BWW Reviews: HAPPY a Must-See at NJ Repertory Company in Long Branch

Have you ever been uncomfortable at a dinner party? Likely your experience was mild compared to the situation that develops with the foursome in the play Happy, now showing at the New Jersey Repertory in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Great theater leaves the audience reflecting on a play's thematic elements long after the curtain call. Happy does just that. Each line of the script is carefully crafted to divulge the true nature of the play's characters, and the play is perfectly staged, and performed.

Written by Robert Caisley, NJ Repertory Company Artistic Director, Suzanne Barabas, directs Happy with the sleek style that it deserves. The remarkable cast shines a light on the question contemplated by many, "Are you truly happy?" While the play has comedic moments, the piece also possesses a dark side that gives the audience much food for thought.

When Eduardo (Mark Light-Orr) invites his long time friend and fellow academic, Alfred (Michael Irvin Pollard) and his wife, Melinda (Wendy Peace) to dinner to meet his new girlfriend, Eva (Susan Maris), the truth of their lives, individually and collectively, is revealed during throughout the evening.

Eva is a seemingly depressed, temperamental 22 year old sculpture artist who is certain that happiness is not the norm. Her much older lover and famed artist, Eduardo, is enamored with her and very protective. Eva especially victimizes her guest, Alfred, as she challenges his light, optimistic attitude by evoking the difficult realities of his life; a static marriage, unfulfilling career, and the stressful care of a special needs daughter. Meanwhile, his very pleasant wife, Melinda, seems oblivious to the conflict playing out before her. While Eva's twisted, manipulative behavior makes the situation tense at best, both the humor and drama is perfectly placed to keep the audience wanting to know more and more about all four at the dinner party.

The New Jersey Repertory Company is a gem of a theater located in the heart of Long Branch, New Jersey. It is a year-round professional theater which is part of the National New Play Network, an alliance of not-for-profit professional theaters that champions the development, production and continued life of new plays for the American theater. Happy will be showing at New Jersey Repertory through June 30th. All tickets are $40.00 and there are student, senior, and group discounts. For more information about the theater, upcoming shows, and ticketing, please call (732) 229-3166 or visit their web site at www.njrep.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Repertory Company

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