The Happiest Song Plays Last

Staged reading

In conjunction with its production of Water By the Spoonful, The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, conducted a staged reading of the first and third plays in the trilogy written by the very talented playwright Quiara Algria Hudes. The first one, A soldier’s Fugue, was set prior to the events occurring in Water By the Spoonful.  The Happiest Song Plays Last follows two of the major characters after the death of a family member.  As the staged reading occurred on a Monday night, the theatre was “dark.” but Water…..is still in production.  It is very appropriate that the reading occurs on this set as characters can be set apart with their chairs and script stands on two different levels, delineating Philadelphia and Jordan.  This was very helpful to the audience    Armando Batista who plays Elliot in Water…. and Maia De Santi who plays his cousin Yaz read those parts in the reading. Yaz speaks from her old neighborhood in North Philadelphia. Elliot is adding his soldier's expertise to a movie role in Jordon. An appreciative audience also enjoyed the reading of Rasha Zamamiri who portrayed Shar, an actress on the set in Jordon with Elliot.  Damien Wallace gave an incredible performance as a slow-witted person that Yaz had adopted.  Hudes’ third play in her trilogy is currently playing in NYC at the Second Stage Theatre where Water By the Spoonful played before it.  Hopefully the Arden will be able to bring it to Philadelphia sometime in the near future.  Be sure to watch out for it.