Kudos to The Stray Dog Theater for putting on a wonderful version of Douglas Carter Beane's "The Little Dog Laughed". It's a nice piece of theater featuring only 4 actors -- all of whom get good parts with some funny lines. Each gets to establish a real personality on stage. The play is a commentary on Hollywood and fame. It shines a light on the gap between public perception and real life, and the lengths one is willing to go to protect "an image." In exploring these themes, it is alternatingly funny, cynical and downright sad at times. I loved it.
The play is fairly simple in plot. There is an up and coming Hollywood leading man, Mitchell (played by Bradley J. Behrmann) who is gay -- or a homosexual as the play often phrases it. He wants a personal life that fits his real sexual orientation and would afford him a true to himself lifestyle. He wants to be happy. However, the reality is that if he "comes out" if will adversely affect his public image and his blossuming career. Thus the conflict personal versus professional. Happinees versus success. Mitchell's, agent, a bitchy (and very funny) Lesbian who sometimes serves as his public escort, Diane (played wonderfully, cuttingly by Sarajane Alverson, counsels him to stay in the closet so she can guide his careeer to the top (and hers too).
Yet, Mitchell longs to be openly gay (not necessarily in splashy public fashion) and focuses on a possible relationship with a street hustler, Alex (played by Paul Cereghino with great sensitivity). This is complicated enough given Mitchell's conflicts but further is stressed as Alex has a female hustler friend and sometimes sex partner, Ellen (played by Paige Hackworth), who he truly is fond of as a friend. They have grown up to lean on one another and help each other out in times of stress. Yet, Alex too wants to be more authentic to himself and would like to be acknowledged publicly by Mitchell as his partner. That's the basics of the story. You can see the play yourself for more of the nuances and specific plot action -- except to say Success wins over Happiness -- : (
There were a couple of lines/scenes in the play that highlight the main themes for me. Alex says at one point that "when you're gay they always have something on you". And, Mitchell describes that no matter how advantaged your background, and his is very advantaged -- looks, smarts, money, talent, etc -- that from the moment you realize that you are gay, there is some part of the Amercian Dream that is no longer available to you. That's sad, but you can recognize the truth. I wonder how audiences in 2014 view that assertion.
It seems to me that non-gays (non=blacks, non-women, etc) tend to view "the struggle" as being over when some law gets passed. Women don't face any issues now that they have a right to vote and post-Women's lib movment. Blacks are all ok now that we have voter's rights and the civil rights legislation. Gays can now get married, have healthcare rights, and non-discrimination protections. So everything is perfectly ok now right? No need for concern now that we're in a color-blind society with no regard to race, gender or sexual orientation? Yeah.
I liked the whole cast but I really want to single out Sarajane Alverson as Diane. She was brilliant in the role. She is bitchy, mean, funny, practical, cynical, undermining, underhanded -- and yet is a likable character is many ways. All the cast gets funny lines in this play -- but Diane has the most and Sarajane delivers them with aplomb. The comedic timing is very good and the persona is grata. This might be my favorite play that I've attended at Stray Dog among quite a list of enjoyable plays in the past. It's a success.
Posted by Bruce Lehr Feb 15th 2014
