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Wild with Happy

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Wild with Happy

By: Colman Domingo
Narrated by: Colman Domingo, Alex Newell, Sharon Washington, Tyler James Williams, Oprah Winfrey
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About this listen

Sometimes our world unravels around us all at once. And when it does, the best thing we can do is take a step back and laugh. Laugh a lot.

From the brilliant comedic and emotive mind of Oscar and Tony Award nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, The Color Purple, and Euphoria) comes the deeply imaginative dark comedy about death Wild with Happy. It is performed by an all-star cast including Domingo, the legendary Oprah Winfrey, Tony Award nominee Sharon Washington (New York, New York), Tony Award winner Alex Newell (Glee, Shucked), and Golden Globe Award winner Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary).

Gil (Domingo) is a struggling NYC actor who heads home to Philadelphia after the passing of his mother, Adelaide (Winfrey). The plan is to tidy-up her affairs as quickly and efficiently as possible, until a few unpredictably hilarious detours ensue. With his Aunt Glo (Washington) insisting on a proper burial, but an urn of ashes already in his hand, Gil gets thrown into a car by his best friend (Newell). Aunt Glo and the funeral director (Williams), now Gil’s lover (yes, that happened), follow in hot pursuit. Several states later they all reach their final destination, and Gil’s mom’s final resting place: the one place on earth that made her wild with happy.

Be advised. This is a beautifully crafted, immersive listen. There is a good chance you may find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. Enjoy the ride that we all don’t want to take but will be so very wild with happy that we did.

©2013 Colman Domingo (P)2024 AO Media, LLC
Editors Select Literature & Fiction Performing Arts Witty Funny
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Colman Domingo's Wild with Happy hit me in a way I didn't quite expect, especially having navigated the peculiar landscape of losing my own mother. This isn't just a play; with its fantastic audio adaptation, it felt like an intimate companion on a journey that so many of us reluctantly embark on.
The story of Gil, reeling from his mother's death and a fresh breakup, and his quest to scatter her ashes in her "wild with happy" place, resonated deeply. That desperate search for a fitting farewell, that need to find joy in the midst of profound absence – it's a feeling I know well. Domingo masterfully blends sharp wit with profound emotional depth, much like life itself. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at the sheer absurdity of some situations, only to suddenly feel a pang of recognition, a tear pricking your eye, because he captures the messy, often hilarious, and utterly heartbreaking reality of grief.
The characters are so vivid, from the well-meaning but overbearing Aunt Glo to the wonderfully eccentric funeral director. They reflect the cast of characters that often emerge when a loved one passes, each bringing their own unique brand of comfort and chaos. Wild with Happy is a beautiful reminder that healing isn't linear, and finding your way back to joy after loss can be an incredibly unconventional, even magical, journey. It truly affirms that even in the deepest sadness, there's always space for laughter, unexpected connections, and remembering the vibrant spirit of those we've lost. This play feels like a warm, comforting hug, reminding you that it's okay to be wild with happy, even when you're still wild with grief.

A Journey Through Loss: Wild with Grief, Wild with Happy

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You got listen to this audio to understand the tile I have give to this review.

This is a beautiful monologue of someone coming to terms with death. It's pure poetry, full of laughter and the turmoil of dealing with death. This is Gill's journey coming to terms with his mother's death, with wonderful characters helping him along. It's absolutely breathtaking.

It's beautifully written, executed, and directed. This is an audio you can listen to over and over again. A quote from it that gives you a taste is, "I just want to sit, just sit and give everyone a chance to catch their breath, just sit." There are more beautiful sayings in this poetic story. 10/10.

A 60yrs old Women in Timberland Boots

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When I say hysterical I mean Fast and Furious. Great Mickey taking out of the black community in America. Shame we’re not allowed to do that ourselves here including jokes about mother-in-law et cetera et cetera. The fun has gone out of British humour unfortunately. My only criticism would be that it is difficult to separate out the Characters by their voice. It was more about what they were actually saying that allowed me to figure out who was talking. Short and sweet probably wouldn’t listen to it again though whereas other comedies I may well do so.

Hysterical

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I’d say I’m simply the wrong nationality being Irish. Did really get a lot of the references



Disappointing didn’t really get half the references

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I found this disappointingly short, (it is less than 2 hours), difficult to follow the voices and characters, and very few things resonated with me or were funny to me. All in all, not recommended.

Maybe more funny for US-Americans?

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It was a lot of noise at first, then a lot of dialogue I wasn’t interested in. Quite shouty. It might have been ok of it had just been narrated.

Switched it off. Not for me

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