Jaystarr's 10/10 Reports on THE TWO LITTLE DOGS (Boston & Hartford) with stage door pics on both.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 12:54pm

P R O L O G U E :

The Mother Dog : Our Broadway Experience.



The Little Dog Laughed
The Cort Theater
12/24 2 pm matinee

This play by Douglas Carter-Beane is probably one of my favorite play of all time. The dialogues are very witty and clever. We are so fortunate to see this play on Broadway last year. Julie White's over the top performance whom everyone loved including myself won her a TONYS last year for Lead Actress in a Play. As a result.. she has an shrine now in our house. The play is about a closeted actor named Mitchell (Scott Thomas Everett ), his manipulative agent Diane (Julie White), Alex (Johnny Galecki) the twinkie hustler and Ellen (Ari Graynor) -Alex's girlfriend.

The plot is very simple...a homosexual actor who fell in love with a hustler..and at the end he needs to make a scarifice to retain his fame..all with the help of his manipulative agent.

I did not realized that the play was based on Douglas Carter-Beane experience in Hollywood about his play, AS THE BEES IN HONEY DROWN until I watched and stayed for the talk-back with Chad Allen in TDL in Hartford yesterday.. Allen mentioned that the 'he meaning him' playwright character in the play is Douglas Carter-Beane. The play was supposedly will be made into a Hollywood movie but the playwright needs to "straighten up " his gay character and apparently THE ADVOCATE did an article about it and the playwright lost all his rights to the movie hence damaging the property as in of the funny scenes in TDL. Apparently..there is a talk of making THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED into a movie.. which is very ironic.

The play only played 112 performances and closed on February Feb. 18, 2007. But that's not the end of this dog. She had a liter. One little dog in Boston and another in Hartford playing at the same time with full house attendance on both productions and most likely critics will rave on this two productions for the next few weeks...

So let's go visit the NEW ENGLAND liter of this dog.






Ron (my bestfriend in college-who lives in NYC now) Chris & I


Ron & I


Ari Graynor


Tom Everett Scott


Me & Tom Everett Scott



Me & Miss Julie White


"Let me know how the two LITTLE DOGS are!" - Wanna Be A Foster
(title by WBaF- thanks for the great title idea! )

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 12:55pm

PART ONE : The first puppy in Boston.


to our friend...Miguel


E29

The Little Dog Laughed
New Play by Douglas Carter-Beane
REGIONAL THEATER : SpeakEasy (Boston)
Virginia Wimberly Theater
2/2 8 pm show
2 hours with 1 intermission
Tix Price : $27.00 (thru Bostix)

INTRO:

As I always do in my reports.. I share my personal experiences in my life.

When Chris & I took Spanish Classes at Harvard Extension last year. We met this nice kid from New Hamsphire. His name is Michael, as usual we hispanized our anglo names..so we call him "Miguel". We develop a friendship with Miguel.. we would often eat after class (bec. its an evening class at Harvard for Adult Ed.) and do a group study together for the whole year.. we thought he was straight... we never really talk about being gay to him. He went to our condo to study with us one time before our Midterm and he saw all of wedding photos in the wall and on the armoire..he really did not say anything... so we thought ..why bothered? he is a straight open-minded guy and this is Harvard Extension... our classmates are ALL open minded democrats professionals taking Spanish Class and discussing Latin American political, social and economic problems in Spanish for a non credit course with exams (except for us- Miguel is pursuing his Bachelor's and us for a credit for a possible grad school credits in the future..we have not decided it..just taking it for fun)

We thought that Miguel is dating Christine bec. they hang-out sometimes too after classes and she is such a sweet girl. This year..We did not have classes together, so we will only get in touch with e-mails and facebook pics.. One time
I saw his pictures at his facebook accounts from his recent trip in Miami with this cute Hispanic guy...and it looks like they were kinda 'together' in those pictures...sometimes body language in pictures tell a lot. So Chris finally asked him the inevitable question?( in one of their e-mails converstaion to one another) but he said that he was not really OUT & ABOUT...

