Review: The Happy Journey by Thornton Wilder
The Happy Journey by Thornton Wilder
Written in the year 1931, The Happy Journey is one of the most famed works of Thornton Wilder. Being a one-act play that it is, it is not short of being one of the most intriguing plays, where action and dialogues provide a deeper insight than any prop or setting might have provided. This play, uses no background, nor any scenery, but is able to give the best out of nothing.
The setting is visible to our mind’s eye, unless we are at a lack of imagination; and vividly too. The dialogue between the characters sets up the scenery, and the life and colour to the scenery is left for us to fill in. The initial scene is that of Ma Kirby’s (the protagonist) home. And, the play-acting that the family carries out, along with their dialogues helps us to figure that their home consists of a hall, windows and doors. The fumbling of keys by Ma Kirby, when the family is about to set off on their journey, heightens her attempt at locking the ‘door’.
The characters, which includes Pa (Elmer) Kirby, Mrs Kirby’s husband, Arthur and Caroline Kirby, her two children, The Stage Manager, who plays multiple roles, depending on the family’s dialects, and in the latter stages, Beulah, Ma Kirby’s daughter who the family is on a trip, to visit. Ma Kirby is the central focal of the story, almost as if the story revolves around her, and not the trip to Camden. She is an authoritative figurine who dictates the terms in the play; her humour brings the family smiles whereas her dictatorial views bring them to tears. Her presence is vital for the family, and her acceptance of them is crucial to their happiness.
When Arthur mocks his mother for having too much faith in God, Ma takes his comments as adulteration of the family beliefs, especially hers. She demands of him to think of what he spoke, and Elmer to talk to ‘his’ son of talking nonsense of God. Her ignorance thereafter breaks down Arthur, who, in the next scene, collapses on his mum with tearing
Written in the year 1931, The Happy Journey is one of the most famed works of Thornton Wilder. Being a one-act play that it is, it is not short of being one of the most intriguing plays, where action and dialogues provide a deeper insight than any prop or setting might have provided. This play, uses no background, nor any scenery, but is able to give the best out of nothing.
The setting is visible to our mind’s eye, unless we are at a lack of imagination; and vividly too. The dialogue between the characters sets up the scenery, and the life and colour to the scenery is left for us to fill in. The initial scene is that of Ma Kirby’s (the protagonist) home. And, the play-acting that the family carries out, along with their dialogues helps us to figure that their home consists of a hall, windows and doors. The fumbling of keys by Ma Kirby, when the family is about to set off on their journey, heightens her attempt at locking the ‘door’.
The characters, which includes Pa (Elmer) Kirby, Mrs Kirby’s husband, Arthur and Caroline Kirby, her two children, The Stage Manager, who plays multiple roles, depending on the family’s dialects, and in the latter stages, Beulah, Ma Kirby’s daughter who the family is on a trip, to visit. Ma Kirby is the central focal of the story, almost as if the story revolves around her, and not the trip to Camden. She is an authoritative figurine who dictates the terms in the play; her humour brings the family smiles whereas her dictatorial views bring them to tears. Her presence is vital for the family, and her acceptance of them is crucial to their happiness.
When Arthur mocks his mother for having too much faith in God, Ma takes his comments as adulteration of the family beliefs, especially hers. She demands of him to think of what he spoke, and Elmer to talk to ‘his’ son of talking nonsense of God. Her ignorance thereafter breaks down Arthur, who, in the next scene, collapses on his mum with tearing