BWW Reviews: St. Louis Actors' Studio's Premiere of DAY OF THE DOG

Playwright Daniel Damiano's Day of the Dog is a quirky little dramatic comedy that explores a fractured family's dysfunction through their relationship with an aggressive canine. There are a number of good laughs, and a lot of therapeutic interactions, that occur as this premiere production by the St. Louis Actors' Studio unfolds. It's still a work in progress in some regards, but it's done well, with an excellent cast doing a fine job interpreting their roles, and solid direction.

Julianne and Paul have a rather lifeless marriage, and it's been made especially diffcult by the imbalance that exists in their professional lives. All of this has been complicated by the adoption, by Julianne, of an aggressive dog named Carrot. The dog adores her, but lashes out viciously at their (unseen) daughter, Brittany, and especially Paul. When the play opens Paul, sporting bandages on both arms, is preparing for the arrival of Vadislav, a therapist who specializes in problem pets, preferring to do most of his work with the owners to address the true nature of the pet's disorder.

Steve Isom is excellent as Paul, he's able to deftly convey both the obvious sense of fear that's guided him to Vadislav, as well as the deeply set resentment that has festered in his relationship to his wife. Tamara Kenny is equally up to task as Julianne, bitchily bossing Paul around as she frets over a phone call regarding a possibility TV opportunity, and completely against the idea that they need any kind of personal counseling from some "doggie doctor". Jason Grube is simply terrific as Vadislav, commanding the stage, and our attention, whenever he appears, and delivering a perfect accent. Grubbe's neatly plays the part with a sort of feigned indifference, but goes full throttle when the story calls for it.

Milton Zoth's direction is sharply conceived, and that's a good thing since this is a pretty talky piece that relies on movement of some sort in order to prevent becoming too static. Zoth's sound design gives Carrot a presence, even though no actual dog appears on stage. Cristie Johnston's set design is lovely and well ordered, and properly reflects the taste of Julianne. Jonathan Zelzniak's lighting design is simple and effective, and Teresa Doggett's costumes fit the characters well.

If you're looking for something new and different, a play that makes you laugh and think, then you should definitely check out the St. Louis Actors' Studio's production of Day of the Dog. This premiere presentation continues at the Gaslight Theater through March 24, 2013.

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