鈥淕o Play!鈥� a comedic new play about human-to-human and human-to-canine relationships, is wrapping its limited run at the Odessey Theatre in West L.A. on Nov. 2鈥攎eaning this is the final weekend to see a show that appeals to any dog-owner as well those looking to spend 90 minutes enjoying a clever, relatable and lighthearted production.
The 90-minute show, written and directed by Barra Grant, has three main characters: Arlene, Rose and Tyrell, each a dog-mom or dog-dad to Lucille, a yorkie; Drac, a mutt; and Zeus, a poodle, respectively.
Arlene, Rose and Tyrell are strangers who meet at a dog park in New York City. Inevitably鈥攊f reluctantly鈥攖hey become part of each other鈥檚 lives as do their dogs, who in the show are portrayed with adept physicality by human actors.
In the reality of 鈥淕o Play!鈥� the dogs can communicate with each other and understand their human owners, but the humans, alas, cannot understand their dogs, even if they think they can.
While Arlene, a 91传媒 event planner, and Zeus dote on their respective dogs, Rose, a young mother in a bad marriage and overwhelmed by their son, is sort of hoping her scrappy, misbehaving Drac runs away for good.
Arlene, daughter of a famous mother who doesn鈥檛 seem to want her around, and Tyrell, a Black, LGBTQ musical theater veteran, are from the big city and have the cynicism that comes with being longtime New Yorkers. Meanwhile, Rose is from a Podunk town, and she鈥檚 anxious to make new friends. She nosily wills herself into her new friends鈥� lives, especially Arlene鈥檚, who initially is resistant but ends up grateful for Rose鈥檚 unconscientious warmth.
While the show is not explicitly 91传媒, Arlene, portrayed by actress Lisa Joffrey, is responsible for many Jewy moments. She鈥檚 presented as a secular Jew. She meets a man, Moishe, on JDate, who is much more observant than she is. Their first date is at a kosher deli, and she brings Lucille, her yorkie, along, much to Moishe鈥檚 discomfort. Over the course of the date, Moishe explains to Arlene what a mitzvah is. And later, when Arlene dishes about the date to Rose, the latter can鈥檛 help but mispronounce the word as 鈥渕itzer.鈥�
Soon, Arlene and Rose are in a bookstore huddled around a copy of 鈥淛udaism for Dummies鈥� as Arlene readies for her next date with Moishe. When it becomes clear the two aren鈥檛 compatible鈥攆or one thing, she wants Lucille in the bedroom as the two are about to go to bed together, and he decidedly doesn鈥檛鈥擜rlene apologizes for not being more his type.
鈥淚鈥檓 sorry my name isn鈥檛 Hadassah!鈥� Arlene says before Moishe leaves for good.
Meanwhile, Rose and Tyrell face their own challenges. Rose, played by Susan Huckle, is married to a jerk and a cheater, and Tyrell learns Zeus鈥攁 former show dog鈥攄oesn鈥檛 have much longer to live.
At the dog park, when Zeus, entertaingly played by Christopher Schellenger, shares with Lucille and Drac that he鈥檚 dying, the bond between the three dogs is strengthened. Also, because opposites attract, a romantic relationship between Drac and Lucille unfolds; he鈥檚 the ne鈥檈r-do-well mutt from the pound that nobody ever wanted, and she鈥檚 an overpampered pure breed. They鈥檙e good for each other.
Bringing the dogs鈥� personalities to light, the boyish Drac (played by actor Peter Pasco) is dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts; the dainty Lucille (portrayed by Janine Venable) looks like a ballerina, complete with a pink tutu and a blue bow in her hair; and the pretentious but talented Zeus is in an argyle sweater-vest. Kudos to costume designer Lisa Lupo.
As the play nears its conclusion, everyone learns their beloved park is to be torn down to make way for a Target. While one might expect the characters try to prevent that from happening, it isn鈥檛 that kind of play.
Rather, Tyrell鈥攑layed by actor Ralph Cole, Jr.鈥攚alks center-stage and addresses the audience directly, asking who in the crowd has a dog and who would like to share about them. Those that volunteer are asked to say what they think their dog might utter if able to communicate with their human companions. It鈥檚 the most poignant, unexpected moment in a show that鈥檒l bring a smile to anyone with a soft spot for dogs鈥攊n other words, the audience for 鈥淕o Play!鈥� is broad.
鈥淕o Play!鈥� which opened Sept. 20, continues at the Odyssey Theater, at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, through Nov. 2. For additional information, visit
