By Shari Barrett
WOOF, an updated version of last winter’s critically acclaimed comedy hit GO PLAY by author-director Barra Grant (which I called “an extraordinarily hopeful visit into the amazing world of imagination”), brings back the same dogs with new tricks as a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre. The cast features seven outstanding character-driven actors (in alphabetical order): Joe Balanza as Drac (The Mutt); David Beeler in multiple roles; Jenica Bergere as Arlene, Annie Chase-Smith as Lucille (The Yorkie); Richardson Cisneros-Jones as Tyrell; Christopher Schellenger as Zeus (The Poodle) who originated the role in GO PLAY; and Kate Woerner as Rose.
Produced by Pageant Productions, the three bonded human-canine pairs take us along as they visit Central Park, a vet office, and their very different homes and social settings where the dogs’ treatment varies from being totally loved as an equal life partner (Tyrell and Zeus), an emotional support animal for a lonely woman looking for a husband (Lucille and Arlene), or being totally ignored in a home full of human control issues leading to a couple’s break-up (Drac and Rose), with Beeler intersecting with each pair as either a dog walker, Central Park warden, vet, an ultra-orthodox cantor from J-Date, and Rose’s brutally controlling husband. Given the amount of laughter in many situations, no doubt you will see yourself and your canine companion mirrored in the best and worst of times each pair faces together.
I asked Barra Grant why she decided to revise a play that was so wildly popular last year. She said, “After watching the previous sold-out houses for GO PLAY, I decided to add new layers by digging deeper into the comedy and deep feelings of the characters for this new production.” So, I was very interested in seeing her updates in WOOF.
The original story line is still in place with three outspoken dogs – Zeus, a flashy and overconfident show poodle paired with Tyrell, a very flamboyant Broadway musical star; Lucille, a pampered ESA Yorkie with lonely-hearted Arlene; and the scrappy rescue Drac with the just-jilted Rose – observing everything and offering hilarious commentary on their human owners as they struggle through personal crises, unlikely friendships, and the messy search for connections with strangers at a neighborhood dog park.
Barra’s revised version delves more deeply into both the human and canine feelings and motivations, drawing us into their unique bonds even further than before, giving us more insight into how their loneliness fuels their emotional attachment to each other. Or, in Rose’s case, understanding her willingness to just walk away and leave Drac to find his next companion so she can focus on moving forward with her own life. Thankfully Drac does that after learning how to connect with another soul through his friendship with Lucille, the ESA Yorkie, who shows him how learning to cuddle “feels like home.”
In my review of GO PLAY, I noted a real area for improvement was updating the scenic design by Jerry Buszek which required time-consuming background changes, each a beautiful piece of black and white artwork that could easily have been replaced by projected scenic backdrops to lessen the interruptions to the show’s flow. So, I was happy to see Barra has updated Buszek’s graphics into projected images with splashes of color on two screens. The only distracting element happened when the stage crew moved scenery pieces (park benches, flat of fake grass, tables, chairs, a rolling bed, dog bed, and a vet exam table) offstage behind the screens, causing their shadows to appear on the projected images.
As before, Emmy-winning composer Mark Adler’s lovely score includes perfectly timed barks during scene changes which add bits of canine whimsy to the production, with creatively matched costume design by Lisa Lupo and moody lighting design by Bosco Flanagan adding to the imaginative feeling of the entire production.
Those of us who have lived with a beloved canine companion certainly know the amount of time spent happily together sharing human concerns and feelings with no hope of a canine verbal response. And it’s easy to believe with their knowing stare, dogs fully understand our human need for emotional connection when times get tough. To honor that bond, Barra remains brilliantly insightful about how dogs have plenty to say, even though their human companion only hears barks – which are interpreted for us by the dogs themselves. And now more than ever, this heartfelt comedy reminds us, in no uncertain terms, that our best friends walk on four legs.
WOOF runs through Sunday, November 8 on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90025. Tickets run $23-$38, available at https://odysseytheatre.com/ or by calling 310-477-2055 ext. 2. I guarantee Barra Grant’s updated production will get you thinking, laughing (a lot), and shedding a few tears remembering how attached we are to our canine buddies. And there is even an opportunity, if called upon, to share that bond with others thanks to an audience meet and greet led by Richardson Cisneros-Jones as Tyrell.