He also told us that the Hispanic guy in the picture is his "friend" meaning...
boyfriend.... he does not really refer to him as boyfriend... he called him as friend...

He often told us that he wanted to hang-out with us eventhough were not classmates anymore.. since he go to South End to visit his "friend" so I asked him.. Have you seen a play? he said.. NO.. Bring your friend and we will all see THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED... Its been one of my mission in my life to bring my families, all my friends, co-worker or whoever I know to see a LIVE THEATER. So we all decided to see the play in Boston..and finally meet his friend...What a great idea!

Miguel called us back 3 days before the show and told us that his friend might not be coming with us bec. things were not working out with them... He really did not elaborate about it...we did not ask anything and we just realized that it may be hard for him, since he just came out.

So we all went to see the play..... Miguel, Chris & I without his 'friend'.

Things(s) I LIKE about the play

1. The Play- its a given. I just love the play. The Boston audience really had a blast that Saturday. After Maureen's (Diane) delivery of ..'my word..." the audience clapped soo loudly..she has to pause for a long time. The old lady infront of us was having was laughing so hard and she was having the time of her life.

2. The Chemistry between Mitchell (Jonathan Serell) & Alex (Jonathan Orsini)- I guess one of my problem with the Broadway play was the relationship between Scott Thomas Everett's Mitchell & Johnny Galecki's Alex -somehow it was unbelievable or unreal to me...there seems like a distance between the two. When I saw the play in Boston.. I just realized that its a LOVE STORY between Alex & Mitch. I saw it on a different light. There was a chemistry between Orsini & Serrel (both almost same height ) that they are so cute to see together.. there's a spark in their eyes when they are together. Their kiss scene was passionate and not just smack, but there's something in there. okay.. here we go.. the nudity scene was longer than the one they had on Broadway...Serrel was nude for about 2 minutes more when Diane came.
he was just standing there naked infront of the audience. Orsini covered "his" - real quick with a t-shirt.

3. The Ensemble- wow. this is one production that's all the cast are great. They compliment one another. The Broadway production...everyone knows that everytime Julie White's Diane was onstage -she had a command of the entire Cort Theater. she owned that stage... that moment... I felt like Galecki & Everett really did not have enough star power to outshine her. Gaynor was a completely different story. unfortunately.. I thought she was the weakest link out of the four. The Boston production seems like they compliment one another as an ensemble. No one is out shining one another.

4. The Actors & their interpretations of their roles:

a. Maureen Keiller's Diane- she did this soo different. I was so hesistant to see a production without Julie White, but I think she did a great job.. her Diane was classy & sassy yet very manipulative. To put it in prespective she's like Megan Mullaly's Karen (without the voice) in Will & Grace.

-the part where she tells Mitchell's about her experience with a director who treated her like a bimbo and he only speaks to her thru an attorney was very emotional.

b. Robert Serell's Mitchell- honestly when I saw his picture.. I was thinking.. He cant be Mitchell... but gosh. he proved me wrong.. his Mitchell is like an Actor from the 50's golden movie era with such a panache. His line delivery was just equisite to hear his voice utter Douglas Carter Beane's lines.

c. Jonathan Orsini's Alex- this is the standout performance for me.

-finally Alex is "really" a twinkie hustler.
- his Alex is very vulnerable.. he was hurt in the past.. he does not wanna open up.. afraid to trust anyone yet he is looking for something.
- his Alex reminds me of Joaquin Phoenix in MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO.
-his chemistry with Serrel was something else.. I fell in love with their relationship with one another..there is contrast between his Alex & Serrell's Mitchell, yet when they are together onstage- its a total harmony.
- he got this incredible body.. he is very toned.. his six packs is something else.. its more 'define' onstage...the pics does not do justice to his physique.

