It îs always a pleasure to see a show in the Berkeley City Club, the Julia Morgan-designed venerable space in the heart of Berkeley. Such a small venue gives us an opportunity to feel as if we are inside the production itself and Patricia Milton's new "After Happy," the 79th World Premiere from Central Works, does not disappoint.
But it doesn't make us yell Yo Ho Ho either. The problem with "After Happy" does not lie with the subplot of the Pirate festival, and especially not with the actors, but with the story itself. Lauren Dunagan, as Katherine, the young eco-terrorist bent on taking over her aunt's family oil business, tries her best to get us to believe Aunt Brenda (a jolly but not naive Jan Zvaifler) would go along with Katherine's idea to allow them to destroy the company, but those attempts are undone by Katherine's co-conspirator Steph (Rezan Asfaw), who is so angry and heartless that it is difficult to feel satisfied with the rather slapstick comedy conclusion.
We liked all three actors. We want to laugh with them. But Auntie is no dope. The idea that she wouldn't see through the two younger women's charade, or that she would let these scheming charlatans convince her of her own complicity in destroying the planet -- it's all a bit hard to digest.
There are some good jokes (has anyone ever seen a dober-doodle?) and funny bits. Perhaps Director Gary Graves could lighten up on Steph's non-stop meanness, or, conversely, make Aunt Brenda less sharp, so we could laugh a little harder and believe this plot is even remotely possible.
Aunt Brenda going to Madagascar to save the lemurs? Really?
RATINGS: ★ ★
The San Francisco Theater Blog Awards Division grants "After Happy" Two Stars. The actors are very good. The jokes are clever. And we love how real pirates join the story at the end. Central Works is an excellent company. The show is new and will get sharper and more focused as the run continues.
"After Happy"
The Berkeley City Club
2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
Fri-Sun, through March 29, 2026
$35-$45
