HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND ‘HAPPILY SKIPPING’ AT THE GUILD
Title: HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND ‘HAPPILY SKIPPING’ AT THE GUILD , By: Armstrong, Linda, New York Amsterdam News, 00287121, 10/25/2001, Vol. 92, Issue 43
A play without much substance or engaging characters is playing off-off-Broadway at the Hudson Guild Theatre. “Happily Skipping a Beat” is an attempt by Trinidadian native F.N. Asgarali to write a comedy/drama about what troubles a wealthy, middle-aged, white couple could have during their mid-life crises.
The husband, Egbert, is having problems becoming aroused, while his wife, Marla, is frustrated and unhappy. She is tired of being a conventional wife and mother and feels something is missing from her life.
The playwright, who is also the director, has the couple find satisfaction in the arms of others. While the play has humorous points, the funniest aspect is that Asgarali actually put it on a stage. The characters are superficial and too stereotypical, especially an underage Asian prostitute name Tinsie. She acts very silly and constantly mispronounces words or misunderstands their meaning.
Having sex with Tinsie ends up being Egbert s cure for impotence and the play ends with them under the sheets. Marla takes an African culture course with a young professor and opts for some extracurricular activity.
Throughout the play, the audience has to endure an overacted sex therapist, Dr. Rumple, played by Peter Galman.
After a couple of scenes from this play, one probably would decide they need to be somewhere else. This play is not worth the time. I encourage you to make sure your feet skip 26th Street.
Although a few snores could be heard in the audience during the performance, there were some bright spots. Byron Smith,John Squire and Molly Noe delivered entertaining performances.
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By Linda Armstrong, Special to the AmNews
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Source: New York Amsterdam News, 10/25/2001, Vol. 92 Issue 43, p34, 1p