Jonathan Orsini as Alex


d. Angie Jepson's Ellen- her Ellen is a valley /confused/ granola girl. I was delighted to see her onstage. I was a bit disappointed with Ari Graynor on Broadway (when we saw the show-she was stumbling with some of her lines) Jepson has a total command of her role and her chemistry with Orsini's Alex was great too. Her scene with Orsini when they were having sex was very provocative...Orsini delivered the most sexual provoking & forgive my word..."arousing line" .. I ever heard onstage... whne he was saying ...oh baby... I am about to c*m! That scene with Jepson was very sexual.. it puts those SA's kids on Broadway to shame and they are not even toucing themselves..they are just merely reciting their lines.

- Orsini's chemistry with everyone was good-iMO. I could never imagine the Boston production with Orsini.

4. Scenic Design- minimalist, very clever & functional

Stage Left : two story- below is the bedroom scene above is the California office of Diane/Airplane scene at the end cleverly separated by a red carpet and on Stage Right -another two story set with restaurant's table & chairs that protrude.

5. Lighting.

6. Direction by Paul Melone

NOTE : The costume & sound design are pretty descent though not in my LIKE LIST.


Things(s) I DID NOT LIKE about the play

N O N E

In Summary :

The play got a 5 minute standing ovation at the end.. Everyone was clapping soo hard. I heard they were doing very well too in the box-office.

One last thing : Jonathan Orsini is really the standout in this production, though the whole ensemble was strong and complimented one another. He is like the male Allision Pill. His Alex was deep.. He showed two sides of Alex here- the naive yet vulnerable Alex at the beggining and at the end- after he was begging Mitchell (in his mind) to end the deal and just be with him.. then Mitch decided to go with Diane's plan.. you can see a different Alex now... hurt, damage and dont know where to go...the last scene is a plane with his monologue was very haunting...

Angie Jepson as Angie with Jonathan Orsini as Alex


After the play...during our picture taking with the cast.. I have noticed that Miguel went to the side and used his phone to call someone.. He later told us that he called his friend and he is coming to meet us in a near bar..So we finally met this cute Hispanic guy from Dominican Republic and he has a name now... Jeffrey...

Chris have heard that Miguel was showing his blazer to his boyfriend..asking his bf if he likes it.. Jeffrey nodded...and I heard him talking about the play to him..."the play is about this closeted actor...hustler and his agent...so and so and he was showing the program to him... I told them ..we have to go... we only stayed till 11pm.. I cant keep up with these gay guys on their early 20's .. we are 10 yrs older than them and we have to wake up early to do household things- you know..married gay guys and go to Hartford to see THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED again with Chad Allen...

We said goodbye and we left him with Jeff... I looked at him and I smiled... I guess he understood the play... that there are things that we sacrifice in life , but definitely not who we are...I guess he saw the same thing in the play..which is the love story between Mitchell and Alex.... the thing between them that's HARD TO LET GO.

Jeffrey & Miguel


Like Diane... I like HAPPY ENDINGS!



to be continued...with the HARTFORD production.....might take me a while but you guys can post below this....

Score : 6/0- I LIKE IT! - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED




The Virginia Wimberly Theater at Calderwoods Pavilion
South End, Boston











Me, Miguel & Chris


Miguel & Chris




Production Photos
(courtesy of SpeakEasy )

Jonathan Orsini as Alex, Maureen Keiller as Diane and Robert Serrell as Mitch


Jonathan Orsini (Alex) & Angie Jepson as Ellen


Robert Serrell (Mitchell) & Maureen Keiller (Diane)


the talented Jonathan Orsini (Alex)


Jonathan Orsini (Alex) & Robert Serrell (Mitchell)


Maureem Keiller as Diane


The Program










Stage Door Photos

Miguel, Jonathan Orsini & I


The Boston Cast of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED
(from left to right)
Robert Serrel, Jonathan Orsini, Angie Jepson & Maureen Keiller


me with the whole cast!






Special Thanks to Jim Toress & SpeakEasy Regional Theater for providing my report with all the photos I need... Thank you guys!!







Updated On: 5/14/08 at 12:55 PM

Posted: 2/4/08 at 1:38pm

I think Miguel should have played the hustler- He's cute!

