Happy (Memory Dress Trilogy)

Ronnie Burkett's Happy is the home-spun tale of an army vet living in a roominghouse full of misfits: young poet Carla, chain smoking good-time senior Lucille, Ricky the flamboyant shampoo boy, Raymond the caretaker and a cast of supporting characters. Contrasted with Happy is the jaded emcee of The Gray Cabaret, Antoine Marionette, whose guest artists artfully bring to life the stages of Carla's grief over the death of her husband. The final installment of the Memory Dress Trilogy, Happy, has won two Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards (Edmonton), and at the time of publication has been nominated for awards in other cities where the production has been lauded as Ronnie Burkett's most stunning achievement. Burkett tackles themes of memory and loss, happiness and fate with warmth, wit and humanity.