Thoughts on "The Little Dog Laughed?"- Page 4

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 2:29pm

Mischief, I could not agree with you more. Luckily I won the tickets so I didn't have to shell out any money for this. And I got to see Jane Fonda in the audience, so that made the day worth my while.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 3:47pm

I will have to echo Mischief's sentiments. I felt as times that I was watching a poorly wriiten made for basic cable TV movie. White did give a good performance and gave some life to the overdone material but when she left the stage the play lay deflated like a broken balloon on the stage.
There was absolutly no chemistry between the male leads at all. I left the theatre like most of the other audience members that night, with a giant "eh!" on my lips and my wallet $86 lighter.
The whole evening made me wish someone would produce P.S Your Cat is Dead again.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:34pm

I saw the show for a second and final time tonight. Henderson was (still great and) still on for Galecki. I saw it from second row balcony tonight which was a completely different experience from second row orch. I brought a friend and she loved it as well! I was really sad when the final scene (beginnings...endings...) was happening, knowing that I'd not get another chance to see it, but am excited to read the book/script when it is released. I do agree that the last scene is a bit on the weak side- I could do without the "beginning" part of it- but, nonetheless, I love the play as a whole. I also love White's Christian Louboutin stilettos. I want them- even though the Lord knows I couldn't walk in them.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 2:59am

Saw it today.

Galecki was back and fantastic. I thought the play was alright. It often pushed a little too hard to make a joke. There would be some large dialogue or monologue followed by a one liner that didn't quite cut it.

I enjoyed Act II a lot more than Act I. I though Tom Everett Scott did a fantastic job in Act I, once he got into the groove of it, though, but seemed a bit laid back in Act II.

Now, Julie White. Fantastic performance stunted by a lack of clarity when she would scream her lines. Her voice would take on this gargle-like sound that frustrated me. But her Act II performance was worth the (TDF) price of admission alone.

And I have to actually agree with DP. I felt her little monologues (while well delivered and hilarious) interrupted the momentum of the scenes between the two guys - scenes that were more interesting than some of her monologues.

During the nudity, some guy behind me screamed out quite loudly, "OH MY GOD!"

Favorite line: I'm giving you my word. That's like a whore giving up her cherry.

Here's to White winning the Tony!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:47am

BsO, I'm so glad you saw it!

I'm seeing it tonight. Bittersweet - so sad that it's closing, and just mind-boggled by the producers/management/marketing team who did nothing to keep it open.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:03am

"You're asking me for my WORD? That's like asking a whore for her CHERRY!"

Too bad the show was so poorly managed and publicized. Would it have been that hard to get at least 1 of them on Regis?
Updated On: 2/18/07 at 10:03 AM

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 7:43pm

Agreed, Yankeefan.

That is definitely one of my favorite lines. My other would have to be:
-"I can be an actor with a friend."
-"*frustrated noise* Are you British? Are you knighted?!"

[JACXR71]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:01pm

Rath (or anyone else that was at the show today) - did they do anything special? How were the performances?

[courtnyj]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:23pm

Saw Saturday's matinee....I thought Julie White was great. The play? Not so much. As someone on this board said earlier it felt very "high school." I don't think Julie White will win the Tony, but I hope she's nominated. She's a difficult sell in a mediocre play with such (potentially) stiff competition.

[ReNtHeAd04]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:59pm

I got tickets at the last minute for saturday's matinee performance off of tdf. i enjoyed the show. i thought white was hysterical.. majoring in tv & film and taking some pr classes.. i was dying throughout the whole thing. very sad to see it close. especially because i finally saw it the day before it closed. i would have liked to see it once more. but oh well. definetely enjoyed it though..

i loved the one line in the beginning when scott asked if galecki wanted a drink. and he said "no i dont drink".. i forgot the exact line that scott said about life being so beautiful, but it made me crack up.. can anyone help me with that line?

[ReNtHeAd04]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:59pm

I got tickets at the last minute for saturday's matinee performance off of tdf. i enjoyed the show. i thought white was hysterical.. majoring in tv & film and taking some pr classes.. i was dying throughout the whole thing. very sad to see it close. especially because i finally saw it the day before it closed. i would have liked to see it once more. but oh well. definetely enjoyed it though..

i loved the one line in the beginning when scott asked if galecki wanted a drink. and he said "no i dont drink".. i forgot the exact line that scott said about life being so beautiful, but it made me crack up.. can anyone help me with that line?

