Alexander Zenoz and Hannah Benitez
A Tough “Dogfight”; Actually a Love Story
By Skip Sheffield
“Dogfight” is not an easy show to like. The Slow Burn
Theatre production runs through Nov. 29 in the Abdo Room of Broward Center for
the Arts.
The very premise of the story by Peter Duchan is not pleasant. A group of U.S. Marines are letting off steam on an evening in 1963 before
they are shipped off to Vietnam. They decide to play a little game. The men
dare each other to find the ugliest woman he can find. After paying a $50
entrance fee, contestants are asked to take out that ugly woman. She will then
be judged on her ugliness by the other men. The man with the ugliest woman wins
the pot.
Slow Burn has made a
name for itself by presenting new and challenging material. “Dogfight” is both,
but it is hard to embrace this tale of misogynist cruelty.
However, the heart of this show is a romance between one of
the Marines and the “ugly” girl he chooses,
Actress and singer Hannah Benitez is not ugly at all. In
fact her character of Rose Fenny is quite lovely, with a beautiful voice to
match.
The Marine Eddie Birdlace (Alexander Zenoz) likewise has a
lovely voice and a winning way, and thereby lies the saving grace of
“Dogfight.”
The score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul is unremarkable.
There is no “Some Enchanted Evening” in the lot. The songs describe and advance
the action, but they are immediately forgettable.
The supporting cast of players under the direction and
choreography of Patrick Fitzwater is quite excellent, with familiar Slow Burn
names from their time in west Boca Raton. Mike Westrich plays the second banana
alpha male, Bernstein. Rick Pena (who also designed the costumes), Christian
Vandepas, Brian Varlea and Cameron Jordan are fellow Marines. The other “ugly
girls” are Kaitlyn O’Neill, Alexa Baray and Sabrina Lynn Gore. No, not one of
them is actually ugly.
I have mixed feelings about the United States Marines. I
admire their bravery and physical fitness. On the other hand I endured the
worst beating in my life by a Marine on leave from Vietnam. He called me a
“long-head bastard” (I had long, curly blond hair) and proceeded to attack me
with what seemed like an intent to kill. I was a physically unfit 4-F, so I never
went to Vietnam. I had many friends who
did, and it seems none of them survived unscathed.
Tickets are $45. Call 954-462-0222 or go to www.browardcenter.org.
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