2nd Story’s Sylvia Has Bite

2nd Story Theatre has unleashed Sylvia, a witty farce from playwright A.R. Gurney. The show opened in previews on April 24 and runs through May 18.

Greg, played by 2nd Story’s artistic director Ed Shea, is married to Kate (Sharon Carpentier), an English teacher. They live in a posh New York City apartment. Their children have grown up and left the nest. One day Greg brings a dog named Sylvia home who appears to the audience as a woman. Lara Hakeem plays Sylvia, who exhibits all the behavioral mannerisms of a dog: she leaps onto the living room sofa, rolls over on the floor, and joyfully jumps into Greg’s arms. Greg and Sylvia develop a mutual affection for each other. “You saved my life,” Sylvia says to Greg.

Kate keeps an immaculately clean home and is driven to distraction by Sylvia’s lack of hygiene. She also becomes resentful of the time and attention Greg gives to Sylvia and expresses her displeasure to her husband, who explains how much Sylvia has given him. “Everybody loves her,” Greg says. “She lightens my life.”

The tension between Greg and Kate escalates to the point where their marriage stands on the brink of destruction. Greg is forced to choose between losing Sylvia or his wife.

Gurney’s script is alternately bawdy and philisophical. Greg meets a fellow dog owner (Jim Sullivan) in a park. Greg is warned not to give a woman’s name to a dog, because then he will treat the dog as a woman. The warm relationships we have with our canine friends is taken to an extreme by Greg, who treats Sylvia as a mistress. When Sylvia romps with a male dog in the park, Greg becomes pathologically jealous and berates her.

Director Pat Hegnauer has crafted a sharply acted production with first-rate performances. Hakeem is the standout here, in a physically demanding role. She is asked to do things that many actresses would find degrading. Sylvia is brazen, affectionate, sometimes aggressive, and occasionally vulgar. Shea and Carpentier are outstanding as well, although this is Hakeem’s show all the way. Sullivan plays multiple roles, including Kate’s friend Phyllis and a therapist named Leslie. He earns a lot of laughs and has exquisite comic timing. There are also some amusing sight gags, most relating to Sylvia’s wardrobe.

This Sylvia has bark, as well as bite.

2nd Story Theatre is located at 28 Market Street, Warren. For tickets and showtimes, call the box office at (401) 247-4200 or go to the theater’s website at 2ndstorytheatre.com.