Naomi Denny’s three-hander comedy-drama All The Happy Things covers familiar themes within a recognisable premise. A grieving protagonist comes to terms with loss with the aid of a ghostly presence visible only to them. Think Hamlet mashed up with Blithe Spirit or A Christmas Carol, with a significant detour via the hit TV sitcom Ghosts. Denny complicates her central character’s journey by adding a demented father, a patronising boss, and a clingy boyfriend, but dramatically speaking, this path is well-trodden. One wishes Denny, who has a sharp comic eye for the trivialities of sibling bickering, had taken a few more risks.

Early-twenties, corporate-type Sienna (Denny performs as well as writes) is grieving her recently deceased elder sister Emily (LJ Johnson oozes barely suppressed resentment at her fate), who seemingly got run over on Oxford Street. But, like the lingering aroma of garlic after a boozy dinner party, Emily’s ghost just won’t quit. Worse, she seems determined to hang over Sienna’s shoulder, offering her sibling unwanted advice on everything from grief to relationships to work problems. Sienna wants the fractious, though lovable spirit out of her life. But the problem is she never got to say goodbye, struggles to find closure, and is unsure how to let the spectre go.

Dopey boyfriend Sam (Dejon Mullings) does his best for Sienna, but she pushes him away (it could be the TikTok videos on grief counselling he parrots). Dad, who has a penchant for punching care home staff, keeps asking when Emily will visit him.  Boss Kevin (Mullings again) thinks our hero should take time off, but also wants her to cover for an over-promoted supervisor. No wonder Sienna is so frazzled. Words of redemption and sound advice beckon from Emily’s ex, Ruby (Johnson again).

Director Lucy Jane Atkinson inserts dance transitions between scenes heavy on rhythmic hair twirling. It is a neat way of communicating the vulnerability of a central character, quite literally on the verge of tearing her hair out in sheer frustration. Denny’s dialogue works best in the comic back-and-forth nit picking between the siblings. There is love here, but smouldering resentment, too. “Her name always came first,” Sienna wistfully bemoans of the duo’s shared playlists. At another point, she tells her elder sister, “Not many people ask after you nowadays, Em.” Ouch.

Denny’s plot strands come together a little too easily in the end, and at times, All The Happy Things feels akin to a dramatised version of one of those formulaic TikTok videos Sam is partial to. Zippy comedy and attractive performances compensate.

Writer: Naomi Denny   

Director:  Lucy Jane Atkinson

All The Happy Things – Soho Theatre

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