• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit Event
  • About Us
    • Our Contributors
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • On Screen Dayton
    • On Screen Dayton Reviews
    • Road Trippin’
      • Cincinnati
      • Columbus
      • Indianapolis
    • Spectator Sports
    • Street-Level Art
    • Visual Arts
  • Dayton Dining
    • DMM’s Brunch Guide
    • Restaurants with Private Dining Rooms
    • Dayton Food Trucks
    • Quest
    • Ten Questions
  • Dayton Music
    • Music Calendar
  • On Stage Dayton
    • On Stage Dayton Reviews
  • Active Living
    • Canoeing/Kayaking
    • Cycling
    • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Runners
  • How to Support Dayton Businesses, Nonprofits During COVID-19

Dayton Most Metro

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

‘Dogfight’ Review –Dare to Defy Productions – Innocence Lost

April 6, 2017 By Russell Florence, Jr.

Composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and librettist Peter Duchan’s compelling, unnerving and romantic 2012 off-Broadway musical “Dogfight” receives a terrific regional premiere courtesy of Dare to Defy Productions in the Mathile Theatre of the Schuster Center.

Mackensie King as Rose Fenny and Ray Zupp as Eddie Birdlace in Dare to Defy Productions’ presentation of “Dogfight: The Musical” (Contributed photo)

Based on the 1991 film of the same name and set in 1960s San Francisco, “Dogfight,” deftly directed by Angie Thacker, is craftily told in flashback. At the center is a trio of young marines nicknamed The Three Bees: Eddie Birdlace, distraught and disillusioned; Boland, viewing duty to country and comrades as chief above all; and Bernstein, a straight-laced nerd determined to lose his virginity. Before deploying to seemingly uneventful Vietnam, they decide to have one final evening of rowdy fun by coordinating a dogfight, a mean game in which each member seeks to bring the ugliest date to a party and earn the collected winnings. However, when Eddie chooses shy waitress Rose Fenny, he inadvertently makes a much-needed leap into adulthood bolstered by valuable lessons in tolerance and acceptance. In fact, during one pivotal moment, Eddie adamantly tells Rose, “I don’t care what you look like.” She responds, “I wish you would.” At the outset, the story hints that not all will end well for Eddie or his close band of brothers (an unfortunately underwritten group), especially as views of patriotism and Vietnam shift greatly during its course. Nonetheless, there is hope that through Rose’s influence, a redemptive Eddie will become a better man, perhaps fulfilling his purpose beyond what he originally thought possible.

 
Long before Pasek and Paul took Hollywood by storm winning an Academy Award for writing the lyrics to “City of Stars” from “La La Land,” they molded their witty and insightful character-driven songwriting here with many Broadway and pop/rock influences. Eddie and Rose’s “Come to a Party” contains conversational shades of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.” Rose’s beguiling and introspectively jumpy “Nothing Short of Wonderful” recalls the works of Stephen Sondheim and Adam Guettel. The rousing “Hey, Good Lookin’” and the thrilling yet devastatingly false anthem “Hometown Hero’s Ticker Tape Parade,” defiantly warning “no confetti for the boys who stayed,” fits comfortably into Billy Joel and Jason Robert Brown’s wheelhouse. Pasek and Paul could win a Tony and Pulitzer Prize this spring for their luminous hit “Dear Evan Hansen,” but “Dogfight” remains a signature moment of evolution for their fantastic partnership.

 
The outstanding duo of Ray Zupp and Mackensie King are perfectly compatible while navigating the complexities within Eddie and Rose. Zupp, arrogant yet tender with sharp intensity, truly masters Eddie’s charming duality of appearing brutish with his buddies and outright vulnerable with Rose. He also vividly expresses Eddie’s insecure quandary of holding tightly to his tough guy façade when he’s actually attempting to simply figure out his place in the world. In one of her finest roles, King, appropriately introverted but far from a pushover, accomplishes the feat of ensuring the emotionally wounded Rose is credibly openhearted enough to look past Eddie’s immaturity and recognize his potential. It’s tough to love a jerk, but King’s grasp of Rose’s dilemma and her willingness to forgive resonates.

 
Thacker’s excellent, vocally strong cast is also filled with commendable featured players. The commanding Layne Roate dynamically intimidates with Southern swagger as cocky Boland. Bobby Mitchum, a bundle of energy and nervous trepidation, delights as bespectacled Bernstein. Tia Seay brings comedic flavor to her portrayal of shrewd and savvy Marcy, Boland’s deceitful date. Seay also joins King for a marvelous rendition of the fiery title song in which Marcy and Rose come to terms with the cruelty of the game. David Baker (Stevens), Jesse Daniel (Fector), Brett Norgaard (Gibbs), and TC Schreier provide enthusiastic vigor as fellow marines. Skyler McNeely offers lighthearted levity throughout in multiple roles. Danielle DeLorme (Mama), Samantha Creech (Ruth Two Bears) and Natalie Sanders are also effective, especially Creech’s funny choices during the dogfight.

 
In addition, Zupp’s striking scenic design, complete with a tattered American flag as an ominous backdrop, aptly evokes the memory play concept inherent in the material. Olivia Dakin’s fine assortment of period-appropriate wardrobe includes an endearingly tacky costume party outfit for King. Choreographer Lisa Glover skillfully establishes conversation in dance in the sprightly “Hey, Good-Lookin.’” Along with Lorri Topping’s music direction, the show notably features a six-piece orchestra accented with splendid piano accompaniment from conductor Nick Garvin.

