Blind To Happiness: To See Or Not To See (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

Katelyn Manfre — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:51:42 +0000

We live in a difficult world, rife with headaches and hardships. Each day new problems arise, and we are forced to self-diagnose and medicate to calm the stresses, the woes. But what if we didn’t–what if we made the very specific choice to just be happy? Is that even possible?

This is the massive philosophical question that playwright and performer Tim C. Murphy seeks to answer in Blind to Happiness, his solo show currently running at UNDER St. Marks. Using, in his words, the “quirks and quarks” of characters from his past, Murphy muses through three very different characters.

We are first introduced to Couks, a socially awkward, but notably gregarious dishwasher. Life, it seems, has not been especially kind to Couks. His father has recently passed away after a battle with alcoholism and diabetes, he has a hard time going out and making friends, and Steve, the head chef, has it in for him. He is showing signs of following in his father’s footsteps. Through it all, however, Couks seems to be unrelentingly positive.

One of Couks’ greatest admirers is Mike, a co-worker and graduate student getting his Ph.D in positive psychology. Mike tells us of Couks’ troubles, and the scientific theory that happiness is a choice. He uses Couks as an example, how he chooses to see the best in everything, makes an active decision to be happy despite his seemingly unhappy circumstances.

Afraid of the spotlight, but secretly yearning for it, is Bliss, another server at Couks’ restaurant, and an aspiring poet.

Through many one-sided conversations, much is revealed about the lives of these three men, all struggling to find fulfillment and joy in their lives, and it seems that Couks is the key to the others finding happiness. He is at the same time their hero and their charity case.

Murphy plays each man with his own distinct air, but Couks is clearly the most fleshed-out. Based heavily on a former co-worker of Murphy’s, it’s clear that his is the story Murphy wants to tell the most. And while his performance is hilarious and heartbreaking and a brilliant homage to such a character from his past, the thesis statement and the storyline don’t seem to match up entirely. We are left wondering if happiness is indeed a choice for us all. Sure optimism is, and choosing to have a rosy outlook on the world, but the characters in this piece bounce so far back and forth across the happiness spectrum, you’re left wondering if they will ever be able to find a middle ground.

There’s also the question of, what if happiness isn’t a choice to us all? Aren’t some people simply chemically imbalanced? Murphy briefly flirts with this idea, but doesn’t explore it entirely.

Obviously this is a huge question to try and answer in sixty minutes, and Murphy does a wonderful job of illustrating the ideas behind the theory. His characterizations are excellent, and he keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. By the end, there is light and levity and love; all the makings of a happy ending.

~~~

Blind to Happiness

Company: Better To Burn Out Productions

Feb 28, 6:00PM

Feb 29, 7:30PM

Mar 03, 10:00PM

$16.00

UNDER St. Marks

~~~

The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

BLIND TO HAPPINESS: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

The Happiest Medium — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:15:40 +0000

Five Questions. Five Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

BLIND TO HAPPINESS

Company: Better to Burn Out Productions

BLIND TO HAPPINESS is a drama/comedy about Couks, a quirky and socially awkward dishwasher, who is struggling to get by. He is helped by his co-workers Mike, a Psychology PhD student, and Bliss, a hapless lovelorn poet. Couks is also helped by his cat, some beer, S Club 7, and (perhaps) life’s most important question – is happiness a choice?

Show Times:

Wed 2/22 @ 7:30pm
Fri 2/24 @ 9:00pm
Sat 2/25 @ 5:30pm
Tue 2/28 @ 6:00pm
Wed 2/29 @ 7:30pm
Sat 3/3 @ 10:00pm

Answers by Tim C. Murphy

(Creator/Performer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?
Tim: The title was inspired by a visual experiment in Daniel Gilbert’s book Stumbling on Happiness that one of my characters, Mike (PhD. Positive Psychology student), performs in the play. My play explores the question “Is happiness a choice?” through the three different characters, each struggling to find their own way towards happiness.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite five people, anyone from past and present, to see your FRIGID show – who would you invite and why?
Tim:Let’s see…Mike Kennard of Mump and Smoot because he helped in the initial creation. Terry Orlick, my Sport Psychology Master advisor…then Ryan Adams, Justin Vernon, and Matt Pond…three stellar musical playwrights.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your Art and was it worth it?
Tim:The biggest sacrifice I made was finally studying theatre when I was 28. I had a B. Commerce, a Masters and was a qualified teacher…but then I studied theatre intensively for two years. It was a big financial sacrifice, but well worth it.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and, if so, can you share it?
Tim:Yeah. Several. BLIND TO HAPPINESS is the first play that I wrote. I was new to it all. I discovered how organic it all can be…how even a chance conversation, a song lyric, a book I was reading, and self-reflection can inform the work. I discovered the joy of just going with the flow of it all and letting the story create itself.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Tim: The mandate of my company, Better to Burn Out, is to bring a mirror to the audience and their choices in life, even just for a second or two. With BLIND TO HAPPINESS I want the audience to reflect on their derivations and perceptions of happiness. To get to the true root of all happiness.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

THM Bonus Question – We’re serious this year!
In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?

Tim: I have to be honest here … in seeing your page on Facebook, I saw that Breathe Love Repeat is against me and chose scissors. I’ll let you guys randomly choose for me and let the RPS Gods allow this to play out as it should.

Well, Tim — that’s a pretty wise choice. Because we’ll choose PAPER for you. And while paper makes you lose to Breathe Love Repeat, it does give you a WIN over Love in the Time of Chlamydia who threw rock … so you come out even! But for your very own tournament of deaaaaath we chose a random opponent for you and that opponent is: Judge, Yuri & Executioner who threw ROCK. So … you WIN twice! Congratulations!

Thanks BLIND TO HAPPINESS for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2012 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially PAPER in any and all challenges. You may win again, you may not – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

For the rest of you don’t forget to check out BLIND TO HAPPINESS!

~~~

Blind to Happiness

Company: Better To Burn Out Productions

Feb 22, 7:30PM

Feb 24, 9:00PM

Feb 25, 5:30PM