Happy Now?

Infobox Play
name = Happy Now?


image_size =
caption =
writer = Lucinda Coxon
chorus =
characters = Michael Kitty Johnny Miles Bea
Carl
June
mute =
setting = The city
date of premiere = 24 January 2008
country of Origin = UK
original language = English
series =
subject =
genre =
web = http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/happynow
playbill_event =
ibdb_id =

"Happy Now?" is a play by Lucinda Coxon, first staged at the National Theatre, London in 2008.

Plot

After a conversation with Michael, a middle aged businessman, at a conference hotel, Kitty begins to wonder what life is really all about as she desperately tries to balance family life with personal freedom and fidelity with a trying job in marketing for a cancer charity. Meanwhile, at home, Johnny (her husband) makes out she's got it easy compared to his hectic schedule as a newly trained teacher - a job he ironically took on in order to lead a more laid-back lifestyle. Kitty's parents are drifting further and further apart as her mother, June, tries to keep Kitty on her side of the feud. Miles and Bea - Kitty and Johnny's friends - are also struggling to hold it together as Miles is slowly becoming more and more gripped by alcoholism whilst Carl, another friend, seems to have the ideal lifestyle with his new lifeguard boyfriend Antonio.

Original Production

The original production was staged at the Cottesloe Theatre, National Theatre, London on 24 January 2008 and is currently playing until 10 May 2008. The production was directed by Thea Sharrock and featured the following cast:
* Michael - Stanley Townsend
* Kitty - Olivia Williams
* Johnny - Jonathan Cullen
* Miles - Dominic Rowan
* Bea - Emily Joyce
* Carl - Stuart McQuarrie
* June - Anne Reid

The technical crew were as follows:
* Production Manager - Igor
* Designer - Jonathan Fensom
* Lighting Designer - Oliver Fenwick
* Sound Designer - Paul Arditti
* Fight Director - Terry King
* Company Voice Work - Kate Godfrey
* Assistant Director - Laura Farnworth
* Stage Manager - Fiona Bardsley
* Deputy Stage Manager - Valerie Fox
* Assistant Stage Manager - Sophie Milne
* Costume Supervisor - Jane Gooday
* Prop Supervisor - Kirsten Shiell
* Assistant to the Lighting Designer - Paul Knott
* Assistant Production Manager - Simon Khamara
* Design Associate - Ben Austin
* Video Images - Gemma Carrington
* Production Photographer - Stephen Cummiskey

Reception

The play received good reviews with The Independent [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/reviews/happy-now-national-theatre-cottesloe-london-774756.html Happy Now? National Theatre: Cottesloe, London - Reviews, Theatre - Independent.co.uk] ] , Mail on Sunday and Whatsonstage.com [ [http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821201258543 Whatsonstage.com – London theatre tickets, discounts, news and reviews] ] each awarding it four stars.

References

External links

* [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/happynow National Theatre - Happy Now official website]