Although the opening night of WaterTower Theatre’s Dogfight was one of my picks for last week, I now return with a more substantiated recommendation. Our theater writer Lindsey Wilson saw the period musical over the weekend, and awarded it an “A.” Our discriminating critic doesn’t just hand those out like party favors. The story revolves around a group of marine buddies who take part in the repulsive tradition of trying to willfully bring the least attractive date they can to a party. Wilson’s paragraph on the revolt against the lowly contest is moving:
When Rose (a nuanced and radiant Juliette Talley, cleverly costumed by Michael Robinson to appear more zaftig than she is) learns of the boys’ scheme and confronts Eddie, her explosive cry “You’re the ugly one, not me!” elicits spontaneous, heartfelt applause. This tendency to cut deeply instead of scratching the surface is what propels Dogfight from simply a period musical to a tale we can all learn from.
Curtain is at 7:30 this evening.
Elsewhere in the region is a far different musical begins its run, and that difference is especially in terms of size. Cameron Mackintosh’s take on the Phantom of the Opera expectedly continues the Winspear’s 2014/2015 Broadway Series, with a 50+ player production that should be every bit as delightfully unsubtle as the material therein. Tonight is the first performance and that begins at 8 pm.
For more to do tonight, go here.
