BWW Reviews: Life and War Are Presented With Heart, Humanity And Hurt In DOGFIGHT

Wednesday 6 May 2015, Hayes Theatre

Cruelty and compassion of humanity are presented against a backdrop of the propaganda and pointlessness of war in the Australian Premiere of Ben Pasek, Justin Paul and Peter Duchan's moving musical adaptation of DOGFIGHT.

On James Browne and Georgia Hopkins' simple set of mobile bench seats and metal supply boxes, the story of a young man's experience with friendship, love, loss and peer pressure plays out as Eddie Birdlace (Luigi Lucente) returns on a Greyhound Bus to San Francisco, the city he departed for war from 4 years earlier in November 1963. The world weary Birdlace slips into his memories of the last time he was in 'Frisco' as a fresh faced marine, just out of training, filled with views that war would be easy and that he, and his friends, would eventually return to a Hometown Hero's Ticker Tape Parade.

Remembering back to the military bus that bought Birdlace and his fellow Marines to the harbor city before shipping out and the game of the "Dogfight", the story of the comeraderie unfolds as the 'Three B's' are introduced. Birdlace is joined by the callous Boland (Toby Francis) and the innocent Bernstein (Rowan Witt) and other Marines as they seek to enjoy their last night out and win the cruel and chauvinistic game where the guy with the ugliest date wins the prize money. In looking for dates the boys come across a buxom Peggy (Johanna Allen) deemed too pretty, a nerdy librarian (Emily Havea), a drag queen (Mark Simpson), and finally Birdlace finds the shy, plain, Rose Fenny(Hilary Cole) playing guitar in the corner booth at a Diner. Boland eventually finds Marcy (Johanna Allen), Bernstein picks up Ruth Two Bears (Emily Havea) and the competition unfolds.

The story is filled with Pasek and Paul's wonderful music that is influenced by 60's pop melody stylings, folk songs from the emerging Hippie movement and masculine military chant. The music employs unusual harmonies that the cast deliver with power and passion and the tempo and the tone are often reminiscent of Sondheim's songs. The lyrics are detailed, transitioning from the young innocent boys saying "Goodbye to chili fries, to apple pies and Dinah Shore" (Some Kinda Time) to the derogatory That Face where the competition is judged and the understanding of the waste of war with "Bees fight, Bees Sting, Watch them die and you can't do a thing" in Come Back. Isaac Hayward's (Musical Director/Piano) 6 piece band provides support from behind the semi sheer mural backdrop.

Lucente demonstrates Birdlace's growth in understanding and compassion as the young man learns he can't play with Rose's heart as he realizes the awfulness of the Dogfight and the devastation and isolation of war. Cole stands out as the young woman whose forgiveness and innocence balances the disgusting behavior of the boys. Whilst made to look plain, her optimism and excitement of her first date shine and it's heartbreaking to see her return home after she uncovers the betrayal.

Francis creates an unlikeable character as Boland pressures his 'friends' into situations they arent happy with and has the win at all costs attitude. Witt gives Bernstein a geeky innocence that follows Boland despite his reservations. Allen's Marcy is hilarious as she vamps it up as Boland's mouthy, brash 'date' and Havea gives each of her three roles distinctly different characteristics.

Neil Gooding (Producer/Director) presents DOGFIGHT with a fabulous balance of energy, pathos, sensitivity, compassion and empathy. He brings to life this powerful work that exposes how awful people can be to each other as well as how forgiving they can be along with the perception that these young men had that they were going to fight a noble cause but whilst they were on the front lines, they lost the support from those they were fighting for.

Choreographer Camilla Jakimowicz gives the show an energy and realism without the usual musical pastiche, utilizing the simple set to move the characters smoothly from scene to scene. Elizabeth Franklin's range of creativity and expression is most evident through the costuming for the female characters from the 'fancy' Marcy, the 'plain' Rose in her party dress and the women representing the hippie movement taking over San Fransicso, whilst still having humorous moments for the men including the lurex suit for the lounge singer and the low riding jeans of the tattoo artist causing lots of laughs as well as a few cringing groans.

This production is a must see for musical theatre fans, those that like the analysis of human behavior, lovers of love stories and those with an interest in history.

DOGFIGHT

Hayes Theatre

19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point

1 May - 31 May 2015

Photos: Noni Carroll

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