The Happiest Man on Earth, which is based on the memoir of the same name, is about the life affirming and inspirational journey of Eddie Jaku (birth name Abraham Salomon Jakubowicz) as a Holocaust survivor. With a first hand account of the horrors endured, Eddie's story is hauntingly tragic until the war is won and he emerges a victorious and triumphant survivor, with renewed hope and love.
Eddie's memoir has been adapted for stage by Mark St. Germain, with direction by Ron Lagomarsino. Featuring Kenneth Tigar in this daunting, yet rewarding role, the play is perhaps the most moving piece to grace a stage, with an incomparable performance. The play captures the heart, soul and essence of the memoir, ensuring that it plays out like a book, with Tigar both narrating and performing. The script is flawless, flowing naturally through the decades of Eddie's life.
The Happiest Man on Earth recounts the story of the 100 year old Eddie Jaku as a young boy, through to present day where he is nervous to speak at a synagogue in front of his family. Eddie's experience is filled with horrific violence as he is captured and sent to a concentration camp, and the many twists and turns as he survives and decides to live his best life in honour of the six million murdered Jews and himself.
The play provides audiences with a front row seat to the explicit details of how gruesome life truly was, painting a picture with words from a first hand experience. Tigar's performance is so convincing; he disappears into the voice of Eddie. The writing is direct and clear, presenting the events as they happened without any attempt to take creative liberty. These words inflict emotional wounds, yet it's Tigar's performance that ensures these will leave a lasting impact.
Lagomarsino opts to have Tigar re-enact the events of the memoir, which further echoes the weight of the words - A particularly harrowing moment is the reveal of the tattoo. Tigar's performance is so authentic, one can not help with weep with him, and flinch whenever pain is inflicted upon him.
James Noone's set is minimalistic, yet works well for this play. Planks of wood and lighting strips between them creates a back wall. The lights (Harold Burgess) are predominately a gentle blue, yet pulsates a harsh and bright red at certain moments in the show, engulfing the audience in the moment. The sound design isn't quite noticeable, yet does provide additional background context to the show. The unexpected gunshots (Brendan Aanes) induce a collective jump from the audience.
The Happiest Man on Earth is not an easy watch by any means, and will leave audiences in floods of tears from the painful recollection, but nevertheless is a show that is incredibly important. The hard earned knowledge and powerful message Eddie chooses to inform audiences is worth every tear shed, and one owes it to themselves to learn from this show.
The Happiest Man on Earth is currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse until 14th December - for tickets and more information, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Daniel Rader
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