LITTLE DOG LAUGHED HAS A GREAT SECOND ACT

Michella Greeley, Matt Socha, Justin DuPuis and Danielle Perata reading the "outing" of movie star Mitch in the National Enquirer

THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED by Douglas Carter Beane. Directed by Ed Decker. The New Conservatory Theatre Center (Decker Theatre), located at 25 Van Ness Ave. near Market St. in San Francisco, 94102. NCTC Box Office (415) 861 8972, or online at www.nctcsf.org.

THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED HAS A GREAT SECOND ACT

An often-heard complaint about a play’s construction is that the author runs out of steam by the second act. Not so with Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed (LDL). His second act is a humdinger similar to his brilliant As Bees in Honey Drown that played at NCTC with an extended run in 2008. The second act is worth the wait with its well-paced, zany story line expertly blocked, making up for a first act series of extended monologs used to set up the fantastic finish.

You could say that the two plays are joined at the hip since the present play utilizes Beane’s frustrating Hollywood experience when As Bees in Honey Drown was optioned for a movie 13 years ago. He wrote one draft and walked away when he was asked to “straighten things out.” He has written himself into the script of LDL but never appears on stage and is hilariously referred to as “He meaning Him or Him being He” in a three way telephone conversation for the ages.

There are only four on stage characters with a few people on the other end of the telephone. What would modern day authors do without telephones? Producers love them, telephones that is, since it cuts the cost of production and an author can introduce as many non-paid characters as he wishes. Beane is an expert with the use of the telephone.

First there is Hollywood agent/producer and lesbian Diana (Michaela Greeley) who is always on the telephone and is in New York City with her movie star client Mitchell (Matt Socha) to obtain movie rights for a play with a gay love story. Mitch is to be the star. Diana knows a gay actor is OK to play a gay role if “he is English and knighted.” A straight actor playing a gay role is the stuff that wins Oscar Awards (think Sean Penn in Milk). Mitch just happens to be a closeted gay who is having assignations with a “straight” $100 per night rent-boy Alex (Justin DuPuis).

Diane’s machinations to keep Mitch in the closet becomes extremely Daedalian and uproarious especially when a spark of love is ignited between the two young men. Alex happens to have a girl friend Ellen (Danielle Perata) making the situation more problematic.

Although the primary concept of the play is a scathing satire on the Hollywood vagaries and personalities, Beane weaves in questions of what is love and what constitutes happiness. Astute Ed Decker recognizes these interwoven themes and moves the characters on Kuo-Hao Lo’s gorgeous art deco set keeping the humor at a moderated pitch allowing the pathos to break through.

Greeley imbues the role of Diane with all the characteristics of a denizen from Hell, as the script requires, but too often relies on volume to express displeasure. To her credit she never misses a line, she has a plethora of them, and her harsh voice adds depth to the role. Matt Socha displays a touch of vulnerability that is charming while Justin Dupris in extremely likeable but just doesn’t quite make his character believable. My favorite is Danielle Perata who affects a New York accent as she searches for happiness.

Another triumph for Ed Decker and NCTC. Highly recommend the play that runs 2 hours and 10 minutes with intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com