Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Newport Playhouse’s current show is “Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney. It is the male viewpoint of a man’s midlife crisis. Gurney uses a female dog as the metaphor for the other woman in this man’s life. The love and affection of this female dog helps the man escape from his nagging, jealous wife. The talking dog helps the man cope with his problems and eventually brings the couple together by the end of the show. Add three other characters to the mix and you have the ingredients for Mr. Gurney’s solution on marital problems. Michael Johnson directs the show with a deft hand, blending the comedy and the pathos together to create a show that the audience can savor and enjoy.
The beautiful unit set is designed by Tonya Killavey. The terrific make-up is by Travis Krening especially wonder is the make up job on Phyllis. Most of the humor in the show comes from the relationship between Sylvia, the talking dog and her owner, Greg as well as his wife, Kate’s disapproval of Sylvia, another dog owner, a female friend of the couple and their therapist. Kate becomes the supposed victim and since she is a teacher at an inner city school, she spouts quotes from Shakespeare at the end of some of the scenes. One of Kate’s books “All’s Well That Ends Well” is stolen by Sylvia, only to be returned by the dog to show Kate how to fix her marriage. It lets the title of this book become true for this show, too.
Olivia Sahlin is marvelous as this lovable talking dog, Sylvia, where she delivers many funny one liners wonderfully. She moves around the stage like a real dog with her astounding reactions to other dogs, a cat and the other people she meets. Olivia handles the cat scene and dog in heat scene with Bowser comically and the humping of Phyllis’ crotch with her head is hilarious, too. There is also a poignant scene at the end of the show which leaves the audience in tears. Rick Bagley plays the demanding role of Greg. His strong line delivery makes the relationship between dog and master very believable. His warmth and genuineness as this kind and loving man comes through to the audience. It has them rooting for him to have a happy ending that he wants.
Pamela Lambert is splendid as the unaccepting,shrewish wife. She handles the comic moments marvelously especially when she yells at the dog to stay off the couch and when she calls her Saliva. Pamela also delivers a powerful scene with Olivia at the end of Act 1 when they confront each other face to face on the floor. She gets down on her haunches to glare at Sylvia. Michael Johnson rounds out the cast while doing quadruple duty in this show by directing it and playing three different roles in it, too. They are all hilarious and have to be seen to be believed. He first plays Tom, Bowser’s owner, who tells Greg how wives and dogs behave, then plays Phyllis, Kate’s old friend from Vassar who is a rich alcoholic snob who becomes terrified of Sylvia and finally last but not least is Leslie, their therapist who can be either a man or a woman. (think Pat from SNL) The therapist lets the patients decide what they view the therapist as and chastises Greg’s behavior with Sylvia. Michael is a hoot in all these roles and does a great job directing this show, too. So for a delicious and sumptuous all you can eat buffet before the show and a fun filled cabaret after it, be sure to catch “Sylvia” at the Newport Playhouse. It will make you laugh and cry at all the right moments.
SYLVIA ( 13 October to 19 November)
Newport Playhouse, 102 Connell Highway, Newport, RI
1(401)848-7529 or www.newportplayhouse.com
