The Italian production Ten Ways to Die Happy, performed in English at Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, invites audience members to consider how they would spend their finite time, but the show's pace remains fairly sedentary. Created by Emanuele Aldrovandi and Jacopo Giacomoni, the gentle gameshow asks eight randomly selected audience members to don white robes, choose new names, and participate in a shared thought experiment about life's priorities.
An Existential Gameshow with a Ceremonial Setting
Host Perla Ambrosini, standing in fabric armour in a shallow pool of water, guides participants through the years of their simulated lives. Each player has a tray of plastic flowers representing 'energy' to invest in work, art, and family; throwing them into the pool depletes that energy, and when it runs out, the player 'dies'. Over the course of the game, participants control small counters to mark their levels of happiness, with the stated aim, as Ambrosini puts it, 'to die happy'.
The show's tone is earnest and thoughtful, but the drama is undercut by a lack of genuine stakes. Even for those chosen to participate, the interaction rarely feels difficult or poignant, more akin to casually playing the board game Catan than confronting life's biggest dilemmas.
Audience Participation and Heart-Rate
Being on stage does induce a higher heart-rate, according to the reviewer, and there are opportunities for broader audience participation beyond the chosen eight. However, the experience never reaches a truly difficult dilemma, and the ceremony feels intense but the game itself lacks weight. Some interactions are cringe-worthy, though there is never a sense that participants might say something wrong.
The production's blunt reflections and visual confrontations serve as a welcome reminder to make the most of the time we have, but the pacing remains slow throughout.
Final Thoughts and Run Details
While Ten Ways to Die Happy may not deliver high-stakes drama, its earnest exploration of life choices offers a thought-provoking experience for audiences. The show runs at Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, until 31 August.
