Have a Nice Life Review

‘Have a Nice Life’ is a musical about 7 characters in one group therapy session presented by the Nice People Theatre Co. If you’re thinking ‘That sounds really bizarre and random,’ you would be right. But it’s also hilarious, entertaining, and has its moments of serious vulnerability. The musical contains seven unique and yet stereotypical characters that are part of the group. There’s the older, insecure man who lives with his mother; the meddling, frazzled, and domineering mother of three; the bitter, older single woman; the sexually frustrated loner guy; the crude fishnet-shirt-wearing girl who’s assigned to group therapy by the courts; and finally the newcomer, a modest pretty young woman who has a few scandals in her closet. A young, slightly nerdy young man, whose patience is tested at every turn, leads the group therapy session.
Each character gets his or her time to shine, so to speak, with an individual musical number that outlines the specific dysfunctions and complexes he or she has encountered. The individual songs are mostly extremely funny, with a touching moment here and there. The common theme across all of the characters’ complexes is fear: fear of loss, fear of rejection, fear of failure, etc. Another common theme is how the group therapy functions as a little family all its own—there is the ‘dad’—the group therapist, and all the other characters are the ‘children’, bickering often, occasionally affirming each other, and most of all, trying to be the loudest over all the others.
You’ll resonate with each character at various turns, because we all have complexes and issues that need working on. And whether you’ve worked through an issue, are currently working through an issue, or aren’t aware that you have an issue, you’ll see echoes of yourself in various characters as they clumsily try to articulate their feelings and frustrations. Check this play out if ‘therapy’ is a weird new-age-y term for you—it’ll break some stigmas down in a humorous way, and check it out if ‘therapy’ has been a part of your vocabulary for years—you’ll resonate with the characters’ struggles as well as feel better that your life isn’t all that bad, after all.
-becca

This show's last showing was sold out! Check out the theater company's website for further showings: nice people theatre company