When people need to recharge, they take a nap or have a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate. When the charming Helper Bots in the different quirky new musical, “Maybe Happy Ending” need a recharge, they plug their batteries into the wall.

Oliver (Darren Criss) is a HelperBot 3 living in a one room with his plant, a bunch of albums his owner James Choi gave him and a magazine subscription. Although years have passed, Oliver still optimistically waits for James to return for him. He also sneaks around at night collecting coins, and planning a trip to Jeju Island where James is living.

With slicked - back dark hair and a pasty- white complexion, Criss is delightful with his jerky spastic motions. He is able to subtly convey his emotions. He lives in a building for ‘retired’ helper bots but doesn’t know anyone-until there’s a panicked knocking on the door. It’s Claire, the HelperBot 5 who lives across the hall who has an emergency. She needs to borrow his charger. Although she is a newer model and more humanlike (she can even drive) her parts are less durable. In her Broadway debut, Helen J. Shen, as Claire, is assertive, superior and worldly. At first, the two verbally spar. After all he’s a 3 that was replaced by the newer model 5.

The two begin a cautious relationship. Even though it shouldn't happen since robots aren’t able to fall in love, of course, they do. And because the two performers have a natural chemistry, we believe it. Together they travel to JeJu Island, he to find James and she to watch the fireflies.

“Maybe Happy Ending” is unlike other Broadway musicals. With book and lyrics by Hue Park and book, lyrics and music by Will Aronson, Criss and Shen captivate us. We cheer for Oliver and Claire and understand them. They behave like bots; they behave like humans and we delight in all they do. We empathize when they are lonely and we root for them when they connect.

Director Michale Arden reminds us that they are bots, not humans. Some of it is through the visual effects. (Scenic and Additional Video Design- by Dane Laffrey and Video & Projection Design by George Reeve) When one ‘reads’ the memories of the other by holding a hand up to their head, visions of the past and their owners flash on the screens all around the stage. Then there’s a very special moment when the pair gets to JeJu Island and watch the fireflies. The audience gasped in appreciative awe.

They are robots but at first they are alone, and we can identify. They say it’s not the destination; it is the journey and we take the journey with Oliver and Claire and we enjoy their trip. "Maybe Happy Ending” is a sweet and charming show and one of the most pleasant theatrical experiences I’ve had on Broadway in a long time.

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