Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A rare revival of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE proves to be a timely and well-acted satire

• By drediman
• April 22, 2018
• No Comments

The company of Wheelhouse Theater Company’s production of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s “Happy Birthday, Wanda June” at the Gene Frankel Theatre.

This afternoon, I caught a rare revival of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s rarely-performed satire Happy Birthday, Wanda June at the Gene Frankel Theatre, courtesy of Wheelhouse Theater Company. Mr. Vonnegut is widely regarded as one of the masters of American satire. His novels Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse-Five are classics that have famously critiqued our modern society, often from a provocative, at times cynical perspective. His play Happy Birthday, Wanda June, which tells the story of a returning war hero and explores his place in a world that has evolved its idea of masculinity, comfortably fits this mold.

With a shoestring budget, Wheelhouse managed to assemble a production (directed by Jeff Wise) that’s wonderfully acted and incisively staged. The play also unfortunately remains timely in our current times. It’s a pleasure to see a scrappy production rise to the occasion, delivering a theatrical experience that’s precisely calibrated and lacking in any apparent weak links. Indeed, most of the cast gave intelligent, very accomplished performances. Of particular note were Jason O’Connell as the returning war hero,  Kate MacCluggage as his changed wife, and Craig Wesley Divino as his friend and fellow war veteran. Even the child actors were exceptional – Finn Faulconer and Charlotte Wise as our anti-hero’s son and the fantastical titular character, respectively, were very fine.

RECOMMENDED

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE
Off-Broadway, Play
Wheelhouse Theater Company at the Gene Frankel Theatre
2 hours, 20 minutes (with one intermission)
Through April 28