Stephen Colbert and politics; "Candide" and Leibniz. One of the best ways to bring a serious issue to light is to make fun of it.
Playing now at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, "The Little Dog Laughed" is a comedy that pokes fun at the corruption of the Hollywood business.
Presented by the SpeakEasy Stage Company and directed by Paul Melone, the play showcases actors from the Boston area.
"The Little Dog Laughed" tells the story of an up-and-coming Hollywood actor, Mitchell Green (Robert Serrell), and his pursuit of happiness as a closeted gay man. Green's cynical and controlling agent, Diane (Maureen Keiller), refuses to let Green's "slight recurring case of homosexuality" ruin both of their careers. Green falls in love with hustler Alex (Jonathan Orsini).
Things get complicated when Alex also questions his sexuality and when his girlfriend, Ellen (Angie Jepson), steps into the picture.
Written by Douglas Carter Beane, "The Little Dog Laughed" reflects the playwright's personal experiences with Hollywood. Beane has written several plays and musicals, including "Xanadu" and "As Bees In Honey Drown." He has had experience dealing with difficult agents, especially those who have changed his story lines for the silver screen.
In addition, Beane has experience dealing with Hollywood actors who keep that closet door shut in order to further their careers. The conflict between personal happiness and work and profit is readily apparent in this play.
Though the play was nominated for a Tony Award in 2006, it fails to impress upon the audience the reasons for such acclaim. The play does tackle homosexuality in the corporate world, but simply discussing a difficult subject should not be enough to merit a prestigious nomination.
Some of the scenes, such as a rapid-fire dialogue between Diane, Green and the audience, are convincing. For the most part, however, the delivery and the timing of lines falls flat. Especially in comedy, these points are crucial to success, but they seem to be the play's biggest challenge. Some dialogues might have seemed clever on paper, but for one reason or another, they just do not translate well onto the stage.
At other times, it is difficult to distinguish whether the play is a drama or a comedy. Several scenes are extremely dramatic, such as the nude love scene between Green and Alex. Understandably, the play's subject matter is a serious and relevant one, but that does not mean it should be executed with such seriousness. The humor should enlighten the audience about the serious subject; instead, the play is just a confusing jumble between forced comedy and melodrama.
The cast of "The Little Dog Laughed" is relatively young. In fact, they are so green that three of the main actors were making their debut with SpeakEasy, and their relative newness to the company and to each other is apparent in their onstage interactions and relationships.
The relationships between characters feel unreal and, at times, forced. Whether or not Beane intended for the audience to identify with a character, none of the characters are that likable. They lack any kind of stage presence that might separate this play from the pack.
The play does have certain redeeming qualities. The set is certainly creative. It is designed in such a way to create the illusion of a deep and wide stage. In addition to the set design, the costumes also save the play. Each article of clothing or accessory embodies and reflects the character's personality. For example, Diane always appears in tailored suits and black heels. Alex comes alive as a twenty-something in his slouchy jeans, casual jacket and hoodie.
Set and costumes, however, are not enough to justify the execution of the acting. Though it might have been a hit on Broadway, "The Little Dog Laughed" does not translate nearly as well to Boston theater.
The Little Dog LaughedWritten by Nick HornbyDirected by Paul MeloneAt the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion through Feb. 16Tickets $51 and up
