Has anyone seen Red Dog Howls?

[mar6411]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 2:32pm

I'm interested in possibly seeing this on my next trip and curious to hear about it. No spoilers please.

Thanks!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 9:57pm

I actually saw "Red Dog Howls" this evening and it was pretty intense. The story sets itself up to be fairly cliche: while cleaning out the closet of his recently deceased father, a son find a box of letters and an address he is unfamiliar with. The address leads him to an old Armenian woman in Washington Heights who holds a family secret she is reluctant to share.

The problem with most of these plays is that when it comes time for the "big reveal" the secret is never shocking enough to warrant all the to do about it for 90 minutes. This secret is shocking and not for the faint of heart.

The payoff is doubled by the fact that the Armenian woman is played by Kathleen Chalfant. This freakishly talented actress is flawless. The performance is so studied and researched- I mean she must have some serious method something or other going on. The way she shuffles across the room, sits in a chair, speaks in her Armenian accent. It reminded me of the way Meryl Streep can take on any accent/body language and disappear into a character. Her big monologue during the "big reveal" was crazy.

The other two actors are very good, even if their roles aren't so showy. The play isn't perfect; the dialogue in the first scene seemed a little forced and there's a lot of monologue given to the audience that takes a little getting used to. Still, it's interesting subject matter and with Chalfant's master class in acting it's worth the price of admission.

NYTW continues to be one of the most reliable off-Broadway organizations.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 10:20pm

It was one of the most horrifically disturbing plays I've seen in several years. So tragically depressing that I wouldn't recommend it. It makes Sophie's Choice look like Sesame Street. Again, I wish I hadn't seen it, it really traumatized me.

[Sheri]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 10:48pm

I saw it in LA several years ago when it played at the El Portal and though Kathleen Chalfant was INCREDIBLY brilliant in it, I found it quite traumatic as well.

Updated On: 9/9/12 at 10:48 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 10:53pm

Despite the disturbing nature of the story, the acting is so masterful I find it worthy of recommendation on that front alone.

[vegas2]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 11:18pm

Please let it extend . . .

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 11:22pm

Agreed Chalfant's performance is incredible, but it doesn't outweigh the insufferable disturbing and traumatic content on the show. Personally wouldn't recommend anyone to go through that pain.

[Insider2]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 2:44pm

Yes, God forbid, please don't go see a show that makes you feel an actual emotion. Maybe you should stick to singing witches and newsboys.

[mar6411]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 3:16pm

Really Insider2?

I understood what mybigsplash was trying to convey and appreciate it. How you make the leap to "you should stick to singing witches and newsboys" is kind of incomprehensible unless it is just an attempt to be snarky. It certainly is not at all what mybigsplash was intending. Thanks for not adding any input and just being ****ty.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 3:42pm

Has nothing to do with emotion. Some people can't handle gunshots onstage, and others can handle disturbing graphic genocide depictions. To each their own. See the show first.