happiness (and other reasons to die)

by Bob Bartlett

Ella wrecks a perfectly good suicide pact by jumping the gun, leaving her three pact-mates to deal with a lifetime of hoarded belongings, Bob Dylan memorabilia, and an immortal dog. An unlikely comedy about living, dying, and trying to find really good reasons for both.

"Planning a decent demise turns out to be more than a little tricky in “happiness (and other reasons to die),” a suspenseful, dark and funny...

Ella wrecks a perfectly good suicide pact by jumping the gun, leaving her three pact-mates to deal with a lifetime of hoarded belongings, Bob Dylan memorabilia, and an immortal dog. An unlikely comedy about living, dying, and trying to find really good reasons for both.

"Planning a decent demise turns out to be more than a little tricky in “happiness (and other reasons to die),” a suspenseful, dark and funny new play by local playwright Bob Bartlett. Now on view in a winningly acted production from the Welders, a collective of D.C.-based playwrights, “happiness” turns what sounds like a gimmicky premise into an absorbing chronicle of unpredictable human behavior." - Celia Wren, The Washington Post

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happiness (and other reasons to die)

Recommended by

  • Hannah Lee DeFrates: happiness (and other reasons to die)

    Wow!! Bartlett has crafted a story of a found family brought together by a force beyond the grave they claim to long for. These characters were very human in a way that made me invested in their lives and beyond. I couldn't look away from this script.

    Wow!! Bartlett has crafted a story of a found family brought together by a force beyond the grave they claim to long for. These characters were very human in a way that made me invested in their lives and beyond. I couldn't look away from this script.

  • Cheryl Bear: happiness (and other reasons to die)

    A suicide goes wrong for a group when one decides to leave this world early. What she left behind leads to revelations for all. Well done.

    A suicide goes wrong for a group when one decides to leave this world early. What she left behind leads to revelations for all. Well done.

  • Quinn Xavier Hernandez: happiness (and other reasons to die)

    Hilarious, tragic, and so-real-it-hurts. HAPPINESS (AND OTHER REASONS TO DIE) allows us to stare down death while at the same time reflecting on life. Bob Bartlett masterfully ties his characters into the mystery and slowly unveils more and more information about their lives that we are left rooting for each one of them in some way. #PlaywrightPlug

    Hilarious, tragic, and so-real-it-hurts. HAPPINESS (AND OTHER REASONS TO DIE) allows us to stare down death while at the same time reflecting on life. Bob Bartlett masterfully ties his characters into the mystery and slowly unveils more and more information about their lives that we are left rooting for each one of them in some way. #PlaywrightPlug

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • Emilio
    Character Age
    mid to late 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Latino
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Misoka
    Character Age
    30s and up
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Japanese-American,
    Japanese
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Nolan
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Unseen, mostly
    Ella, an elderly woman - a body; Motorola, an elderly dog - a bark; Bob Dylan, an elderly folk singer - a record or two
  • Misa
    Character Age
    40s/50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Jeb
    Character Age
    late 20s/30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Welders, Year 2014
  • Type Reading, Organization Catholic University at The Kennedy Center's Page-to-Stage Festival, Year 2010

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization The Welders, Year 2015