Review: 'Maybe Happy Ending' Brings Robot Romance to the National Theatre
The National Theatre is hosting the North American tour of Maybe Happy Ending, a six-time Tony Award-winning musical about two obsolete helperbots in a retro-futuristic Seoul. Created by Hue Park and Will Aronson, the story follows Oliver and Claire as their friendship deepens during a trip to Jeju Island. Michael Arden directs the production, which uses modular sets and extensive video projection.
The National Theatre is hosting the touring production of Maybe Happy Ending, a musical that won six Tony Awards. It began in Seoul in 2016, later appeared at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre in 2020, moved to Broadway, and started a 33-city tour last month.
Hue Park and Will Aronson wrote the show, with Michael Arden directing. Set in a Seoul imagined with retro-futuristic touches, it centers on two outdated helper robots, Oliver and Claire, who live separately in a residence for retired robots and travel to Jeju Island. Its staging relies on movable set pieces, embedded screens, and video design. Steven Huynh, Claire Kwon, James Seol, and Francisco Javier Gonzalez appear.
The tour may introduce more audiences to Korean-led musical storytelling and robot-themed questions about companionship. Theatergoers who value inventive stagecraft could find the blend of projection and live performance engaging. Its love story between machines might prompt reflection on loneliness, memory, and what people project onto technology. For touring cities, the production could support local venues and artists while drawing new patrons.