Featured image – Rose Fenny as Tanya Boyle in Bankstown Theatre Company’s production of ‘Dogfight’.
Written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, the same writers of the Broadway-hit Dear Evan Hansen, DOGFIGHT is set in 1963, beginning on the eve of three young recruits’ deployment to a growing conflict in Vietnam.
On their final night of debauchery, partying and trouble-making, Corporal Eddie Birdlace (Stefan Jamal), angry and inexperienced, meets unsuspecting, trusting, and idealistic waitress Rose Fenny (Tanya Boyle) and enlists her to win an unkind bet with his fellow recruits.
Rose turns out to be far more than Eddie bargained for. What will Eddie do when Rose rewrites the rules, opens Eddie’s eyes to what really matters in life, and turns his last night before heading to war into a lesson on the power of kindness?!
Based on the 1991 Warner Brothers film of the same name, DOGFIGHT premiered off-Broadway in 2012, winning the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical. One can see why after watching this production. DOGFIGHT has an engaging and heart warming narrative and a very strong score which ranges from some rousing company numbers to some belt it out duets to some poignant solo numbers.
This musical takes us into a world most of us are familiar with – Marines spending some last time together before they head off to a conflict zone. They party hard and there are plenty of women around. They disparage them such as in the title betting game (Dogfight) where the Marine with the ‘ugliest’ woman – as per their collected votes – gets the money. There’s the Marine who hasn’t bedded a woman yet, and yes of-course his mates insist on sorting that out, albeit with a very reluctant prostitute.It is in this tough, bawdy world that a touching love story, the centrepiece of the play, takes shape between two people from very different worlds.
Meg Day’s production for the Bankstown Theatre Company is focused, vibrant, passionate and at times rousing. Musical direction is by Claire Moroney who lead a very good live seven piece orchestra, hidden from view. The smart, chic choreography is by Lauren Nalty. Day designed a very effective set as was the lighting and sound design which was credited to Birdie Productions
Stefan Jamal gave a strong, focused performance as the embittered, cynical, hard skinned Marine Eddie Birdlace who falls in love with shy, introverted, sensitive waitress Rose, beautifully played by Tanya Boyle. Their love story is anything but smooth with the edgy Eddie taking some time to come around to Rose’s way of seeing the world. There was good chemistry between the two leads who were both in great voice. Virginia Nateli played Rose’s protective Mama.
Dean Irwin played Eddie’s best mate and leader of the pack Boland who is out to party and hangs out with the low-brow Marcy, played with relish and appropriate raspiness by Jessica Green.
As a hip lounge singer, Brad Facey led the cast into some good song and dance numbers.
Special mention has to go to Hannah Barn for her very deadpan performance as Ruth Two Bears who is very un-enthralled with the dance party she finds herself enmeshed in.
The very fine ensemble cast is made up of Sean Curran, Jackson Eather, Nathan Maynard, Taylor Thomson, Hannah Barn, Chantelle Nabaki, Zoe Martino and Stacey Gay, and Andrew Fabris.
Summing up. Fight your way to get a ticket to this show- this production has a great energy, plenty of good songs and a very touching, beautifully played love story at its heart. Recommended, DOGFIGHT plays the Bankstown Arts Centre March 18, 23, 24 and 25.
http://www.bankstowntheatrecompany.com