enduring with how they act. Both men make it clear that they choose to stay and aren't leaving now.

Natalie and Henry embrace. However, it doesn't last long, as immediately after, Diana has a meltdown and Natalie has to drive her mother to the hospital/her therapist. Henry asks if she's still going to come to the dance. Natalie responds that she'll try to make it, but has to take her mom to the hospital.

Henry goes to the dance and waits for Natalie.

She finally shows up, and Henry explains that he's doubted she would come and he's worried about her mother. Natalie begins to spiral, worrying about the possibility of ending up like her mother. He tries to calm her, which doesn't work. Finally, he tells her that, if she ends up like her mother, he's still going to stick around, even if one of them goes insane. They kiss.

We last see Henry in "Light," and although it doesn't focus on any one character, we see that Henry is still dating Natalie. He attends a small birthday party for Natalie, implying that their relationship lasts.

Trivia

 * Adam appeared in an episode of the podcast, "The Ensemblist," on June 24, 2020.
 * Henry didn't exist in the first write of NTN, there was simply an outside drug dealer character.
 * he was then written in to parellel dan, if dan was more understanding of mental illness.
 * his head is empty. full of love

Facts the writer just made up

 * henry's been in love with natalie since he was eleven, just never had the courage to talk to her
 * henry's got a therapy cat named luna. she helps him with his ADD
 * he has parents that care about him. f.ck off