FUNNY BONES: Theatre Out's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED is witty, with satiric bite

SANTA ANA, CA -- As the world moves into the last few months of 2009, gay visibility is more prominent than ever, highlighted by a summer of non-stop pride festivals and dynamic images capturing people's reaction to the recent election victory (and subsequent upholding) of California's anti-gay marriage proposition. On the national level, the armed forces' "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy is meeting a very vocal opposition head on. In an era of out-and-proud gay reality TV personalities, a plethora of gay-is-no-big-deal characters in film and television, and an (almost) American Idol publicly coming out in the pages of Rolling Stone, it is still staggering that even today, the idea of an "out" movie star (in an industry more liberal than most) is as elusive and rare as a four leaf clover.

That fear—the fear that coming out in public spells box office poison for a marquee-desiring actor—is at the center of Douglas Carter Beane's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, presented by Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre. The play, which received a Tony® Award nomination for Best Play in 2007, is chock-full of witty, Hollywood-insider laughs and a continuous barrage of funny monologues (even touching and poignant at times) from each character. This particular production of the hilariously written play, which originated as a workshop presentation at the University of California at Irvine, gives its foursome of actors plenty of great lines to deliver.

The story revolves around rising Hollywood heartthrob Mitchell (played by David Hudson) and his ultra aggressive power agent Diane (think a female pre-Disney Michael Ovitz in smart Prada business suits accented by a bluetooth accessory). Diane (played with great confidence by Nicole Erb) believes in his talent—and his bankability—but is troubled by her client's so-called "slight recurring case of homosexuality." As the assumption goes, being gay and out in Hollywood is a big no-no. She goes into panic mode when she learns that Mitchell is falling in love with the male hustler the actor impulsively "hires" during a not-so-short stay in New York. Ironically, Mitchell's next big role is that of a gay man, but Diane believes that audiences would prefer their gay characters played by award show-baiting straight men. As the wheeling and dealing commence for Mitchell's next star-making role, rent boy Alex (himself not out) is perplexed by his own budding feelings for Mitchell. Meanwhile, Alex's sort of-girlfriend Ellen (played by Beth Gardiner) dreams of her own white picket fence future, even if it means waiting on Alex (played by Ryan Imhoff) to finish up with his same-sex escort dalliances.

The playwright's fast-paced, cleverly comic words are excellently dramatized by a talented cast, but it is Erb's portrayal of Diane that proves to be the show-stealing standout. It is no surprise that the unabashed role won Julie White the 2007 Tony® Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. Portraying Diane requires equal parts mother-hen, über-bitch and bulls--t slinger, and Erb serves all ingredients with valiant aplomb. The passionate scenes between Alex and Mitchell are no doubt titillating, but the actors provide them with appropriate sweetness and sensitivity (and, of course, humor). Imhoff's portrayal of Alex, the rent boy you actually want to take home to meet your mom, is also peppered with a healthy dose of pathos and heart. Alex may have the most objectionable of professions amongst all four characters, but in the end, he turns out to be the most human and the most relatable—the one character who isn't acting or putting up facades, but is actually true to himself. In the artificial world of Hollywood, that itself is truly the elusive four leaf clover.

THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED was originally produced off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in December 2005 under the direction of Scott Ellis. Later in early 2006, the play moved to the Cort Theatre on Broadway, where it received a Tony® Award nomination for Best Play. The Broadway cast included Tony® winner Julie White, Tom Everett Scott, Ari Graynor, Brian Henderson, Zoe Lister-Jones and Johnny Galecki. In late 2008 Galecki, Henderson, Lister-Jones and White reunited with director Ellis to reprise their roles in the play's Los Angeles debut at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Theatre Out's production of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED is directed by Dennis Beasley and continues until Saturday, September 19, 2009.

Photo (top): Ryan Imhoff and David Hudson in Theatre Out's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED.
Photo (center): Nicole Erb in Theatre Out's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED.
Photo credit: Bill Boland for Theatre Out.

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Remaining performance dates:
 
Friday, September 4 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 5 @ 8:00 pm
 
Thursday, September 10 @ 8:00 pm
Friday, September 11 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 12 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 13 @ 2:00 pm
 
Thursday, September 17 @ 8:00 pm
Friday, Sepetmber 18 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 19 @ 8:00 pm

Theatre Out's home is The Empire Theatre in the Artists' Village in downtown Santa Ana, located at 202 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA. Tickets are available online at www.theatreout.com or by calling the Theatre Out Box Office at (714) 826-8700.

Visit www.theatreout.com for more information.

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