ASHES TO ASHES,
PIXIE DUST TO PIXIE DUST
Academy Award-nominated actor, playwright, and former Bay Area resident Colman Domingo‘s semi-autobiographical dramedy, Wild With Happy, is having its San Francisco debut this month at the New Conservatory Theatre Center. The title itself is a contradiction, perfectly capturing the show’s blend of humor and heartfelt emotion.
The story follows Gil (Marcus J. Paige), a struggling New York actor who returns to his hometown of Philadelphia after the death of his mother. As her only child, he’s left to make the final decisions about how to honor her memory. Initially, he considers a traditional funeral, complete with overpriced coffins, but after an encounter with the handsome, hunky, and somewhat unorthodox funeral director, Terry (Samuel Del Rosario), a self-described “reconstructed Prince Charming,” Gil starts exploring other options.
His only surviving relative, his mother’s sister Aunt Glo (Carla Banu DeJesus, who also plays Adelaide, Gil’s mother), has other ideas. Aunt Glo insists on a traditional church service, complete with family, friends, and the time-honored traditions of the Blsck community. As she hilariously pilfers through her late sister’s closet—helping herself to jewelry and favorite dresses—she delivers a lecture to Gil on the importance of these rituals. Meanwhile, Gil experiences flashbacks to past conversations and arguments with Adelaide, a fiercely opinionated woman with a very specific vision of how life should be lived.
Wild With Happy is how Gil chooses to remember his mother, a woman who dreamed of fairy tales and princesses, particularly Cinderella. When Gil’s flamboyant best friend, Mo (James Arthur M.), a larger-than-life hairdresser, enters the scene, things take an even more unexpected turn. With Adelaide’s cremated ashes in tow, the two embark on a road trip that leads them to Disney World—Mo’s idea of the perfect place to honor her, given its reputation as the “Happiest Place on Earth.” But Aunt Glo isn’t far behind, hot on their trail, with Terry in tow, eager for an adventure of his own.
Everything comes to a head at Disney’s Cinderella Suite, where heartfelt revelations and comedic chaos intertwine. Domingo’s script is full of unexpected twists, rich humor, and sharp social commentary. Shawn J. West’s direction allows the actors to milk every laugh, not just through dialogue but through expressive gestures and pitch-perfect timing.
The cast shines, but Ms. DeJesus is the undisputed audience favorite. Decked out in leopard tracksuits and delivering lines with impeccable comedic timing, she steals every scene as Aunt Glo, especially when explaining Black funeral traditions with both authority and hilarity.
At just one act, Wild With Happy is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud journey packed with heart. The audience will walk away entertained, moved, and—just as the title suggests—wild with happy.
photos by Lois Tema
Wild with Happy
New Conservatory Theatre
New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco
Wed and Thurs at 7:00pm, Fri and Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2
ends on April 6, 2025
for tickets, call 415.861.8972 or visit NCTC
