Type: Solo Show, Historical Drama, WW2
If You Liked: Prima Facie, The Lark, RGB
The Happiest Man on Earth: An astonishing story about survival from the darkest time in human history.
Arguably one of the darkest periods of recent human history, World War Two and the horrors of The Holocaust, will be forever examined from every possible angle, and rightfully so. The term ‘never again’ should be etched into every current and future generation, as permanently as the tattoos on the arms of the fortunate few who survived the Nazi death camps.
A piece of theatre like The Happiest Man On Earth, adapted from the revered 2020 novel of the same name, gives an equally devastating and triumphant story of survival, with enough moments to give pause for those who lost their lives, while still giving the audience moments to see the bits of light and even laughter that kept people fighting on during that time, and offers insight into how many have since chosen happiness over resentment since.
The piece is the real story of Eddie Jaku, a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal, who spent most of the war narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Nazi regime, spending time in both Buchenwald and Auschwitz, several times escaping only to end up back in the hands of the enemy one way or another. One fascinating tale is when Jaku had to voluntarily sneak back into a camp when an escape attempt met a metaphorical roadblock. At just over 80 minutes, the piece is mostly set during the war, with only fleeting moments exploring Jaku’s childhood, marriage, and emigration to his chosen homeland here in Australia.
Anton Berezin plays Jaku with verve, compassion, and a decent dose of cheek, easily navigating us through the complex and intertwining years of the war. Berezin radiates reassurance in the face of fear, which helps us know, despite everything we’re about to hear, it’s going to be okay.
Therèsa Borg’s direction stops the piece from ever feeling gratuitous, and finds all the right balances when handling a story of this level of importance. While a slightly skittish lighting design made parts of Sophie Woodward and Jacob Battista’s quaint set design feel a little two-dimensional, Borg and Berezin keep focus squarely on the story.
One of the most interesting and (from this reviewer’s perspective) most powerful moments of the piece comes when Jaku describes the overwhelming moment when it felt like the world was arriving around the camps to liberate the prisoners and the country. Mentioning the big players in the Allied forces, America, Britain, Russia, etc, was naturally part of the dialogue – however, the intentional mention of “Palestine” drew a rapid sharp breath from the audience, a major kudos to the author and the playwright for finding a moment, with a single word, to give space to the current political climate.
Is The Happiest Man on Earth Worth Seeing in Sydney?
A piece like this, a story like this, needs to live on the road, looping the country, playing theatres, classrooms, libraries, and pub backrooms. It takes the facts and figures recited in history classes and documentaries, and plucks a single transcript for consumption, and in doing so amplifies the stories of the millions of others from that time who didn’t live to have their stories told.
Tickets and Practical Info for The Happiest Man on Earth in Sydney 🎟️
The Happiest Man on Earth
Playhouse – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Performance: Wednesday 13 May 2026
Season continues to 17 May 2026
Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
For more information, visit: www.monstroustheatre.com.au for details.
