Happy Days
Show Details
Happy Days
Date:
January 24 - February 16, 2020
Directed By:
Marie Kohler
Featuring:
Laura Gordon & Todd Denning
Approximate Run Time:
1 hour and 30 minutes with an intermission
About the Play
Winnie’s buoyant optimism shields her from the harsh glare of the inevitable in Beckett’s unforgettable masterpiece of modern theater.
Often referred to as “the Hamlet for actresses,” Winnie is a mountain of a role, both physically and emotionally. A summit part for Milwaukee’s virtuosic actor, Laura Gordon.
HAPPY DAYS remains an absurdly funny and boundlessly compassionate portrait of the human spirit.
- The New York TImes
About The Playwright
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) is one of the giants of twentieth century literature. His plays, Waiting for Godot (1948), Endgame (1955), Happy Days (1961), and Krapp’s Last Tape (1958), reinvented theatre by pushing the limits of the medium. His drama lacks precise setting, has a minimal plot, and is inhabited by broken characters. The dialogue is often monosyllabic and terse. His plays don’t tell a story as much as they are poetic and symbolic attempts to stage memory, time, life and death. His dramas are both disliked and worshipped, but they have entered the canon as modern masterpieces. And they are not without their humor, often slapstick and silly.
The Artists
Director - Marie Kohler
Winnie - Laura Gordon*
Willie - Tod Denning
Production Manager - Bailey Wegner*
Stage Manager - Veronicca Zahn*
Technical Director - Anthony Lyons
Scenic Design - Lisa Schlenker**
Lighting Design - Narusa Abbott
Props Master - Jordan Stanek
Sound Design - Joshn Schmidt**
Costume Design - Misti Bradford**
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
** Member of United Scenic Artists of America
Previews
Renaissance Theaterworks embraces the dirty job of mounting Beckett's 'Happy Days'
By Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Jeff Jordan, Urban Milwaukee
WISN Channel 12 "Arts Avenue": Renaissance Theaterworks presents HAPPY DAYS
Waukesha Freeman - "The Roommate" ponders the price of friendship, dramatic change.
Reviews
Laura Gordon Stars in Samuel Beckett’s Dark ‘Happy Days’
By Harry Cherkinian, Shepherd Express
"With virtually nonstop monologues throughout the play, Gordon gives a career-defining performance among her many fine acting (and directing) roles over the years. Her Winnie is so real, so three-dimensional we forget her physical entrapment within the mound of earth."
‘Happy Days’ Is Superb, Funny and Sad
By Dominique Paul Noth, Urban Milwaukee
"Audience members may leave feeling around to see if their own brows, their cheeks, their eyes forced frontwards, their lips forced up to their nose can find as much expression and humanity as Gordon does."
A trapped woman looks for ways to stay hopeful in Renaissance Theaterworks' 'Happy Days'
By Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"HAPPY DAYS is not for everyone. But for the brave and the curious, there are many reasons to see the Renaissance production, directed by Marie Kohler."
Renaissance's "Happy Days" is Beckett at its absurd best
By Gwen Rice, Special to OnMilwaukee
"HAPPY DAYS isn't an easy play to fit into a theater season – but great kudos go to Renaissance Theaterworks, the astounding Laura Gordon and the inspired Marie Kohler for taking the risk and making the experience unforgettable."
"With virtually nonstop monologues throughout the play, Gordon gives a career-defining performance among her many fine acting (and directing) roles over the years. Her Winnie is so real, so three-dimensional we forget her physical entrapment within the mound of earth."
Laura Gordon Stars in Samuel Beckett’s Dark ‘Happy Days’
By Harry Cherkinian, Shepherd Express
"Audience members may leave feeling around to see if their own brows, their cheeks, their eyes forced frontwards, their lips forced up to their nose can find as much expression and humanity as Gordon does."
‘Happy Days’ Is Superb, Funny and Sad
By Dominique Paul Noth, Urban Milwaukee
"HAPPY DAYS is not for everyone. But for the brave and the curious, there are many reasons to see the Renaissance production, directed by Marie Kohler."
A trapped woman looks for ways to stay hopeful in Renaissance Theaterworks' 'Happy Days'
By Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"HAPPY DAYS isn't an easy play to fit into a theater season – but great kudos go to Renaissance Theaterworks, the astounding Laura Gordon and the inspired Marie Kohler for taking the risk and making the experience unforgettable."
Renaissance's "Happy Days" is Beckett at its absurd best
By Gwen Rice, Special to OnMilwaukee