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:03pm

I loved it. The entire thing. Both times I saw it. I'm very sad it closed.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:09pm

I caught the matinee performance today. Liked it, didn't love it-found it hard to believe that the two male leads would find eachother attractive because there really wasn't any chemistry there. Undoubtly though, I loved Ms. White's performance although her voice did get some getting used to. At curtain call, I noticed a remarkable change in applause from Galecki to Scott and then White. Galecki recieved loud applause with a few hoots white Scott's was toned down and then thunderous applause and hoots for White.

I can see how the show only ran for three months considering the limited to no advertising and the story line. Its not exactly ground breaking to say the least but it was a good time, had some great lines and memorable performances. What more could you ask for really?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:20pm

I could have asked for:

1. A better play that actually had something to say.

2. Some vague bit of chemistry between the two male leads who are supposed to be falling in love with each other.

3. Something to have been done so that the energy of the play didn't sink so disastrously every time Julie White left the stage.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:21pm

Renthead, I believe that the line was something to the effect of "Did life suddenly become beautiful?" But I cannot exactly remember the line that preceded it, which is probably for what you are actually asking. I'll keep racking my brain; I only saw it twice. Where's Foster; he might know more so than I.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 12:43am

Final performance report:

The performances were the best I've seen - Scott has improved greatly. I really enjoyed Zoe Lister-Jones, and don't understand why she was replaced for the Broadway run. Her take on Ellen is very different from Graynor's, but equally as good.

Of course there was a standing ovation and cheers, and it lasted forever - Julie was crying, and I could see her mouth "I have to make the speech," finally Galecki motioned for the audience to be quiet. She began to make the Actors Fund speech, but couldn't, covering her face with her hands, overwhelmed and unable to compose herself. Finally, through her tears and with much difficulty, she gave the speech, throwing in the line "it's great to be in a profession where they give a rat's ass about you," and ending the speech with "so when I'm in the Actors Fund Old Age home, I'll have this memory as a meal to dine on." It was a beautiful line. Throughout, she was crying, and Galecki never let go of her, physically supporting her.

Finally, the four of them embraced. It was extremely moving. I'm glad I was there.

I hope she wins the Tony. I hope she has the long and prestigious theatrical career that she deserves. She's truly one of a kind.

ETA: I brought a friend who had not seen the play before and she proclaimed it the greatest performance she's ever seen on a stage.

Updated On: 2/19/07 at 12:43 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 2:50pm

Was anyone else there?

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 3:00pm

I was at Saturday evening's performance, and it was wonderful to be able to see the show one last time (my fifth) before it closed. Everyone was in and spot-on, although it sounded like Galecki was still fighting a cold. Julie White was brilliant, of course; I wouldn't expect any less from her. Tom Everett Scott is better every time I see him. It was such a pleasure to have Zoe Lister Jones back. She brought depth and humanity to Ellen that is lacking in the script, and which Graynor was never really able to tap into.

Julie was crying at curtain call. She blew a kiss out and mouthed "thank you" several times. I noticed Joanna Gleason and Chris Sarandon in the audience. It's really sad to see another new American play have such a short and unsuccessful Broadway run.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 8:28am

*bumping for the work-week people*

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:19am

If only I could have been there.

When shows close on Sunday's it's almost impossible for me to make it.

I did get to see it once more on Valentine's Day, which was a real treat. I'm going to miss this show.

[FrontRow]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:10pm

The best point made in this whole thread is that Julie White's character is a type we've seen a million times before.
And I'll add her performance is overrated. Now for all those on this board who never seem to understand the difference between "overrated" and "bad"...that means she's nowhere near as great as everyone says, not that she stinks. But it's either her zingy one-liners or marathon, fast-paced monologues that get such a reaction from the audience -- perhaps because they are zingy monologues or marathon, fast-paced monologues?
This show should never have moved to Bway. It's sitcom-y and too risque in terms of language and gay male nudity for Bway. Also, much of the humor -- especially White's opening speech -- is too insider-y. Bway houses have several hundred seats to fill. The three aforementioned things limit the audience too much.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:25am

I agree about the nudity for sure - that definitely limited the audience. As did the complete lack of marketing.


But it's either her zingy one-liners or marathon, fast-paced monologues that get such a reaction from the audience -- perhaps because they are zingy monologues or marathon, fast-paced monologues?
It was her delivery of them. Extremely unique. What she could do with a line as simple as "That's how I said it!" was absolutely mind-blowing. And she kept that up with every single line she had. Not to mention her brilliant physicality and perfect facial expressions.

Updated On: 2/21/07 at 08:25 AM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:44am

The sound was great.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:13pm

It must be a hard one to keep balanced, they did do a great job with the sound.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 12:19am

Does anyone remember the line that was something like, "I like to keep a pane of glass between myself and others at all times."? I can't remember it and it kind of...yeah. Does anyone remember it?