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This is the writer's voice, new fiction from The New Yorker.

I'm Deborah Treasman, fiction editor at The New Yorker.

On this week's episode of The Writer's Voice, we'll hear Han Ong read his story, Happy

Days from the June 30th, 2025 issue of the magazine.

The recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and the Berlin Prize, Ong is

the author of more than a dozen plays

and two novels, Fixer Chow

and The Disinherited.

Now here's Han Ong. Happy Days

Matthew is behind the curtain when the announcement comes.

Ladies and gentlemen, the role of Winnie, played by Ira Wilson, will be performed at this

first preview by Matthew Lim. He hears the audience, go crazy. Their version of crazy, being an older

crowd, whispers, rising, falling, rising again. This is worrisome to him. Also,

thrilling, toggling from one reaction to the other induces vertigo and he has to use deep breaths

to calm the sudden onset of body chills. Willa, the 24-year-old stage manager, has the

biggest smile on her face. This helps Matthew to understand that tonight's audience has accepted

the happy logic of the house manager's announcement. After all, it's not Ira, but Matthew, who is the theater company's

resident diva, celebrated for his portrayals of Lady Macbeth, Heda Gabler, and Medea. Matthew is that

gratifying phenomenon, a star who didn't hit his stride with audiences or with critics

...