The official HAPPINESS love thread

[MissChablis]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 8:15pm

I've seen HAPPINESS twice (once in previews and once last week). The first time I saw it I thought it was sheer genius -- original, smart, funny, diverse -- with great characters, songs, staging and choreography, an amazing ensemble cast... I could go on. I was moved more times than I could count by the end of the show -- and the crowd went nuts for it! I thought it would certainly get a Broadway transfer.
Then along comes that unnamed snark master from the NYT, who always complains about how brainless and bland the musical landscape has become, who hates musicals that have been adapted from movies, who hates jukebox musicals. This should have been the kind of show that a guy like Ben Brantley (whoops I named him) could appreciate; or if he didn't love it at least he could acknowledge what this incredible creative team was trying to accomplish. Instead he writes this review that added up to nothing more than heckling, like he was so impressed with how clever he could be in his disbarragement. I'm sure he really impressed himself. Two weeks later he writes a love letter to Rock of Ages. (Nothing against Rock of Ages, which I also liked, but in Brantley's world something seems a little off here.)
So I figured I'd go see HAPPINESS again (thank you TDF), I must have missed something right? NO! It was even better the second time, and like I said before, the cast is incredible. They must know that their most important review was less than kind, but they are out there killin'. And again, the crowd went crazy for it. I'm sure pretty soon an urgency to see this is gonna kick in pretty soon, so if you haven't yet... This is the undiscovered gem of the season!
I think Stroman is getting hit with some wierd, undeserved Producers backlash or something.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 8:18pm

I've seen it twice so far as well and LOVE this show. The entire cast is outstanding, especially Jenny Powers, who is giving a star-turn in her role.

I love the score, the set, the choreography...everything. I can't wait to see it a third (and hopefully fourth) time!

[MissChablis]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 8:22pm

I loved Jenny too, but I thought the two best stories were the first two: the old lady's swing number (what a gorgeous couple!) and the doorman going to the World Series (that kid broke my heart!).

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 8:39pm

Brantley didn't review ROCK OF AGES.

Isherwood did.

[mikem]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 8:59pm

To be fair to Isherwood, the reviews in general were on the mixed/negative side, which I found surprising. I was expecting that some reviewers would love it and some would not, but the reviews were pretty uniform in general. I thought the show had its flaws, but I really enjoyed it and am planning on seeing it again. Unfortunately, with those reviews, I don't think the show is going to extend (although there still don't seem to be any discounts despite its appearing on tdf regularly).

I agree that the first two stories were the best, which I think is one of the problems with the show -- it has 2 very high points fairly early right after each other and then never gets back to that high point.

[theatre2]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 10:03pm

any news on a cast cd of happiness.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/24/09 at 10:45pm

I agree that Phyllis Somerville and Fred Applegate's stories were the best, but Jenny Powers was the best overall actress/dancer/singer in my opinion.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/25/09 at 11:43am

I liked Happiness an awful lot. Not the masterpiece that Grey Gardens was, but what can be? However, I still don't get the Jenny Powers love. She was certainly good, but not the revelation that WithoutATrace makes her out to be.
I'd suggest seeing this before it closes and I hope for a cast album. I'm surprised PS Classics hasn't picked it up yet. Speaking of PS Classics (and sorry to threadjack)- but The Story of My Life gets a release before Road Show? Jeez!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/25/09 at 3:49pm

Thank you, all. After reading this thread, I ordered tickets to see it again right before it closes. You reminded me of what a rare and special work it is. I'm glad I saw it once, but I'm looking forward, even more, to seeing it a second time.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 4/25/09 at 5:50pm

I'm heading over to New York from the UK in a couple of weeks and have booked to see "Happiness". Reading the comments on here, it seems I've made a great choice! Really looking forward to it.

[Just_John]

Posted: 4/26/09 at 2:56am

Are they selling any signed merchandise for BCEFA?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 4/26/09 at 3:02am

One of my five favorite shows of the past year. I love "Happiness"!!!!!! I need to go back and see it a second time.

[NYCtheater]

Posted: 4/26/09 at 8:43am

I went last week to a matinee and there was no BCEFA speech or signed items offered.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/6/09 at 8:56am

Bumping this because I saw it last night!

I am so glad I got to see this before it closed - it was not what I was expecting at all. Grey Gardens is my favorite show of all time so I just had to get over and see this.

The stories I found the most touching were actually the doorman's and the interior designer's. That little kid at the baseball game was brilliant.

Overall, I loved the show (and the music was amazing. I don't know how Scott does it), but Grey Gardens it was not.

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 5/6/09 at 11:48am

Loved it, and thought Sebastian Arcelus was excellent.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/6/09 at 12:00pm

God, hasn't this piece of **** closed YET?

[Nick Plasia]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 12:25am

Uh-oh, the prissy queen speaks again!