We talk a lot about excellence. We aspire to it, we reward it, we revere it. For a while now, I’ve thought a lot about how we need to welcome more mediocrity into our lives. Happiness, a new, quirky New Zealand dramedy reminded me why “good enough” might be just as important as “great.”
As PBS Utah’s Program Director, I see a lot of dramas pass by the schedule. I’m embarrassed to admit that if it doesn’t come from Masterpiece or I don’t intentionally purchase it, shows can slip by unnoticed. Happiness was one of those shows. Not a lot of promotion, lead time or hype.
It took several forces to convince me to hit play on this one. It started with a half-hearted recommendation from friends who traveled to London with me a few years ago. Then it popped up on my PBS app for the eleventh time or something like that and I gave it a go. Two episodes in and I was hooked! And not just because my new and cozy heated mattress pad keeps in bed longer these days.
Happiness follows Charlie, a Broadway director forced back to his hometown of Tauranga after a setback. He finds himself knee-deep in community theatre, working alongside his sweet but spineless mother and all the townies at Pizzazz Theatre where he grew up performing on stage. He’s bitter, prideful, and silently punishing everyone for not being New York. Yet, as they rehearse for opening night of The Trojan Horse, an original musical based on The Iliad, Charlie begins to see real storytelling and potential in the amateur cast.
Confession: As much as I support and participate in truly professional art and culture, community theatre holds an essential place in my heart. If you invite me to your kid’s play, I’ll probably go and I’ll probably cry (just ask my colleague here at PBS Utah who took me to her kid’s school production of The Lion King last year). It’s messy, sometimes chaotic, so earnest, and deeply human. We chase excellence so hard that we forget the joy of doing something simply because we love it and want to see if we can do it. Excellence may dazzle us, but mediocrity sustains us. This space of mediocrity and amateur work is where most of life happens. If we only made room for excellence, would we experience the awe and tenderness that takes place when we attend our kid’s piano recital? Sing in the church choir? Buy a friend’s piece of artwork? We’d miss out on a lot of human connection.
There’s a moment towards the end of season one when Charlie lashes out after a difficult day, calling the production and the players “amateur.” Everyone hears. Everyone’s hurt. And yet, they keep going. They care enough to try. Whether they pull it off doesn’t matter (you can watch to find out)!
Happiness reminded me that we need the delightful, heartfelt, and authentic—albeit imperfect. When we make space for mediocrity, we invite more people into our lives, more potential. Less polish can play a big part in what makes us happy and human.
THE FORSYTES SCREENING
We will be holding a screening of The Forsytes in March! Date and location TBA. Our friends at the Salt Lake Film Society are embarking on a seat renovation project that puts a big question mark on whether we can host this screening at our usual home away from home (Broadway Center Cinemas). I will definitely have an update in next month’s Digest.
In the meantime, one of my favorite things when traveling abroad is spotting filming locations for my favorite shows/movies. Interested in where The Forsytes filmed the first season? This article lays it all out for you.
WINTER IS COMING SOON
Masterpiece has a new, six-part police procedural coming soon called Winter. Set in Bristol, the lead character is Dr. Ethan Winter—a forensic pathologist who’s brilliant, a little rebellious, and not afraid to bend the rules to solve tough cases. Richard Armitage plays Dr. Winter, which is what really caught my attention. I think I first had a crush on him in BBC’s North & South, and then I loved his recurring character on The Vicar of Dibley. Anyway, looking forward to seeing him in a darker, more complex role. Anyway, his character teams up with DI Lauren Bell, played by Annabel Scholey, who’s meticulous and no-nonsense, the perfect counterbalance to Winter’s unconventional style. Filming starts this year in Bristol and Belgium, so it’ll be a while before we see it, but I’ll be keeping an eye out.
MY BACKSTAGE LIST
My Next Challenge:
I’ve taken to sending little watercolors as holiday cards each year (speaking of mediocrity). I am definitely an amateur. Putting my imperfect paintings out there was an exercise in humility, but I’ve been loving it. I decided it’s time to up my skills so I signed up for a watercolor technique class through the University of Utah’s Lifelong Learning Program. Let’s hope I learn something!
What I’m reading:
Just finished reading Ina Garten’s Memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens. Ina Garten has had quite the life! Much of it charmed with privilege and luck, but it’s clear she put in the hours and business classes to be ready for those opportunities that came her way. I just returned my copy to the Salt Lake Public Library, so it’s now available for you to read 😊
What I’m cooking:
I’ve been craving cold weather comfort food so I finally tried Julia Child’s recipe for Beef Bourguignon. It makes a big pot, so we ate it for about a week. Very rich and satisfying.
Where I’m going:
I can’t wait to see Ten Brave Seconds at Pioneer Theatre. It’s a world premiere! PTC continually brings excellent actors to Salt Lake. You can watch an interview on PBS Utah about it here: (link should be available tomorrow)
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