SHANLEY COMEDY SHINES AT OFF THE WALL

9. May 2009 by admin.

SHANLEY COMEDY SHINES AT OFF THE WALL
F. J. Hartland   

         Four Dogs and a Bone by John Patrick Shanley is a comedy that skewers Hollywood, and the playwright must know of what he speaks.  Shanley wrote the screenplays for such films as Moonstruck, Five Corners and Doubt.   

         Off The Wall Theatre and director Linda Haston have done an outstanding job bringing this very funny indictment of the movie making business to the stage in Washington PA.      

      “The Bone” symbolizes a movie that’s being shot.  “The Dogs” are the four individuals trying to take-over the film: the producer, the writer, and two actresses (one a fresh up-start, the other a jaded older actress).    

        While many of the scenes involve two people just sitting and talking, Haston has paced the play so it is never dull.  The cast delivers the rapid-fire dialogue almost flawlessly.       

     Howard Elson plays the slimey producer Bradley to a “T.”  Adding to the humor is how he portrays the physical ailment that the producer is suffering.  He is the ultimate Hollywood wheeler-dealer.   

         Michael Moats is long-suffering writer Victor.  Everyone has suggestions (and more suggestions) on how to re-write his screenplay.  Moats is particularly effective in Act One when he is drunk in a theatre bar.  His performance in Act Two is a little bit of a let-down.  

          But Four Dogs and a Bone really belongs to the women.   

         As the age-obsessed older actress Collette, Rachel Downie is hysterically funny. Whether getting drunk, spewing zingers or crying crocodile tears, Downie is a winner.   

         Like her counterpart, the beautiful Erika Cuenca as Brenda will do anything (and anyone) to become the star of the movie.  While she credits her success to chanting (which becomes a very funny cornerstone of the play), she really should thank lying, cheating and deceit.  Cuenca gives us the ultimate wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing and proves herself a very funny comedian.   

         This is a very sharp play about desperate people who will go to any lengths—for a movie.  “Ruthless” seems too kind a word to describe them as they make (and break) alliances fast enough to make your head spin.  But playwright Shanley holds them up for our laughter and ridicule, and it makes for a very enjoyable evening of theatre—for adults ONLY!   

         The smart set by Paul A. Shaw makes economical use of the Off The Wall’s small stage, bringing three different locations to life simultaneously.  Having recently seen a number of plays with projections, I have to say that Off The Wall has made the cleverest use of them.  Since Four Dogs and a Bone is a play about Hollywood, after all, it only seems right that we see “coming attractions.”  Off The Wall wisely uses these previews to promote their 2009-2010 season.  The projections also come into play for intermission and again at the end.  I won’t spoil the ending, but I assure you that you will love it.  

          There is a gem in Washington PA called the Off The Wall Theatre.  I hope the folks of Washington County realize what a treasure they have—and that Pittsburghers who like to see alternative theatre for grown-ups learn it’s worth the drive.  

          Four Dogs and a Bone continues through May 22.  For tickets call 724-873-3576 or www.insideoffthewall.com.

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