Walter (Liam Craig) andGary (Gabe Marin) are living the 1975 version of the good life in The Happy Ones at Magic Theatre (Photos Jennifer Reiley)
The Happy Ones: Drama. By Julie Marie Myatt. Directed by Jonathan Moscone. Through April Magic Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center, S.F. (415) 441-8822 or www.magictheatre.org.
THE HAPPY ONES shines at the Magic
Have you ever wondered how a theatre company turns a formulaic play into a winner? Go no farther than the Magic Theatre in the Fort Mason Center to observe how it is done. First they assemble four of the best actors in the Bay area and bring in Jonathon Moscone, Artistic Director for California Shakespeare Company to direct. Then allow Eric Flatmo to design a multi-area set where the production crew can keep the action flowing without interruptions except for a 10 minute intermission.
It is all there on the intimate three sided stage and Julie Marie Myatt’s post-Vietnam drama will keep you entertained but not enthralled. In a series of brief scenes where most of the characters are off-stage voices, Myatt establishes that Walter Wells (Liam Craig) is living the American dream with a home in the suburbs the obligatory pre-adolescent son and daughter, beautiful wife and a swimming pool. A matter-of fact acknowledgement to his best friend, Unitarian minister Gary Stuart (Gabe Marin), “This is the dream right here. We got it” it telegraphs that these ‘happy ones’ are in for a rough ride. With simple question that Walter asks on the telephone, “Are you sure it was my family. . .” he learns that all of his family has been killed in an auto accident.
The perpetrator of the crash is Bao Ngo (Jomar Tagatac) a Vietnamese refugee who has survived and is deeply repentant wishing to die for his offense and has made ineffectual attempts at suicide. When he has recovered he confronts Walter begging to give him something for his transgression as atonement. It is a very powerful scene that begins to shape and change the personality of both men.
Before that happens, author Myatt introduces Mary-Ellen Hughes (Marcia Pizzo) a hyper-active, divorced girlfriend of Gary who is the ultimate do-gooder and literally invades Walter’s space while she and Gary do all the things that good meaning but intrusive friends do to cheer up the bereaved. Walter will have none of it.
Without plausible explanation Myatt allows Bao to ‘do something’ for Walter without the two physically meeting. In between developing the eventual understanding between Bao and Walter Myatt interjects the thought of an unjust God through the weak semi-alcoholic Gary who admits he is a poor clergyman and is intellectually having battle with God.
You will not find better actors to pull this play together. Liam Craig has the right balance of self-pity, depression, humor and anger to make you want to reach out and touch him. Gabe Marin nails the insecure traits of a boy-man acting as a perfect foil for Walter and Mary-Ellen. Marcia Pizzo is a whirlwind in action that makes Mary-Ellen a yenta hiding her fears that no one will ask her to be his wife. She dominates, and rightfully so, the stage with her burst of energy. Jomar Tagatac, in the most difficult role, under plays the hidden sorrows of Bao as he gradually reveals that the same sorrows that invade Walter are also in his soul.
There is an all too pat ending but director Moscone’s deft hand and his control of the action/timing combined with the acting lift this play above the ordinary. Running time two hours including a 10 minute intermission.
Kedar K.Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
