Rebecca Gibney and Harry McNaughton lead the ensemble cast in Happiness, New Zealand's first musical television series. The six-episode comedy, set in Tauranga, follows prickly Broadway director Charlie (McNaughton) as he returns home to renew his visa and is reluctantly drawn back into the amateur theatre troupe run by his mother, Gaye (Gibney).
Despite a cringeworthy opening flashmob to a Backstreet Boys song, the series quickly finds its footing with original musical numbers from the show-within-a-show, The Trojan Horse. The plot, while familiar, offers a blend of humour, joy and unabashed cheese, reminiscent of Schitt's Creek meeting Glee with a distinctly Kiwi charm.
McNaughton excels as the pretentious yet likeable Charlie, while Gibney brings warmth to her role as the devoted mother and Pizazz owner. The supporting cast, including Marshayla Christie as the overlooked composer Gloria, adds depth to the archetypal characters typical of backstage dramas.
The musical numbers, crafted by the high school music teacher character, are punchy pastiches of contemporary musicals, from pop ballads to comic historical romps. With tight 20-minute episodes, Happiness efficiently delivers a heartwarming story about embracing earnestness and finding joy in amateur theatre.
