BWW Reviews: Next Stop Puts on the Dog, Hilariously, with SYLVIA

There's an old actor's adage that you should never share the stage with a dog; people get so distracted by the pooch doing, well, whatever comes naturally that they ignore everything else.

Now we have Next Stop Theatre's new production of Sylvia, A. R. Gurney's charming empty-nest comedy, which demonstrates that the adage goes double when you're sharing the stage with an actress playing a dog. Letting someone loose and giving her permission to do all the crazy (and incredibly awkward) things dogs do, will ensure that you don't remember a thing the other characters say; it's just so much blah-blah, just like that famous Far Side cartoon ...

Director Doug Wilder has assembled a fine cast, featuring Sherry Berg in one of the most entertaining roles imaginable-Sylvia the mutt, part poodle (mais oui) and part street ('sup). Berg takes on the role made famous on Broadway by Sarah Jessica Parker, and nails it. Her shameless, joyful romp is the highlight of the show, and given that it's her job to steal every scene she's in it's no surprise that her owners blend in with the walls whenever she's out there.

Gurney has specialized for years in endearing, gentle comedies of the upper middle class; this one revolves around a couple moving onto the next phase of their married life. Now that their children are safely off to college Greg and Kate downsize, move into the city, and the Kate finally gets to pursue a career of her own. Their best-laid plans go awry, however, when husband Greg (played with urbane charm by Phil Bufithis) brings home a stray dog, the Sylvia of the title, and decides to keep her. His wife Kate is cool to the idea, and her apprehensions are confirmed time and again as Sylvia proceeds to humiliate her in front of all her friends. How? By doing all the things dog-lovers alone could appreciate. As Kate, Gayle Nichols-Grimes projects the authority and impatience of a woman finally on the cusp of professional success; her exasperation at having to tame yet another 'child' is hilarious to watch, and her dead-pan delivery is priceless.

Rounding out the cast is the polymorphous Christopher Herring, who by turns plays the Dog-Park Buddy from Hell, a Vassar alumna (in sheath dress and pearls, no less) and a truly insane therapist of dubious gender--the latter clearly written by Gurney with a tip of the hat to Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy". Character work like this is great fun to watch as the audience sits back, notes the costume change and murmers to itself "OK, what'll he do this time?" Whether he's in a worn baseball cap or pearl necklace, Herring does his best to upstage Berg, which is a tall order indeed.

Ruthmarie Tenorio has created a classic Midtown Manhattan apartment with all the tony touches, and the mood created by Stan Harris' sound design, the cool piano-bass combo, eases you into the show nicely. Kristina Martin's costuming suits the show well, but it's obvious she's had more fun with Mr. Herring and Ms. Berg. Ann-Marie Castrigno makes effective use of the lighting grid, transitioning as the action does from apartment to dog park to elsewhere, and Sierra Banack has had entirely too much fun collecting all the plush toys (and red rubber ball) that keep Sylvia occupied.

Next Stop Theatre is yet another reason why D.C. theatre audiences need to venture outside the Beltway; there's simply too much fun to be had!

Running Time: 2 ½ hours

Production Photo: Sherry Berg and Gayle Grimes (Photo by Rebekah Purcell VSION).

Performances are October 23-November 16 at the Next Stop Theatre, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon Virginia. Tickets can be ordered by calling Ovation Tix at (866)-811-4111, or online at:

https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34310

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