[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of The Sad Life of a Happy Man at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023.
Upon entering the Zephyr Theatre, I got the feeling that something important was about to happen. Christion Ty Edward’s, The Sad Life of a Happy Man, is an introspective look into the mind, spirit, and heart of a man. We are greeted by The Man, The Artist, The Fraud, The Clown, and The Human Being, as different shards of the same mirror. They are all expertly played by the performer and writer of the show. The vulnerability and hard truths about himself and his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, were not only engaging but also endearing.
Each character that comes alive demands our attention and holds us completely through their truths and expressions. The sense of struggle is hyper-present, but Christion’s everyman sensibility makes the material as well as the performance relatable and demands our empathy. Truth is a hard thing to face and it is especially difficult when one character voices their truth and the rest do not want to hear.
I must say that as seamless as Christion’s performance was, the director, Heather Dowling’s deft direction and developmental participation of the show was a match made in heaven. It is these types of shows that make going to the theatre on a Friday evening a thoroughly worthwhile endeavor. It must also be said that the audience was completely present, which added enormously to the performance. We were all allowed into the mind of a man who is quite literally, running out of time. The staging and light and sound design complimented the story brilliantly, without getting in the way.
The Sad Life of a Happy Man reminds me of my experiences with family members who have and are still struggling with depression and in one case, suicide. We should all be more aware of the unknown struggles of people that feel so alone and worthless. It is a sobering thought. Thankfully, Christion is a shining ray of hope. His life force is utterly knowable from his wonderful energy, his brilliant physicality, and in his captivating eyes. I’m very happy that I spent a part of my evening with the Happy Man who had a Sad Life.
Tickets:
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/9820?tab=tickets
When:
The Sad Life of a Happy Man is being performed at June 2 at 9:00 P.M., June 11 at 1:00 P.M. and on June 17 at 8:15 P.M.
Where:
The Zephyr Theatre
7456 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046