As Sienna’s grief unfolds for her sister Emily, who has died suddenly and unexpectedly aged just 25, this is a story that could easily become maudlin. But the script gives Emily a role in death, just as she would have had in life, and Michaella Moore (playing Emily) fleshes out the character to the full. As she talks to Sienna (played by Naomi Denny), advising, admonishing and joshing with her as she would have done when alive, we experience her personality, rather than a whimsical memory of how she might have been.

All the Happy Things conveys the way in which grief can mean dealing with a continued, and sometimes overwhelming, presence. It explores how the experience of this presence is both joyful and painful, and how guilt can lie just beneath the surface. And it shows how the expectations of others, who assume coming to terms with things is just a matter of time, can be so misplaced.

The treatment of the two male characters (both played by Gavin Dunn) adds another layer to the piece. Sienna’s partner, Sam, is empathetic to the point of excess, whilst Kevin, her boss, thinks the solution is down to Sienna taking time out to deal with her mental health issues, and then she will bounce back. In both of these relationships, the way in which women often end up apologising for men’s anger is subtly made.

At times, the script is somewhat heavy on dialogue and a little too literal, with little left for us to fill in for ourselves. Performers are not always fully audible, occasionally due to lack of projection and occasionally because of speed of delivery. But there are many scenes where the script is deft, and characters brilliantly captured by performers, giving many moments which overcome all of this.

The scene in the modern art gallery as Sienna and Sam discuss the works on display is socially observant and very witty. There are points of high dramatic tension, focused on the coincidence of Sienna’s and Emily’s common birthday, which they have always shared in the past, but are now no longer allowed to. And there are moments of exuberance and joy, as the sisters re-perform their familiar dance routines.

All the Happy Things feels open-ended and yet very complete as a piece. There are no happy endings. There are only happy moments which define our relationships and add value to our lives.

All the Happy Things was written by Naomi Denny and directed by Aaliyah McKay. It was produced by SH Productions.

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