Pursued By Happiness
Don’t miss this one—delightful, charming, yet brutal, black comedy; intensely human and satisfying. When the show was over I continued to sit in my seat relishing a feeling of happiness.
Two scientific nerds, Julie and Frank, both in their forties, who might very well be doomed to lives of isolation, meet and are drawn to one another. Frank proposes marriage on the first date; Julie agrees with the proviso that they meet the parents. Dire realities are revealed that threaten their future. But Julie has pointed out early that new synapses in the brain are created throughout one’s lifetime—not only in childhood as previously believed—suggesting that happiness, at least biologically speaking, is pursuing us rather than the other way around, and people are able to thrive anew even after the most horrendous experiences.
Playwright, Keith Huff—author of another of The Road Theatre’s productions, The Bird and Mr. Banks—recently had his play, Steady Rain produced to sold-out Broadway audiences. He is currently working on a screenplay of A Steady Rain, as well as Kill Switch, The Brothers Buczakowski, and Why We Fight. We should keep our eye out for each of these works as this writer, gifted and talented, is certainly going places.
Each of the actors were perfection in their roles. Avery Clyde as Julie had a vulnerability and grace hard to resist. Mark St. Amant was totally believable as the intellectual hiding all feeling behind humor. Elizabeth Herron and Tom Knickerbocker played both sets of parents and so convincingly that the person I sat with was unaware that the same actors played both sets of parents. I was particularly moved by Ms. Herron’s performance; she was extremely daring and bold, but never overstepped the line of believability, and funny, funny, funny.
Robin Larsen, who recently directed the awarded Four Places at The Rogue Machine, Tryst at The Black Dahlia Theatre, An Infinite Ache, Black Dahlia Theatre, and many other lauded productions, shines brilliantly here. A light touch pervades, and as the mother and daughter laugh together over a hideous past we too transcend.
The multi-leveled set (Craig Siebels) is terrific as are lights (Jeremy Pivnick) and sound (David B. Marling). This is a totally professional production, and I hope it has a long life.
The Road Theatre Co.
Runs through Sunday, May 29
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm $25
877-367-9112, www.RoadTheatre.org
Sunday, March 29 & Friday April 1 is Pay-What-You-Want