The Happy Sad: We Need to Talk
Written by Ken Urban
Directed by McKenna Perry
The Producer’s Club and Applecor
June 27, 2019
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

Warning:  Whis will be a bit bias of a review in that one of my prized former students is part of this eager young group of actors working to stage this play in a tee tiny theatre.  It was just such a joy to see him and really, such a wonderful time just experiencing the story.

The Happy Sad is all about being a twenty-something and facing the dating world of New York City.  Most of the show is about trying to find your label or your definition when it comes to dating.  Are you gay, straight or bi?  Are you interested in an open relationship?  What really is an open relationship?  Does race or age play into the formula?

Hookups of every flavor abound.  And once the hookup becomes a bit boring, then all bets are off as everyone rushes to find the next, new connection.  What worked for me about this production was the actors passion for their work.  They were glad to be on stage and truly having fun.  It showed.  There was also a free, uninhibited energy to everything.  They broke out in song and dance and never looked back.  The plot was a bit thin, but I could find a few moments – especially with the interracial gay couple that really touched me.  Their attempts to be genuine in such a sexually charged immaturity really got to me.

The down side was one single actor who was just not in the play.  He yelled all the time and couldn’t have read more falsely.  He indicated and really never listened to his stage partners.  He must have thought he was play at an amphitheater.  With so many intimate scenes and with him being core to many of them – I was pulled out of the play time and time again.  How hard is it to be intimate on stage, especially in a theatre with less than a hundred seats.  He really stood in the way.

AND, although I loved to see the unbridled singing and dancing on stage, it would have only improved is someone could match pitch –  But it really didn’t become a big deal.

I really loved my night in the theatre.  I had fun watching these young actors.  It worked for me.