Entertainment

Happy Ending

Posted by

<
>

I like plays. And I like Melbourne. So it make sense that I’m rather fond of Happy Endings, Melissa Reeves’ little cracker of a play all my hometown.

Louise (Nell Feeney) kicks off the MTC’s latest by  regaling the audience with a litany her past sexual exploits, including bedding a 55 year old when she was only 15. However these days are long behind her, and now middle-aged Louise is a mother in suburban Melbourne who spends her time at Northland pursing a crush on Wen, her much younger Chinese masseuse. When Louise makes a ham-fist attempt at seducing Wen that horribly, hilariously backfires, Happy Ending really gets swinging.

What starts as a middle-aged woman’s fantasies expands to a look at contemporary, suburban Australia. Reeves’ lively script is peppered with local references such as Derryn Hinch’s health, the Supertax and K-Rudd, Happy Ending is an enjoyable foray that looks at some deeper social issues, but never at the expense of a good laugh.

Christopher Connelley is outstanding as the bullish, homosexual mining investor Dave, but Fanny Hanusin steals the show as Jie, Wen’s boss, matriarch and head gossip at the massage parlour. The scenes where Jie she verbally lacerates her clientele in rapid-fire Mandarin while massaging them and smiling are the play’s best.

So if you like plays, and Melbourne, you’ll like Happy Ending.

Venue Southbank Theatre, The Lawler
Season dates 5 September to 22 September 2012
Tickets from $40; Under 30s just $25
Booking details Southbank Theatre Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au


Health and Wellbeing

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2022/09/05/fs8-southbank/

FS8 Southbank

Spring into action this September with FS8, the newest exercise fad taking Melbourne fitness legends by storm.

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2021/02/24/mirosuna/

Mirosuna

Welcome to Mirosuna: a heavenly space for mindfulness and meditation, designed to help you ascend to a higher plane of being. Milk Bar experienced Mirosuna’s Wine and Wind Down to seek inner peace.

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2019/08/22/bat-your-lash-melbournes-dog-friendly-eco-salon/

Bat Your Lash, Melbourne’s Dog Friendly Eco-Salon

Introducing Bat For Lash, Melbourne's first dog-friendly beauty salon.

What's On

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2023/07/21/your-guide-to-where-you-can-watch-the-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/

Your guide to where you can watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™

Your guide to watch the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ in Melbourne.

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2022/08/15/bourne-local-the-newest-market-in-collingwood/

Bourne Local: The newest market in Collingwood

In residence at a former Honda showroom site, the Collingwood Market market punters a grungy experience complete with table tennis, retro roller disco, decent coffee and a plethora of fashion, arts and crafts, and crystals. Next market date is Sunday 28 August.

http://www.milkbarmag.com/2022/07/15/man-oh-man-manchester-u-are-back-in-melbourne/

Man-oh-man, Manchester U are back in Melbourne

English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United will hit Melbourne this July for a two-match series taking on Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.