HAPPY: A VERY GAY LITTLE MUSICAL by Sky Gilbert and Micah Barnes, directed by Gilbert (Cabaret Company). At Buddies in Bad Times (12 Alexander). To April 27. Pwyc-$17. 416-975-8555. See listings. Rating: NN
So heres your choice in a gay male relationship: love or sex. You cant have both. Or at least you cant in Sky Gilberts Happy: A Very Gay Little Musical.
Cutesy married couple Dave (Jason Cadieux) and Bob (David Tomlinson) have, because of Daves demands, a monogamous relationship. They have romance but no sex, and reject campiness and nasty promiscuity. But since Bobs hormones still kick in, hypocrisy lurks beneath his sanctimonious exterior.
Theyre also a musical-theatre team, librettist and composer, in the midst of writing a show about their relationship with the help of Sue (Sharron Matthews), friend, dramaturge and self-described fag hag.
Gilbert, who also directs, has constructed a postmodern, play-within-a-play structure to make points about gay marriage and the importance of sex and promiscuity. (Sue thinks the guys are crazy to cut off, metaphorically at least, their cocks.)And then there are bits of Tennessee Williams, references to Brad Frasers plays and providing Happys resolution a snide parody of writing duo Brian Hill and Neil Bartrams musical The Story Of My Life.
Micah Barness songs arent put to much use, and Gilberts lyrics are sometimes hard to understand.
Worse, the characters are largely two-dimensional figures who have a point to make rather than an emotion to feel.
With her vibrant personality, Matthews does provide feelings in her scene with Tom, who causes problems in the couples wedded bliss, she and Jamieson Eakin suggest some actual tenderness in the midst of a contrived storyline.
Political views can make for vital theatre. They just have to be blended with involving drama. Sadly, that doesnt happen in Happy.
