“We Happy Few” makes its debut next week

In the midst of World War II, a group of resilient women in England felt the urge to create and share art to provide joy for those who wondered anxiously if their loved ones would ever return home alive. This fictional comedy-drama called “We Happy Few” by Imogen Stubbs was inspired by the Osiris Players, which was a real all-female theater organization that toured Britain during the war.

CSB+SJU theater professor Sean Dooley is assisting CSB+SJU students in performing this play at Gorecki Family Theater at CSB on Nov. 6-8 and 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and on Nov. 9th at 2 p.m.

Despite the play being set in England in the 1940s, Dooley said there is still significance in today’s current events.

“I read this play years ago but remembered it again last spring when I read an article about how women in Ukraine are organizing theater performances right now in the midst of the war with Russia. The men are off fighting, or are not coming back, but the women persist. The human need to create is strong. The desire to have something positive to wake up to in the morning for is strong,” Dooly said via email. “Art isn’t something extra: it is a vital part of what it means to be a human being, and we are seeing that in Ukraine. We saw it in England during the Second World War.”

For this production, Dooley is using theater to his creative advantage by turning the seating sideways to create a sense of proximity between the stage and the audience. The actors
will also ask the public to join them in shouting out things during the play and engage with the audience.
SJU first-year Ayden Hahnfeldt said the setting of the play is what initially drew him to it.

“At this time period, there was a lot happening. It’s World War II. There is lots of very intricate things that are happening during World War II and there are so many stories, and I like that. I thought it was very interesting to get to dive into a true story about the Osiris players,” Hahnfeldt said.

CSB sophomore Greta Meilahn said the play is especially useful when coping with difficult times.

“I think that people should watch this play to see how different groups of people can bring some optimism or light into dark situations. This is in a war context, [but we can still] have some joy while also bringing in some literature,” Meilahn said.

Just as the Osiris Players brought light to people during the dark times of World War II, CSB+SJU students will bring joy for those who attend “We Happy Few.”

Buy tickets in the CSB+SJU section of the tickets.csbsju.edu website.