Sylvia

A play about a dog always has the possibility of being a crowd pleaser. If the dog is also a character, and the play is a comedy, that could be a double whammy, especially if the play is directed well and the ‘dog’ is energetic and convincingly lovable!

Such is the case with Pymble Players’ first play of the year.

The play is set in New York in the 1990s but its messages are still very relevant today. Director Racquel Boyd describes it as “an examination of the challenges that face empty-nesters in modern society … issues of middle age and career … the complexities of marriage … our understanding of loyalty and love.”

It’s all of that, but as those complex themes emerge via a cheeky stray dog – Sylvia – and the effect she has on the life of married couple, Greg and Kate, the possible gravitas is tempered by comedy and fun.

Greg has fallen for Sylvia in a big way: his children are away at college; his job has become stifling; and having a dog seems a great idea. Kate is not at all happy about Sylvia: her career has started to pick up; she no longer has the responsibilities of children; and having a dog to care for seems totally retrogressive. Their opposing attitudes, and Sylvia’s unique way of exacerbating the situation, make for lots of laughs – as well as a little nostalgia for those who have, or have had, a Sylvia of their own.

Faith Jessel is captivating in the very challenging and energetic role of Sylvia. She pounces, rolls, explores, jumps on and off the couch and returns Greg’s besotted attention with endearing affection. Jessel is light and jaunty in this role, calling on her extensive dance experience and obvious fitness to develop and sustain the constant physical demands of her ‘dogginess’ … as well as a plethora of impudent facial expressions that reach through the fourth wall to enchant and amuse the audience. This is not an easy role to undertake, and Jessel does it with animated (forgive the pun!) spirit.

Bob Guest plays the smitten Greg, who, disillusioned with the changes happening at work, takes the afternoon off and meets Sylvia in the park. Guest appears relaxed in this role. He matches Jessel’s doggy affection with pats and tummy rubs and walks in the park – and Kate’s disapproval with nonchalant disbelief. The character is well written and Guest makes the most of the humour, the absurdity … and the different emotions required of the role.

Judy Jankovics takes on the tough role of Kate – tough because Gurney has deliberately made the character difficult to like! She is assertive, prickly, ambitious … and utterly immune to Sylvia’s charms. Kate fights not only Sylvia, but the silent disapproval of the audience with her staunch resistance to Sylvia and her disapproval of Greg’s new attitude to life. Nevertheless, Jankovics makes the best of the role. She has a strong stage presence and finds the brittleness of the character as well as the feistiness.

Murray Fane takes on the triple roles of macho dog owner Tom, ditzy social climber Phyllis and androgynous psychologist Leslie. Fane makes each character his own, finding not only the humour of their evident contrasts and similarities, but their vulnerabilities as well.

Designer Natalie Boyd has cleverly used a minimalist set that transforms from living room to park to airport lounge with the assistance of lighting (Graham Boswell) and backdrop projections – and allows plenty of room for Sylvia’s curiosity and misbehavior.

This play is lots of fun – but also has many layers. As Boyd explains in her director’s notes: “Greg, Kate, Sylvia, Tom, Leslie and Phyllis aren’t just characters in a play. They are conduits for us to see our own nuances and foibles. They enable us to laugh at ourselves”.

Carol Wimmer

Images: Des Harris @ThePictureDesk

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