‘Sylvia,’ a real dog, coming to Golden West

Tom Titus

For the second straight week, this column will focus on a play by

A.R. Gurney being prepared for an opening in Huntington Beach.

Last week, the spotlight fell on “The Dining Room,” which raises

its curtain this weekend at the Huntington Beach Playhouse. Today’s

subject is “Sylvia,” due in two weeks at Golden West College.

Sylvia, the title character of the contemporary comedy, is a dog.

Actually, she’s a canine traditionally played by an actress without

benefit of physical alteration (unlike the play “Some of My Best

Friends,” for example, in which the 4-footer is decked out in a body

suit). Audiences simply are asked to accept the fact that this

attractive young lady is, for theatrical purposes, literally man’s

best friend.

“At first it sounds a bit ridiculous to have an actress play a

dog,” director Tom Amen said. “I admit that I rolled my eyes a time

or two when I first heard about the play. But, oddly enough, it works

beautifully because of the warmth, humor and insight of Gurney’s

writing.”

Amen points out that, while “Sylvia” is a very funny comedy, it is

a play with a message. “In between the laughs, the play gently

reminds us of the need to connect with one another in an increasingly

impersonal world,” he said.

“In this play, the dog really is man’s best friend,” Amen said.

“As they wander through the parks and city streets together, Sylvia

leads Greg (her master) away from the monotony and emptiness of his

workaday world and toward a more fulfilling life.

“In caring for Sylvia, Greg is able to reassess what is important

to him and see the world around him in a fresh, new light. This

adorable mutt actually allows Greg to become a more caring and

compassionate person, a complete human being. It really is a sweet,

thoughtful and funny little play.”

The Golden West production features a cast of four performers

playing a total of six characters. The title role of Sylvia is played

by Christa Mathis, seen most recently as Rose of Sharon in the

college’s production of “The Grapes of Wrath,” while Greg is

portrayed by veteran actor Michael Bielitz, who starred as C.L. Lewis

in the college’s “Shadowlands” last season.

Kate, Greg’s girlfriend and Sylvia’s rival for his affections,

will be Cleta Cohen, another stage veteran in her Golden West College

debut. Mark Bedard, a fixture on the Golden West stage, takes on the

other three roles in the show (Bedard also played multiple roles in

“Grapes”).

Amen calls his cast “an incredible assembly of talented actors”

and says they “are having a wonderful time working on the play. I

think our audiences will be tickled by it. It’s a hoot -- or should I

say a howl.”

Although “Sylvia” is a light comedy, the play contains strong

language and adult situations and is intended for mature audiences.

The show opens May 7 and will be staged for three weekends with

curtain at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through May

23 at the college’s Mainstage Theater. Call (714) 895-8150 for ticket

information.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.