 

“Dogfight” stings but it’s an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss it.

 
“Dogfight: The Musical” continues through April 8 inside the Mathile Theatre of the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Act One: 60 minutes; Act Two: 50 minutes. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range from $19.50-$24.50. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit ticketcenterstage.com. The production contains adult themes and language. Patrons should also note understudy Jesse Daniel portrays Eddie Birdlace at the Saturday matinee.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Dare to Defy Productions, Dogfight, Russell Florence Jr.

About Russell Florence, Jr.

Russell Florence, Jr. is a member of The American Theatre Critics Association and The Drama League. In addition to his role as arts and culture editor of Dayton City Paper and theater critic for Dayton City Paper and Impact Weekly, he served as a Dayton Daily News freelance writer and editorial page contributor. He has also written features for such theater publications as Spotlight Ohio and The Sondheim Review. Over the past 25 years, he has seen over 1,000 shows locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally encompassing New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Toronto, Madrid, and Rome among other destinations.


Comments

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Featured Events

  • Fri
    22
  • Sat
    23
  • Sun
    24
  • Mon
    25
  • Tue
    26
  • Wed
    27
  • Thu
    28

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Tinned Gourmet Seafoods Tasting Event

5:00 pm | Salt Block Biscuit Company

Latin Dance Party

5:30 pm | The Salvation Army Kroc Center

Route 88

6:30 pm | Mr Boro’s Tavern

Clayton Anderson with Jacob William

7:00 pm | JD Legends Entertainment Complex

Music Bingo!

7:00 pm | Devil Wind Brewing

Derik Zoo

8:00 pm | Wiley’s Comedy Club

Cooking Class: Three Kings’ Day: A Puerto Rican Celebration

8:30 pm | DLM Culinary Center

RiverScape Virtual Winter Yoga

9:30 am |

Harley-Davidson 21 Launch Party

12:00 pm | Buckeye Harley Davidson

Open Call for Models

2:00 pm | House of (DE-FI)ance: A Fashion & Design Co-working Experience

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Ronald McDonald House Cooking Together

6:00 pm | your house

Dave’s & Confused

6:00 pm | The Phone Booth Lounge

DPAA presents Beethoven 8 and Florence Price

6:00 pm | Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Live Music With Generations Band

6:30 pm | Sojourners Brewstillery

Until Rust & Friends

6:30 pm | Courtyard Lounge

Derik Zoo

7:15 pm | Wiley’s Comedy Club

DPAA presents Beethoven 8 and Florence Price

8:30 pm | Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Chili Fest

10:00 am | Findlay Market- Cincy

Rivers and Streams of the Miami Valley — and How Citizens can Make a Difference to Protect Them

2:30 pm | zoom

DLM Virtual Class! Sunday Supper Chicken & Dumplings

5:00 pm | ZOOM

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Young’s annual “Do Your Moo” Event

| Young’s Jersey Dairy

25% off Pizza Monday

11:30 am | Oregon Express

Charucterie Class

6:00 pm | AR Workshop

Open Mic Monday

6:30 pm | The Barrel

Cinematic Conversations at Home

7:00 pm | online event

Community Action Meeting: Actions For Anti-Racism

7:00 pm |

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Young’s annual “Do Your Moo” Event

| Young’s Jersey Dairy

Conversation with Airstream

10:00 am | Virtual Event

Spaghetti Tuesday

5:00 pm | The Trolley Stop

Burger Night

5:00 pm | Watermark

Jazz with Gail and Larry

5:00 pm | Spirited Goat Coffee House

Skyline Chili Fundraiser

5:00 pm | Skyline Chili

Tuesday Trivia

7:00 pm | The Dublin Pub

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Young’s annual “Do Your Moo” Event

| Young’s Jersey Dairy

Women 4 Technology: Meaningful Mentoring

11:30 am | Virtual Event

Beginning Cake Decorating

6:00 pm | online event

Trivia w/ DagaTrivia

6:00 pm | Eudora Brewing Company

Write It Like You Mean It

6:30 pm | ZOOM

Masthead Brewing Beer Tasting

6:30 pm | The Caroline

Wednesday Trivia

6:30 pm | Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse

Open Mic with Blues Breakdown Band

7:00 pm | Hank’s Local

Gem City Market Walking Warriors

7:00 pm | Gem City Market

Wednesday Night Trivia w/ Dan Profitt

7:00 pm | Oinkadoodlemoo & Brew

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Young’s annual “Do Your Moo” Event

| Young’s Jersey Dairy

Johnnie Walker Seminar + Dinner

6:00 pm | Salar

Beginning Beekeeping Virtual Class

7:00 pm | ZOOM

Dayton Literary Peace Prize Virtual Book Club

7:00 pm | Virtual Event

Bingo

8:00 pm | Trolley Stop

More Events…

DMM E-Newsletter


Give us your email address and we'll send you our DMM E-Newsletters
Email:  
For Email Marketing you can trust
Back to Top

Copyright © 2021 Dayton Most Metro · Terms & Conditions · Log in