Review: BoHo's DOGFIGHT Hits All the Right Notes

At a time in theatre where shows are all-too-often injected with extreme concepts or "themes" outside of the originally written text (sometimes successful, sometimes not), it's a remarkable breath of fresh air to see a production where the script is trusted to stand on its own without a director's own imaginations forced upon it. In BoHo Theatre's "Dogfight," directed with care by Peter Marston Sullivan, it's this faith in the show itself that makes the production shine.

"Dogfight," which originally premiered off-Broadway in 2012, based off the movie of the same name, follows the last night in the States of three Marines before being shipped off to Vietnam. One of these young men, Eddie Birdlace (played by Garrett Lutz) meets a timid diner waitress (Emily Goldberg) and convinces her to accompany him to the evening's festivities where, unbeknownst to her, each Marine is vying for a prize for bringing the ugliest date, a "game" they call the dogfight.

With such a plot, it may seem an impossible task to care about the leading man, especially when book writers Peter Duchan and composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul don't shy away from the misogynistic attitudes of Eddie and his friends. However, it's that sincerity of the character that both the writers and Lutz, as Eddie, are able to create so well that makes Eddie's arc throughout the show so powerful and rewarding.

Perhaps even more effective is Goldberg's portrayal of Rose, the naïve woman Eddie brings to the party. Goldberg embodies all of Rose's innocence without sacrificing her character's intellect and convictions, filing her with passionate gusto despite Rose's gentle demeanor. Coupled with her beautiful voice, Goldberg couldn't have been better suited for the role.

There is no weak link, in fact, in the entire ensemble of actors, including an excellent performance from Mary Kate Young as Marcy, another woman brought to the dogfight, sublimely juxtaposing hilarious confidence and a deep vulnerability.

The set design by Patrick Ham is fairly simple, but well used, aided by projections (designed by Tony Churchill) that worked quite well for the most part. Particularly noteworthy is Amanda Hosking's sound design, especially in one eerie moment that is chill-inspiring.

Under Sullivan's insightful direction, "Dogfight" is a delightful and moving night of theatre. Although the audience is transported to a night taking place over sixty years ago, the world of the play feels eerily familiar to that of today's, exploring the human complexities that seem to remain the same from generation to generation. With its focus on true human emotions and actions, BoHo's "Dogfight" gives its audience a beautiful story that is all at once touching, humorous, and cathartic.

BoHo Theatre's "Dogfight" is currently playing at Theatre Wit (1229 W. Belmont) through October 18th. Tickets range from $27 - $30 and can be purchased by calling (773) 975-8150 or visiting www.BoHoTheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Amy Boye Photography

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