Sylvia at the George Street Playhouse

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 12:06am

Sylvia tells the typical story of "man's best friend" and the effects it has on a couple’s life. Sylvia is an abandoned dog that just happened to find her new owner, Greg, who works for a big corporation. His wife, Kate, first meets Sylvia at home and immediately hates her. The more they spend time together, the more they dislike each other. Soon enough, Greg begins to love his dog more than his own wife by getting them confused and telling his wife to sit in a mean tone and his dog that she looks beautiful.

Rachel Dratch (Sylvia): They way she acted, trying to be a dog, somewhat convinced me. The way she would lie down on a couch (walking in circles first) and breathing heavily while she was happy, I would say to myself, “Oh yeah, that IS how a dog would act.” The best part of her performance was the way she delivered her lines. Barking at a cat by yelling “Hey! Hey cat! F*uck you! You’re a disgrace to the animal kingdom! I‘m gonna chop off your tail and stick it up your *ss!” and constantly saying “I love you” whenever she was around her owner were the best parts of her lines. Good thing she wasn’t on her knees the whole time because she was constantly moving around like a dog would, but she would waddle a little to signify that she wasn’t playing a human.

Boyd Gaines (Greg): For some reason, the way he acted towards Sylvia as a life partner made me feel a little uncomfortable. I guess that was a good thing because he was playing a middle aged man “trying to feel real.” It seemed like he started his performance at a high level. And when he had to raise his emotions and angry, he couldn’t let it out enough - if that makes sense.

Kathleen McNenny (Kate): Playing a hard working women, trying to teach Shakespeare to inner city children, she often broke the third wall to say quotes direct from Shakespeare’s work. They cleverly fit into the story line. Her threatening confrontation with Sylvia, where she says that she will get rid of her, was her highlight. All of the angry really made me lean towards her side. It really helped her performance that she is really married to Boyd Gaines.

Stephen DeRosa (Tom/Phyllis/Leslie): The last time I saw this man on stage was when I saw Hairspray back in 2006. He was the best part of the show. Playing one man, one woman, and a therapist that lets its patients decide his or her sex, DeRosa was a riot. The best part of his performance was his accents. They were all so distinct and really enhanced each character very well.

A.R. Gurney (Playwright): The way he wrote the show had a cutesy vibe. He included all of the elements that made up the typical dog such as, sniffing a fire hydrant, jumping when the doorbell rings, ect. The first act was very well written, but the second act was too short compared to it. I’m sure that some of the lines were rewritten so it would fit into today’s world.


David Saint (Director): According to his bio, this was the second time directing this show. He has a very impressive taste in picking shows for the theatre. He tends to pick shows with small casts to make the show more intimate with the audience.

James Youmans (Scenic Design): All of the set looked like it was take right out of a children’s book and put right on stage. It may seem cheesy, but it really worked. It set a vibe of playfulness. The walls that bordered around the stage were made to look like apartment buildings. They were set in triples like the ones used in Legally Blonde. The main sets that moved around were a lounge chair, couch, coffee table, and desk. They were used in mostly every scene. The prop that impressed me the most was a set of three seats to act as seats in an airport with a luggage at the far left. It was pulled by McNenny to act like she was pulling the luggage, but still have the chairs follow her.

David Murin (Costume Design): The way Sylvia’s costume was not the best way to represtent a dog, but it still worked. Sylvia wore an extra large brown short with less brown pants and same colored sneakers. It was very clever to have the shirt’s sleeves very long to hide her hands, but still have them functional.

After the show, there was a special doggie fashion show where dog owners could dress up at there dog and walk down the cardboard runway that was set on the stage. The event was emceed by David Saint and had the cast members as judges, excluding McNenny because she entered her dog into the show.

Overall, this play seems pretty mediocre. It was a nice, cute, little show, but not that memorable. I tried to remember all of parts of the show while trying to write this review, but I just can’t. If there were celebrities in the cast, I MIGHT rethink seeing this show again. I would recommend if you were a dog lover or owner. Maybe that’s why I didn’t care for it that much. Even though this play seems very child friendly, all of the profanity would be more fitted for late teens to eldery folks.

2 1/2 out of 5
Sylvia Preview

[once a month]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 2:21pm

Im looking forward to the final performance after missing the entire run. I loved playing the role of Greg several years ago and was always bummed I missed Sarah Jessica Parker. It's going to be a nice theatrical experience, reliving the show as well as relating to owning and loving a dog...my dog passed a few years ago.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 7:06pm

^ I'm sure you will love the show, being that you are a dog lover. I'm guessing SJP played Sylvia?

[Piper3500]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 7:13pm

yes she did muscle.
i think Rachel would do a great job.

i have done this show just in my theatre...it was okay. it is a love it or hate it piece i feel.

i was in it, and i wasn't even partial to it. AR Gurney's writing is like that.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 7:22pm

Piper3500, what role did you play? Rachel was very good in the role. Like you said, it pretty much is love or hate. Honestly, I think I'm leaning towards the hate it side.

Also, I'm not muscle23ftl.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 7:34pm

woops...sorry i read that name wrong. my aplogies.

i have done a couple. once Leslie and once Kate.

I just finished doing another AR Gurney. The Dining Room. I played Sally, Mother, Peggy, Kate, Ruth, and a few minors.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/18/10 at 9:47pm

Oh look, Sylvia is on BroadwayWorldTV! I wonder how that happened? :)