Happiness

I stumbled across this when a friend recommended it, and thought "ugh sounds awful", but watched it and never looked back. I've watched the whole series multiple times now, because when I feel bad (and the state of the world feels very very heavy), I know an episode of this will make my heart sing. It's campy, hilarious and delightful all in one happy package. Also some globally familiar amateur theatre characters that make this a joy.

"32 Tata's" has entered my daily lexicon.

I sing "Troy Boy" to my dog. I know! But it makes me HAPPY! Even my husband chuckles and laughs all the way through an episode. I do feel like they would need at least another 10 episodes to really dig into some of the characters - if anything some of the episodes felt a bit short - I wanted to know more about their stories.

The first episode of Happiness was fantastic--smart, funny, and full of great musical numbers. Unfortunately, every episode since then has been a huge disappointment. None of the humour or spark of that first episode is anywhere to be found in the subsequent episodes and the plot is absolutely non-existent. I mistakenly watched the fourth episode before episodes two and three and didn't even realize because so little of importance happened in those two episodes (which, yes, I did go back and watch). I'm also not clear on why this show is called Happiness other than it's another word for Glee? Sadly, the lack of originality in the title is emblematic of the rest of the show.

Kiwi comedy at its finest, with fab performances from a solid cast! A fun story of regional community theatre tied in with a laugh-a-minute series of jokes, Easter eggs, and heartwarming characters quickly bring you into the heart of it all. A seriously talented cast brings a tongue in cheek (mostly!) parody that showcases a couple of our gorgeous local theatres, this is for everyone!

Part of what makes this so special is the incredible original music that doesn't try to shoehorn its way into the show, but naturally flows in with the story. Warning: this show might be a gateway into community theatre...

Happiness is the kind of show you didn't know you needed until you press play-and then you can't stop watching. This NZ-made musical comedy is an absolute triumph, blending sharp humor, fantastic original music, and a cast so talented they make every scene sparkle. From the very first number, I was hooked-the songs are insanely catchy (seriously, when's the soundtrack dropping on Spotify?), the jokes land perfectly, and the whole thing radiates so much charm you can't help but smile. What makes Happiness special is how it nails the balance between satire and sincerity. It pokes fun at amateur theater with razor-sharp wit, yet you can tell it's made with real love for the world it's mocking. The musical numbers are the real standout, though-cleverly written, brilliantly performed, and staged with just the right mix of polish and playful chaos.

My only complaint? Six episodes is not enough. I need at least three more seasons. Happiness proves that NZ comedy and musical theater can be world-class-it's fresh, funny, and full of heart. More like this, please!

Happiness is hilarious from the first minute. It takes a niche dive into the amateur theatre scene in New Zealand, portraying a host of eccentric characters who will be very familiar to anyone who has tread the amateur boards. It is campy and self aware, exaggerated in all the right places and with a good through-line of heart.

The cast are excellent, the jokes are well written and original and the choreography blends seamlessly into the storyline. It is an accurate reflection of Kiwi culture, taken from a fresh perspective.

Full of hilarious theatre Easter eggs, Happiness has real personality. Well worth a watch!