Helen J Shen stuns in their Broadway debut, while director Michael Arden continues a hot streak.
A meet-cute becomes a road trip becomes a love story.
And then comes Claire (Helen J Shen, wonderfully assured in their Broadway debut).
Darren Criss in ‘Maybe Happy Ending’.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
With a knock at his door and a desperate plea to borrow his charger, she changes everything.
A Helperbot 5, Claire is no less obsolete.
Oliver is gleefully stilted where Claire is natural and relaxed.
Helen J. Shen in ‘Maybe Happy Ending’.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
Together they are playful, his sass matching her snark, his optimism complementing her jaded outlook.
From that push and pull emerges a constant, endearing tension.
Its not the most romantic outlook, but might he have a point?
Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss in ‘Maybe Happy Ending’.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
Even the two Helperbots are coming to terms with their own loneliness.
ButMaybe Happy Endingthrives in making the unromantic surprisingly sentimental.
These are robots, after all, taking ones and zeroes and adding them up to emotion.
Dez Duron in ‘Maybe Happy Ending’.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
But the real star ofMaybe Happy Endingis the creative team.
The melodies may not linger when the curtain falls, but the sentiment certainly does.
Despite Olivers earnest nature familiar territory for theGleealum Criss is not the one stealing the show.
Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen in ‘Maybe Happy Ending’.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman
Alas, charm goes a long way.
ButMaybe Happy Endingdazzles with its love story and astounds with its visual accomplishments.
