jv92 sees 'Happiness'

[jv92]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 9:31am

*I'm trying not to spoil it, but there are a few.*

"A TRAIN THAT'S HALFWAY THERE"
While Happiness is not a grave disapointment, it is a disapointment nonetheless. The premise is exceptionally bizarre, though oddly enough, Mr. Weidman gets it to make sense at least most of the time. The show is staged very nicely. Ms. Stroman has indeed still 'got it'. The music by Mr. Frankel in the charming first half is marvelous, the music in the just plain stupid second half is not so marvelous. The lyrics by Michael Korie are the standout of the show.
The number that worked best for me was the opening which brillliantly captured city life, rushing for that subway and so on. Hunter Foster's two vaudeville-esque tunes were also delightful, particularly "Step Up the Ladder." Fred Applegate's, "The Best Seats in the Ballpark" was excellent as well.
Where the show falters is the charming, but medicore "Family Flashcards" song, Joanna Gleason's campy blowjob song and the attrocious "Tooth Fairy Song" which felt more like a bad drag club's homage to In the Heights than a touching musical sequence. The last number, the title tune, while interesting in using mixed meters (a given for Mr. Frankel) and having some nice harmonies, was also rather bland as well.
The cast was very good with Applegate and Foster as the standouts. Jenny Powers was certainly good, but I don't get all the noise being made about her and a Drama Desk Award or even nomination. Mr. Foster, certainly.
So Happiness didn't bring me quite as much happiness as I thought it would, but its lyrics, cast and first half are marvelous. If only it had gotten fully there.


Updated On: 4/4/09 at 09:31 AM