1 out of 5 stars

In “My Joy Is Heavy,” the husband-and-wife musical duo of Shaun and Abigail Bengson share the pain and grief they experienced when Abigail suffered a miscarriage – all while the couple was holed up with their young son in New England during the pandemic. There’s no denying the difficulties they faced, but does that translate into a telling piece of theater? Not quite. What could be a moving exploration of life and death too often feels like a self-involved confessional, with songs that are more inane than profound. One exception: the powerhouse title number, which Abigail delivers with Janis Joplin-like bravura. — Charles Passy

At New York Theatre Workshop, through April 5; nytw.org. (Review date: March 17, 2026)