[Jilani]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 1:57pm

Thanks for the review, Jay! I am looking forward to hearing what you thought of the Hartford production. I saw the Boston production and agree with a lot of what you said, with one big exception - I thought the guy who played Mitch was terrible; his line delivery was extremely mannered (and not in a way that would be appropriate for the character), and his chemistry with the guy who played Alex was virtually non-existent. Maybe they were having an off night. But I agree that the guy who played Alex was the strongest member of the cast, and the woman who played the agent was pretty terrific as well. I wish I could have seen the Broadway production to compare it to - some of the scenes seemed off in their pacing, which may be a directorial problem. Overall, I'm glad I saw it, but I had higher expectations based on what people who had seen the Broadway version told me about the play.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 3:13pm

Thanks. I do like Serrell & Orsini's chemistry very much.

Serrell really grew on me bec. I think he is chaneling a 50's movie star... like Rock Hudson...

Its funny.. bec. I had some time to chat with the whole cast..and I mentioned that I have seen the Broadway production..and they were soo amazed bec. none of them have seen it.. they were asking about the staging...and I told them its like a rubix cube that open and the bedroom set will move forward and Alex's plane scene was at the top and several box open up for that.. and Diane chair on an escalator stage (like the one in airport, if youre lazy to walk and it moves from left to right)

Maureen Keiller as Diane was great.. she did asked about Julie White and I told her, she's fabulous and she told me ..oh.. I saw a clip of her monolgue... Maureen did her Dianne so differently..she's very classy as opposed to Julie White's loud Diane.
She will give you the softer side of Diane was to why she became ruthless...

Angie Jepson - I really like her. I thought she was wayyy better than Ari Graynor (sorry ..Ari! ) she was hilarious...everyone was laughing ..wehn she's doing her monologue about her mom converting her bedroom into a crafroom.. she said.. That's when I knew my childhood was ooooooOOVER !

I credited the director bec. I think there was a harmony onstage, the actors complimented one another... Orsini (Alex) which is undoubtedly the best actor of the four... had his acting so controled so he cannot overpower the others..yet you know that this young actor is a really good actor from the time when came onstage pretending to do a ROLE play with the drunk Mitchell till the end when he is on the plane. I heard that Hartford heard of him from his last play and wanted to asked him..if he would play Alex...as we know now.. he is the Alex in Boston... Jeremy Jordan (Hartford's Alex) was good on the role too.. I will discussed that later.

but Jonathan Orsini was the best Alex for me....(Broadway, Boston & Hartford)
His Alex in Boston's LDL is worth the price of admission. He was good with everyone onstage...

J*


Updated On: 2/4/08 at 03:13 PM

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 3:18pm

ooh you're making me wanna see this now! i'm totally gonna have to catch it before it closes

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 3:28pm

Folky- you have too see it. Orsini (Alex) is really excellent. He puts Galecki to shame (sorry..Johnny) I like Jeremy Jordan too (Alex in Harford -oh... I got some juicy details on him ) but Orsini's Alex is something else. He is like River Phoenix/ male Allison Pill.

oh my god ! that kid can really ACT ! I heard that when Douglas Carter Beane came to Boston two weeks ago.. I missed him.. I was in NYC for Mamma Mia .. He was very REALLY impressed with Orsini.

J*




Updated On: 2/4/08 at 03:28 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 3:52pm

Some reviews...

(from Boston Globe)

With just four characters, "The Little Dog Laughed" calls for a uniformly strong cast, and Melone has assembled one here. So while the New York production became a star turn for White, this New England premiere plays like more of an ensemble piece - and a deliciously nasty and amusing one at that.

Jonathan Orsini, whose Alex is a sweet, conflicted, slightly damaged, but ultimately decent human being. Their early scenes together leave us deliciously unsure of who's playing whom,

by Louise Kennedy

(from Boston Phoenix)

Beane’s way with well-articulated one-liners is fabled, and they pop here like beads of oil in a frying pan. The play, much of it written in bravura, interwoven staccato monologues and duets, is sharply funny. But it aims at more than that. Beane means to skewer the soul-strangling, myth-making core of the Hollywood machine.

