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Happy Endings Are Extra
By Ashraf Johaardien
Directed by Matt Trucano
At Bailiwick Loft Space
1229 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-883-1090, Tickets $25
Fridays at 10 pm
Saturdays at 5:30
Sundays at 7:30 pm
Running time is 80 minutes without intermission
Through November 25, 2007
Provocative psychological comic sexy drama worth seeing
It their loft space, Bailiwick Repertory presents South African playwright Ashraf Johaardien’s comic drama Happy Endings Are Extra. This is a strangely engaging comic drama that deals with a gay subculture that finds the Gabriel (William J. Watt), a middle-aged man who is engaged to Chantelle (Shannon Strodel). The couple has an open relationship that allows Gabriel to have sex with male rent boys. He is obsessed with Chris (Adrian Gonzalez), an under-aged very sexy teen prostitute.
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Johnaardien’s structure calls for a series of stream-of-conscious monologues wherein each character expresses their hidden thoughts and their inter-emotional needs. This compelling drama features a young nude hunk whose sensuality entices Gabriel. This obsession with the cute teen drives a wedge in the couple’s relationship. Filled with heart-wrenching confessionals and tasteful sexuality, Happy Endings Are Extra dramatizes how sexual perversity can destroy a relationship and eventually lead to self-destruction. This is a well written and well acted drama that contains several plot twists that raises the complexity of sexual addiction. William J. Watt is strong as the sex addict. For those who want a strong story with sexual situations, Happy Endings Are Extra will satisfy.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2007
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