‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ finds laughter instead

Precautionary tale for modern parents carries a powerful message about living through your children

By Ruth Ross | Correspondent

The Declaration of Independence claims "the pursuit of happiness" as an inalienable right for United States citizens, right up there with "life" and "liberty." But what happens when one person's achievement of happiness depends on what another person views as his or her happiness? And what is happiness anyway?

Richard Dresser poses and attempts to answer these questions in his mordant comedy, "The Pursuit of Happiness," now receiving its New Jersey premiere at Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre in South Orange. In a scenario that is easily recognizable by today's "helicopter parents"—so named because they tend to hover over their offspring—Dresser presents Annie and Neil, who have invested so much time and effort into grooming their high-achieving daughter, Jodi, for academic success that they feel betrayed when she suddenly announces that she does not want to go and hasn't even applied to college.

Annie, good-time party coed, sees Jodi as the antithesis of what she's become, a housewife who has joined the work force in a dead-end job that requires no skills. Workaholic Neil sees in his daughter the validation for throwing himself into work he hates in an office where he has no friends, let alone a real life. And Jodi wants to discover the world for herself, without being pigeon-holed into a predetermined niche for exceptional students.

Faced with disappointment and the whiff of failure, Annie goes into overdrive, attending her college reunion in hopes of getting her daughter admitted there, willing to do anything—even sleeping with an old friend who is on the admission panel—to achieve success. And when Jodi and Neil find out what she's done, all hell breaks loose and the three must take ownership of their own expectations.

Dresser's play is chock full of zingers and one-liners, sometimes so many that they often make the characters more caricatures than real people. Of course, through laughter often comes truth, so many in the audience will recognize themselves or someone they know. The myriad of scene changes, albeit accomplished fluidly, also make the first act feel a bit overlong. But Laura Ekstrand's deft directorial hand keeps things moving along steadily.

It's thanks to the terrific comic timing that the jokes keep coming fast and furiously. As Annie, Harriett Trangucci gets to utter many of the best lines; she's right on when she tells Jodi that a person would need a drink to get down on the floor and play with a 2-year-old. She's got a wicked way about her, that Annie—and Trangucci—mines the desperation of a woman who measures her own success by her daughter's. Annie once stayed up all night to finish a science project after Jodi gave up and went to sleep; she sees Jodi's "win" as hers.

Scott McGowan's Neil is funny, too, but his lack of friends or recreational outlets is even sadder than his wife's, for he is truly wedded to an unfulfilling job just to provide for a lifestyle he and his wife want for their daughter.

Sarah Albano plays Jodi in The Pursuit of Happiness

As Jodi, Sarah Albano is convincing and natural; just watching her roll her eyes over her parents' antics rings true for anyone who has a teenager.

In supporting roles, Harry Patrick Christian and David Miceli do more than yeoman's duty. With just the right touch of desperation, Christian plays Spud, Annies college buddy, who becomes almost manic when he realizes that, if he gives her what she wants, he'll get what he wants! With his deadpan delivery, Miceli is hilarious as Neil's new friend, Tucker, who inserts himself into the family argument when Neil brings him home for dinner.

Dreamcatcher performs this play on a bare-bones set with just enough props to suggest various locations. Jacob Platt's lighting, Michael Magnifico's sound and Laura Ekstrand's costumes enhance the goings on without being intrusive.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" is a cautionary tale for modern parents, many of who have invested a great deal of time and money to groom their children for success. Sounds like a perfect scenario for a "Dr. Phil" show, doesn't it? Wait, come to think of it, there was a similar situation on Wednesday's "Dr. Phil": a mother pushed her daughter to compete in baton twirling because her own Olympic dreams had been thwarted. Dr. Phil was merciless. You'll be, too.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" will be performed at the Baird Center, 5 Mead St., South Orange, through Sunday. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973-378-7754 ext. 2228, or visit online at www.dreamcatcherrep.org.

Ruth Ross can be reached at ruthmross@comcast.net.

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