WHAT is happiness?
How can you address the enigmatic subject in 60 minutes?
Well, you will be happy to know theatre company Tmesis give it their best shot.
They kicked off a UK tour of Happy Hour with three nights at the very welcoming Unity Theatre - who have commissioned the work - ideal for their distinct brand of drama.
Liverpool-based Tmesis, formed in 2003, have a national and international solid reputation for creating physical theatre and their latest work - their seventh production - shows off their acrobatic, energtic incentive skills to the fore.
The cast of 'Happy Hour'
Director Elinor Randle and text writer Chris Fittock mused on happiness - from the personal to the corporate - and this is the dramatic end result.
It is abstract and surreal and you have to go with the flow.
It starts off with real gusto, dips a bit and then heads for a fine finale.
It is an Orwellian vision of an office with a David Brent-styled boss played by Adam Davies in a sharp suit and yellow smiley socks.
He acts like a game show host and office bore rolled into one - sadly, we've all met someone like him.
He would certainly be in line to be fired if he ever made it on to Alan Sugar's The Apprentice.
This 21st century tale takes place in a weird world where Level 3 have to reach their target of so many 'smiley faces' each day.
They answer to Levels above and dread the call from Level 20.
It is quirky, Pythonesque and dream-like in parts.
There is no narrative but some sinister voice-overs move it along.
There's a fast-paced delivery of ideas and visual sequences surrounding this mysterious office dealing in the commodity of happiness.
The 'new girl' tea lady is played by Eleni Edipidi.
Jen comes courtesy of Jennifer Essex and Ian Cook is put-upon Dave.
Incidental music from the likes of Tina Turner and our very own king of Happiness Ken Dodd (complete with tickling sticks) offer upbeat interludes of frenetic fun.
An adaptable set from designer Lois Maskell features an office with banks of filing drawers and grey boxes, shredder and cctv which gives the feeling of grey claustrophobia.
It would help the audience, however, during some scenes using wipe boards that the writing is made clearer as you have to squint to see what is written and, crucially, what they are communicating.
A bit of bland office speak here from me but very black gem markers wouldn't go amiss.
I'll award myself a smiley badge for this technical observation.
It is an all-round, enjoyable piece and at the end of the happy hour you feel you have been on a wacky journey.
It will make you smile, laugh out loud at times and feel a bit sad at poignant moments, too.
In the end it's smiley badges all round.
Happy Daze!
Four stars Unity Theatre Until Saturday 0151 709 4988
UK Tour details on www.tmesistheatre.com
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