THERE’S NO ‘MAYBE’ ABOUT IT
HAPPINESS HAS LANDED AT THE BELASCO
When Avenue Q ran against Wicked at the Tonys for Best Musical, it was often compared to the American folktale The Little Engine That Could vs. the big corporate multi-million-dollar musical. One was a small contender with lots of heart; the other a huge dazzling spectacle. Maybe Happy Ending, which opened last night at the Belasco Theater, might just be the next little musical that could.
Darren Criss
Without an overture or chorus-filled opening number, this 4-person musical starts small like a chamber piece, but then its big heart fills the stage, and you can’t help but root for its win. With book and lyrics by Hue Park and Will Aronson, and tuneful music by Aronson, the score is unobtrusive, intimate, and, thanks to the 10-member orchestra — conducted by Music Director John Yun (who alternates with Associate Music Director Eric Kang) — seductively lush.
Dez Duran
In a small one room apartment, we meet Oliver (Darren Criss), who is listening to a vintage-style recording sung by (the fictitious) jazz crooner Gil Brentley (Dez Duran from NBC’s The Voice). The gorgeously sung tune is titled “Why Love”, an opening number that introduces a sweetly sad story which will attempt to answer just that question.
Helen J. Shen
Oliver is a Helperbot 3, a humanoid robot, kind of a battery-operated butler pre-programmed to be optimistic. He sings “World Within My Room” — mechanically brushing his teeth, tending to his plant, admiring his jazz albums and magazines, and waiting for his owner James to show up to collect him. By the end of the song, 12 years have passed. James isn’t showing up. 37 years old, Criss looks as cute as a K-Pop 20-something boy band member. With his painted lips, mascaraed eyes, and every hair in place, along with his mechanical movements, lovely singing voice, and Charlie Chaplin stature, he may actually indeed be part robot.
Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss
When a stranger knocks on Oliver’s door to borrow a charger, the two are not exactly compatible. This is Claire (funny and charming Helen J. Shen making her Broadway debut) a newer model 5, whose movements are not only smoother and more lifelike, she can also drive a car. Both robots have presumably been retired and are waiting out their shelf-life. When she sees that Oliver has been saving money to return to his owner, Claire agrees to take him to Jeju Island, where James lives with his son (both played by ageless chameleon Marcus Choi).
Marcus Choi and Darren Criss
Their epic journey gives them the opportunity to act as humans, which brings about their back stories on how they were abandoned. Sharing each other’s company and lives does something else too. It introduces the complications of falling in love. If you just cringed about a love story between two robots, yes, maybe it seems implausible and ridiculous. Here are three reasons why Maybe Happy Ending is most definitely not that: the understated book, the fully committed, ridiculously loveable performances, and the deft direction by Michael Arden. Trust me, you’ll be absolutely enraptured as these love-bots magically transport you into a futuristic sci-fi rom-com. At the first kiss, the audience audibly gasped with euphoria at the two retired, obsolete robots.
Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen
What pushes this sweet, romantic musical — originally produced in Korea in 2016 and then by Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in 2020 — into one that deserves the lofty, high praise of a Broadway hit are the imaginative, captivating designs by Dane Laffrey (scenic and co-video design), George Reeve (co-video), Ben Stanton (lights), Peter Hylenski (sound), and Clint Ramos (costumes). Watch as Laffrey’s artwork swipes right and left, moves up and down, revolves, and floats right off the stage up to the balcony. Executed with seeming effortlessness, the designs are that of masters who make their work appear simple. Here, Arden’s staging deserves a second mention of respect because the exciting collaboration with his team pushes him to the high ranks of visionary directors like Marianne Elliott, Julie Taymor, and her niece Danya Taymor.
Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss
Is a happy ending possible for an underdog musical featuring two out-of-date on-a-date robots? When the Tonys roll around, it looks likely that 90 minutes of heart will win out over spectacle once again.
Dez Duran
photos by Evan Zimmerman & Matthew Murphy
Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen
Maybe Happy Endings
Belasco Theatre, 111 West 44th St.
open run
for tickets, call 212.239.6200 or visit Telecharge
tickets and more info at Maybe Happy Ending
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find Gregory Fletcher at his website and socials: @gregoryfletcherNYC