'Dogfight' Proves to be a Top Dog Performance

Bridget McCarthy ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Assistant Editor
Dogfight shows just how quickly humanity can crumble during times of chaos, and how necessary compassion is when surrounded by cruelty. The Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club poignantly presents this powerful message with a cast and staff made entirely of students.
The story begins in 1963 with three Marines as they are about to be deployed for the first time to Vietnam. For their final night in San Francisco, the soldiers arrange a ruthless bet called the dogfight, where the boy who finds the ugliest girl is crowned the winner of a cash prize. There are no second thoughts about the plan until Corporal Eddie Birdlace (Derek Speedy), meets Rose (Taylor Kay Phillips).
The production – directed by Cole Edick – presents heavy topics of war, heart break, and death, while still managing to make the audience smile with songs such as “Nothing Short of Wonderful,” where Rose playfully imagines her first date as she picks out an outfit. The venue of the Loeb Experimental Theatre is an intimate one, allowing the audience to connect with the characters’ wide range of emotions.
The minimalist set design by Anna Marinovic made the powerful acting even more apparent. The stage was made up of black walls with Posters, (designed by Serena Eggers), depicting the military, San Francisco, and an arrow pointing to the diner where Rose works. The small amount of décor made it so there was enough context without it being overwhelming. There were also set pieces, such as a bed and a bar, which would be moved in and out by actors according to the scene. The lack of an intense set highlights the most important facet of the show: the characters themselves.
Although the main soldiers dubbed “the three B’s” (Derek Speedy, Christian Potterton and Geoffrey Binney) should be commended for their high tenor notes, it is significant to recognize that this show mainly relies, not on singing or dancing, but on strong acting – and in this production, not only was there no weak link, but the entire cast excelled.
Taylor Kay Phillips portrays her character very naturally, delivering her lines with realism, making the audience believe her excitement and feel her pain. You see her grow from an awkward, shy girl, to someone who isn’t afraid to say what’s right or speak her convictions. She makes this transition authentic, displaying a strong sense of character development and growth.
The chemistry between Rose and Birdlace never feels forced. Speedy effectively shows his character’s constant back-and-forth confusion between his sympathy for Rose and loyalty to his friends. Speedy displays Birdlace’s faults and strengths even through singing some of the most difficult songs in the show, such as “Come Back.”
One of the most powerful actresses in the production is Marcy, (Brooke Sweeney). Even though Sweeney provides a lot of the shows comic relief, as she is a toothless, drunk prostitute, she delivers some of life’s harshest messages in the title song “Dogfight.” Marcy is the perfect representation of two of the musical’s core lessons: never judge a book by its cover, and remember that all outcomes can be changed based on how the chaos is controlled.
This Harvard production is especially touching because it manages to tackle two huge but very different aspects of the story, each with the same amount of attention and sharpness. The show discusses worldly, topical issues such as war, while still focusing equally on the more individualistic ideals of friendship and human relationships, romantic or otherwise.
Dogfight will continue its run at the Loeb Experimental Theatre Thursday, November 6th through Saturday, November 8th. To reserve free tickets email dogfightintheex@gmail.com with name, showtime, and number of tickets.
Overall Grade: A-