This week we take a look at the shows nominated for 2025 Tony Awards.
NEW YORK聽鈥 There isn鈥檛 a sweeter Broadway show than 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending.鈥
Featuring just four actors, a fascinating set and heartwarming songs, it tells the story of two Helperbots (or robots) who find themselves retired, searching for purpose.
While both go through routines they had when they were in their owners鈥 employ, they know there must be something more.
A random encounter prompts them to聽share time (and chargers) before taking one of those 鈥淕reat Adventure鈥 trips 鈥淜imberly Akimbo鈥 plotted. In her car, they head out for fireflies, passwords and some sort of connection.
Because he鈥檚 an older robot (able to hold a charge longer), Oliver (Darren Criss) thinks he has the upper hand in what could be a relationship. Claire, however, is savvier and less, um, robotic.
Claire (Helen J Shen) moves more effortlessly; Oliver has the plastic look of an early iteration. Still, there鈥檚 something there for each of them. He introduces her to his owner鈥檚 favorite jazz artist; she tries to convince him hoping doesn鈥檛 always make something true.
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It鈥檚 a simple relationship that has so much goodness to offer.
Helen J Shen as Claire (left) and Darren Criss as Oliver in "Maybe Happy Ending." (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Broadway/TNS)
Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Director Michael Arden doesn鈥檛 make this an 鈥渙bvious attraction鈥 piece but a growth examination that lets floating apartments, buzzing fireflies and Dez Duron鈥檚 Gil Brentley work their mid-century magic on the couple. It鈥檚 a perfect blend of technical elements set to some charming Hue Park and Will Aronson songs.
This isn鈥檛 a show with power ballads; it鈥檚 storytelling that sometimes comes with notes.
As much as it seems like a rom-com, 鈥淢aybe Happy Ending鈥 could have something to say to those in other stages of life聽鈥 including retirement. It pitches the idea of happier tomorrows and doesn鈥檛 let reality get in the way.
Criss and Shen are a perfect team. She鈥檚 anxious, he鈥檚 confident. When the roles reverse, it鈥檚 easy to see how real relationships fit the Helperbot mode. A supporting appearance by a plant named Hwaboon all but steals the focus. And when that 鈥渕aybe鈥 turns into something more, the 鈥渉appy ending鈥 is everything you think it could be.