Jonathan Orsini makes the boyish, bed-headed Alex smarter than he at first appears: he may not yet know what makes him run, but in the end he gets the direction down.

But Alex turns out to be the most honest character in Beane’s wittily brittle comedy, which is rendered in Paul Melone’s stylish production with its bitchy edge honed but also with a human touch.

by Carolyn Clay

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 4:48pm

Its really interesting to me that you're raving about Orsini's Alex. I saw the show opening weekend (either the third or fourth performance of the run), and my entire group thought that he was the weakest link of the cast. We had some problems with Jepson's portrayal of Ellen, but we thought that she just needed some time to get a little further into the character's skin. On the other hand, the fairly uniform opinion of Orsini was that he was very obviously acting and that much of his delivery was very flat. I have nothing but raves for Keller and Serrel. I really wish that I had the time to go back and see the show again. It sounds like everyone really grew into their roles.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 6:37pm

PART TWO : The second puppy in Hartford.



E30

The Little Dog Laughed
New Play by Douglas Carter-Beane
REGIONAL THEATER : TheaterWorks (Hartford)
TheaterWorks Theater
2/3 2:30 pm matinee
2 hours with 1 intermission
Tix Price : $ 45.00

INTRO :

Sunday...Feb. 3 - continuation of our THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED marathon.. this time we drove almost 2 hours to Hartford. CT. We left at noon and arrived at downtown Hartford, CT at 2 pm.

We went into this bar-like theater from the outside ...where the theater is downstairs.. We got seated.. We sat Center Row B ...10 feet away from the stage . The theater has 195 seats. There was a silver sliding door onstage stage that look like Googie Gomez is gonna come out to sing..."Everything Comin' up Roses" !

The audience is 70% senior citizens (probably 50-75 yrs old) , some gay guys (25%) and some theater students -5% (who stayed for the talk-back with Chad Allen after the play) They did a little talk about raising money for the Regional Theater that lasted about 10 mins...

The music starts.. beats... the silver sliding door open.. A lady in gown with her sunglasses came out with an overbearing presence and sat on her golden bamboo chair on stage down right near the audience and look straight at the audience.

Thing(s) I LIKE about the play

There was two things in my mind after I saw the play on Broadway.. A.) Why is Diane a lesbian? Did Carter-Beane intentionally did that as not to offend gay people bec. Diane mentioned the f*g word several times...Julie White does not strike me as a lesbian..Being a gay man.. I wouldnt be offended by her...she's like Karen in Will & Grace...she can be straight! and B.) Diane's role cannot be done by another actress aside Julie White...until I saw the show yesterday and met this lady...

1. Candy Buckley- her Diane is brassy...she is the evil sister of Sandra Bernhart . PLS LET NOT THOSE PRODUCTION PHOTOS FOOL YOU.... I was so afraid of her that I did not clear my throat thru the entire whole show that she's onstage. She look like if you make noise she will take her heels off and hit you in your head... she is SANDRA BERNHART.... She's there to chew up the whole stage...literally... There was a scene that she saw Alex and told him.. oh.. you look different with your clothes on.. youre soo cute.. I COULD EAT YOU UP !! No doubt !

TheaterWorks almost fall into pieces everytime this Sandra Bernhart was onstage. I can fill up the whole thread on how good she was... If you live in New York and have not seen TDL with extra $45.00 to spare .. head to Hartford...to see her..

PLS SOMEONE TAPED her monologues !!! I cannot get over how good is her Diane..
I even resorted to my fantasy...that if THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED played longer and Julie White left the show...Candy Buckley can fill her shoes anytime...so you guys can see how brassy is this Sandra Bernhart!

Candy Buckey


2. Chad Allen- wow. his Mitchell is angry, bitter and very dark. He looks like a male Britney Spears who is about to kill himself anytime.... There's anguish in his eyes...I never seen a different Mitchell... I LOVE HIM... He is fantastic!

