[THEATRE REVIEW] HAPPY-GO-WRONG @ Fortyfivedownstairs Review (2025)

Question: What does it take to really appreciate the life you have?

 Answer: Getting close to death.

 That is the conceit expertly explored by Andi Snelling in a zany, powerhouse show that grew out of the pain and despair she was feeling after being bitten by a tick.

 She contracted debilitating Lyme disease while on a hike and life as she had known it was brought to a shuddering halt.

 From her resultant therapy came this off the wall artistic exploration.

A French angel named Lucky (a traffic controller of the soul) visits a young woman about to face the biggest challenge of her life. Yet she has no idea it is about to happen.

 The angel arrives on a pair of multicoloured roller skates, complete with old style aviator cap and googles, flapping her imaginary wings.

 Then, through song, dance, play and by breaking the fourth wall she proceeds to entertain and engage the audience.

In the process, time and again, she becomes totally entangled in oodles of brown craft paper, literally plays a paper trumpet and gets totally naked.

 Expressing the fact that being alive is dangerous, Lucky is on a death mission to save Andi – to give her a second chance.

What is clear is Andi’s infectious enthusiasm to live life to the fullest.

 Call this art therapy, if you like, or an interpretative piece on the human condition.

 Regardless, it is visually arresting, abstract, edgy and oh so energetic – physically demanding, in fact.

 Snelling is dynamic throughout, continually giving of herself. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her flexibility extremely admirable.

 She is a wonderful performer, who lays herself bare, both literally and figuratively.

 She also takes the opportunity to poke fun at the deficiencies in bureaucracy, including the health system.

There is a rawness, authenticity and originality about Happy-Go-Wrong that distinguishes it from any other show I have seen.

It is clear that Andi loves doing it (she revels in pushing the boundaries) and she readily endears herself to us.

She first performed it in experimental form at La Mama in 2019, five years after she was bitten, and she has tweaked it since.

 The result remains a wild and inspiring ride that turns the tables on “woe is me” into a real zest for the life we have.

 It is on at fortyfivedownstairs until 29th June, 2025.

 That happens by way of voice messaging.

Review by Alex First Photography by Darren Gill