THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 2:54pm

At the main stage at the MTC
Anyone see it?


Unwanted from the moment she’s born, Sunny is determined to escape her life in rural China and forge a new identity in the city. As naïve as she is ambitious, Sunny views her new job in a grueling factory as a stepping stone to untold opportunities. When fate casts her as a company spokeswoman at a sham PR event, Sunny’s bright outlook starts to unravel in a series of harrowing and darkly comic events, as she begins to question a system enriching itself by destroying its own people.
Critically acclaimed when it debuted in a workshop production at London’s National Theatre, THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS makes its world premiere in a co-production with Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. “Hard-hitting and bruisingly funny” (Time Out London), this epic new drama by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig is as fierce and unflinching as the world it examines. Eric Ting directs.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 8:53pm

Well saw it this afternoon. What an emotional roller coaster of a play. Very politically oriented. I don't think I want to ever visit China after seeing this.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 10:25pm

A very necessary play that takes you on a very surprising roller coaster of emotions.

I just saw it tonight and was deeply moved by it. A very important call-to-arms led by a very talented troop of actors, with a bravura performance by Jennifer Lim at its center. As usual, Lim is at the top of her game and does searing, honest work.

I was not sold on the play until the last 30 minutes. It took me a while to get into its style. But by the end, I was so very glad I went.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 10:27pm

Have to also add that this may be one of the boldest things MTC has done in a long time. A VERY politically-charged piece that I was surprised to see there.

It's also very nice to see a cast of all Asian actors (including the dreamy Telly Leung) working.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 9:15am

It's a compelling, largely well-written, extremely well-acted play. I saw it last week and it wasn't quite all there yet, but I'm hoping that by opening night (this coming Tuesday) it will be. I plan to return next month.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 9:28am

I saw it last Friday and thought it was quite good, but also quite not there yet. The audience at my performance didn't seem to know how to respond to some of it, though.

I agree that Jennifer Lim was fantastic, and I also thought both Jo Mei and Telly Leung were excellent. I also thought that the photo essay in the lobby was well-done and helped my understanding of the world we were about to enter in the play.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 2:24pm

I saw it last night.

Jennifer Lim was incredible. Worth sitting through just for her.

I did NOT like it. I didnt feel like it told a true hardfelt story. I think it "told" a story. It felt like actors, on a stage.

Why are the accents all american?????? It took me out of it. All the action takes place in China. and it felt like an americanized, theatricalized production.

By the last 30 minutes I was IN. But the final scene Telly Leung didnt do it for me.

The rest of the cast was bleh. It all felt so fake.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 2:28pm

'Why are the accents all american??????'

I haven't seen the play, but if it all takes place in China among Chinese-speaking characters, why would you force your actors to fake Chinese accents. The characters don't hear themselves with accents, because they're speaking their native tongue. Why on earth would you want them to affect accents?

It's like asking why Kristen Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan didn't use Russian accents in THE SEAGULL.

Updated On: 2/19/15 at 02:28 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 2:38pm

Why are the accents all american?????? It took me out of it. All the action takes place in China. and it felt like an americanized, theatricalized production.

I can't remember the two words Sunny confused when reading the petition with Pete, but the fact that they look nothing alike in English, but probably do when written in Chinese characters, should have immediately brought you back to the fact that they would be speaking Chinese.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 3:14pm

I must say that Chinese and political are not usually two things I would look for in a play but I took a chance and went to form my own opinion. I really loved this play. I agree with above posters that the audience didn't know how to respond which I thought added to my enjoyment more because I got it. The sense of humor was right in line with what I find funny. I thought the set was utilized well and got across the setting of urban and rural China.

The performances across the board were very good with the slight except of the actor playing Mr. Destiny. I saw him in KUNG FU and didn't love him in that either. I did like his factory worker character though. Jennifer Lim was definitely the standout of the evening.

Highly recommended and don't be put off if political plays aren't your thing.