-There was a scene where he begs Alex to stay for the night..they dont have to have sex...they can just lay down..he was looking at Jeremy Jordan with a teary eyes..
Its was soo nice to see a MITCHELL that was played by a real closeted actor before.

Chad Allen


3. Jeremy Jordan's Alex- his Alex was playfull & frisky...he was good in the role too. He had a great chemistry with Allen's dark Mitchell. He is very handsome onstage...probably the most good looking Alex I have seen... those spotlights love him soo much... he looks good under those lights..he was smooth when I saw him.. he obviously shaved his hair in his chest.

4. Amanda Perez's Ellen was kinda Jennifer Lopez ghetto-sish .. I am the girl from the Bronx... her delivery was brilliant..great stage presence.

THE STANDOUT PERFORMANCE for me -was a tough call between Chad Allen & Candy Buckley... and I think - I will go with Candy's chanelling of mean Sandra Berhart femme fatale...

5. The Direction of Robb Ruggiero- I loved his work on NWS' MAKE ME A SONG and definitely this was a triumph for him...



Do you know why is there a fire extingusher? bec. of number...

6. The Nudity Scene between Chad Allen & Jeremy Jordan :

Okay... I will try to put this in a more subtle way with getting the mods alerted

This is how I remember it...


Mitchell (Chad) kissed Jeremy (Alex) and not a smack... its a wet kiss..long...
They were touching one another.... Jeremy (Alex) undressed Mitchell and vice versa.. they removed each other's underwear... they hug facing side ways... can we continue? it looks like there was some rubbing of .....and hands are exploring each bodies... they kissed and Mitch decided to kneel down...to give.....then Diane came... ITS GOOD SHE CAME bec. the scenes was getting soo hot!

I think the whole scene lasted 3-4 minutes long... the longeeeest I have seen. I myself was getting a bit ......the old lady infront of us.. sigh.....(oh my! )

The nudity in Hartford was the most intense of all the productions that I have seen!

Cheers to my boy- Chad Allen. He really knows what is doing!?.. his hands are everywhere...he does not look uncomfortable at all...lol!

Note : For those inquiring minds who wanted to know things that we cannot post...I can only say.. you wont be disappointed courtesy of Mr. Jeremy Jordan...okay. enough of this... for more 'detailed" question... just pm me...

Okay... I'll take a break.


****************************************************

7. Costumes

8. Of course.. the play itself...

Note : The sets are scaled back from Boston & Broadway.. its only 1 set.. the silver sliding door...it open and the bedroom set which moves forward...They did the most they could with the small theater... its not bad...

Thing(s) I DID NOT LIKE about the play

N O N E

In Summary:

Please do not be weary to go to Hartford to see this... Its a good show! The ensemble are great. All of them have chemistry...with one another...I am sure that I will be going back to Hartford to see this again very soon and I am bringing Miguel & all of my gay friends... they have to see this production.... Candy Buckley and Chad Allen are enough reason to see this show. My best wishes for the cast... I am crossing my finger that this one would extended ..so some of you can see this great production!

DELICIOUS ! DELICIOUS ! DELICIOUS !

Score : 8/0- I LIKE IT! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!





TheaterWorks Theater












Production Photos
(courtesy of TheaterWorks)

Chad Allen as Mitchell & Jeremy Jordan as Alex


Candy Buckley as Candy & Chad Allen as Mitchell


Jeremy Jordan & Chad Allen


Candy Buckley as Diane


Amanda Perez as Ellen & Jeremy Jordan as Alex


Jeremy Jordan


Chad Allen


The Program








Stage Door Pictures

with Jeremy Jordan


Jeremy Jordan


Chad Allen


with Chad Allen


Chad Allen & Chris



Special Thanks to Jacques Lamaree & TheaterWorks for providing me some photos for this report..thanks a lot guys ! I will be visiting you soon !






Updated On: 5/14/08 at 06:37 PM

[sesot]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 7:18pm

As always, thank you for sharing your reviews and pictures.
Of the 3 productions you have seen; which one overall was your favorite? If you could make the perfect cast from these 3 productions who would get the part?

