Review: Soulpepper's HAPPY PLACE is Full of Honest Emotion
Another piece in Soulpepper's fall season is the sophomore production from Dora-Award winning playwright Pamela Mala Sinha.
Set in an in-patient trauma facility, HAPPY PLACE follows the lives of 7 women as they heal, cope and discover that everyone is not so different after all. This striking piece allows the audience to look at their lives through emotional dialogue and strong performances.
The play begins with an audience entrance from Samira (Oyin Oladejo) who builds the set and invites us into a new world. This moment draws the audience in by following her footsteps as she creates the set piece my piece. Immediately, we are brought into the lives of these women who all face different struggles like sexual abuse and depression.
The strong ensemble cast of women command the stage, and bring a real, honest truth to their roles. The multi-talented Pamela Mala Sinha also stars in the show. Her deep understanding of her own work lifts the production and her performances of the rest of the cast.
Not since Orange is the New Black have I seen such a diverse group of women with such chemistry and power. All shine at various points in the play as the audience discovers more about their characters, troubles, and story. Irene Poole, who portrays Rosemary, is a standout as she digs deep in a heart-wrenching scene in the second act.
While the production runs a bit long, and has moments that drag, Sinha gives us powerful and emotional scenes throughout that carry the show. Paired with subtle and intimate scenes between the women, Sinha's work is an honest truth in the lives of people. Everyone has struggles, and everyone wants to find their happy place.
What makes HAPPY PLACE so real is the fact that Sinha does not provide resolutions for their storylines. Like us, our journey is ongoing, and she was fortunate enough to share a glimpse into the lives of these women.
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