Happily Ever After by Jane Miller

Happily Ever After by Jane Miller
La Mama. June 23 – July 11, 2010

Happily Ever After is Jane Miller’s first professionally produced full-length play, having previously written a number of monologues and ten-minute plays. She was inspired while “reflecting on the moment that many of us would experience when it becomes apparent that life may not turn out the way we always imagined it would.”
The play follows the relationship between Chloe (H. Clare Callow), the tenant, and Ben (Paul David-Goddard), the property manager, and the broken fairytales that are their lives. Through the course of the evening, we learn that Ben is barren and Chloe’s partner hanged himself.
Central to the play is a pumpkin – an ancient symbol of openness to new ideas and female sexuality. These are important issues, especially for Ben and his partner Lizzie (Marnie Gibson). In an attempt to fulfill Ben’s fairytale, Lizzie uses her sexuality to fall pregnant to another man, however Ben has already learnt that he is infertile and must now be open to the idea of raising a child that is not his own.
On entering the theatre, we heard “True Love’s Kiss” from the 2007 Disney film Enchanted. Expecting the evening to contain more fairytale tunes, it was surprising when subsequent scene changes were accompanied by “Home On the Range,” “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” and “You Are My Sunshine.”
All the actors gave admirable performances and I couldn’t help but smile at Ben and Lizzie’s fairytale ending, complete with glitter shower - just like the movies.
Ian Nisbet

Photo: (left to right) Marnie Gibson, H. Clare Callow, Paul David-Goddard and Mike Frencham. Photographer: Samara Clifford

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