[Ryan30]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 8:35pm

Thanks Jay. Youre officially my favorite poster!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 8:38pm

Brilliant reviews and photos, Jay!

I'm going to have to get myself at least to Hartford to see that production. Their Diane sounds fabulous, and the eye candy looks delicious.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 9:02pm

Speakeasy's set looks a little Lincoln Log. It does not look "chic" at all.

[Chris1973]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 11:01pm

Jay dragged me to Hartford, and I totally would have skipped Boston's if Miguel didn't decide to come along. I loved Diane White in the show, and could not imagine watching anyone else in that role. I really enjoyed both the new performances of the role, though. Boston's Diane was not as brash, but like Jay said I thought the chemistry between the ensemble was good, not one character dominating the show. I did miss Diane White during a couple lines "SEVEN YEAAARS", and "IN A PLAAAAYYYY", but I was still very pleasantly suprised. The 2 male leads were much better than I remember in NYC, for both Boston and Hartford...I remember getting almost bored at their parts sometimes the first time I saw it. It seems like they've kind of improved the show on regional productions, although the staging is scaled back, especially in Hartford. I agree they did the best they could to retain as much of the original "idea" of the staging, with what they had to work with. Hartford's Diane is an absolute scream, she's so different than Julie White, but just as over the top, probably more. The ladies in front of us were all about late 80s, early 90s, they seemed VERY interested in the nude parts (and I don't mean in a bad way), so that was funny....I noticed every time you watch something a little riscae, there hundreds of old-timers, and then you see White Christmas and everyone's our age (WTF?) Anyway, if you can make it to this show in Hartford or Boston, it's just so worth it.
Updated On: 2/4/08 at 11:01 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 4:00pm

btw- In case you guys are interested in hearing Jeremy Jordan's voice...


Jeremy Jordan

Here's a MP3 link of him singing "Where's the Girl?" from Scarlett Pimpernell
https://www.jeremy-jordan.com/06%20Where's%20the%20Girl_.mp3

What a beautiful voice he has !

J*



Updated On: 2/5/08 at 04:00 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 7:44pm

Jay, thanks for the reviews. I saw the Speakeasy production the same day you went, only I saw the matinee. I thought Orsini's Alex was definitely the standout in a very solid production. I had such a good time! The he-meaning-him scene was hilarious and the Diane monologue about her past was expertly performed. Cheers all around.

Those pics from the Hartford production make me want to see it. Thanks for posting them!

~Steven

Posted: 2/5/08 at 8:11pm

thank you for sharing all this!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 3:51pm

One last bump guys...just spare me this one Thanks guys ! - j*

1. Hartford's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED added 4 extra more performances due to public demand. They also have studend rush... for more info..pls click here:
https://www.theaterworkshartford.org/index.html


2. Boston's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED- Dont miss their last few performances!
(till 2/16)
https://www.speakeasystage.com/

Boston's Jonathan Orsini as ALEX



(photo by Cordeiro Matias)


*****************

MONDAY : My 10/10 Reports on Encores' APPLAUSE & PASSING STRANGE.





Updated On: 2/8/08 at 03:51 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 4:18pm

I'm really surprised that the Studio Theatre in DC hasn't done this play.

Jay*, thanks again for sharing.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 4:35pm

I am sure they will do it in DC too. Its becoming a favorite among local Regional Theater. I am really curious to see another productions of this play...

You guys know that there were 4 THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED playing at the same
time here in US. (that I am aware of)

1. Boston
2. Hartford
3. Chicago- of course the controversy surrounding the nudity scenes..lol!

and

4. Miami/ Coral Gables Area- my friend from Fort Lauderdale sent me their link to their Regional productions... In case your interested.. here's the photo from the South Florida Productions of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (which just ended few days ago)



https://www.gablestage.org/season07-08/season08_2b.php

-also the Florida production run from Dec. 29- till Feb.3

J*


Updated On: 2/8/08 at 04:35 PM