Dogfight: The Education of a Misogynist Marine

Dogfight

Music and Lyrics Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Book by Peter Duchan
Directed by Paul Daigneault
SpeakEasy Stage Company

Dogfight, the 2013 Louise Lortel Award winner for the outstanding Off-Broadway musical of the year is currently being presented by Boston’s SpeakEasy Company under the capable direction of Paul Daigneault. Composers and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul together with bookwriter Peter Duchan based their show on the 1991 non-musical film of the same name.

Dogfight takes place in two different time frames, 1963 and 1967 with the majority of the action happening in the earlier era. It is a strangely divided two-act musical. The first act deals with male bonding, cruelty, dreams of heroism, misogyny, and naïveté; the second develops into a love story. Early on, three young marine buddies – Eddie Birdlace (Jordan J. Ford), Boland, (Jared Troilo) and Bernstein (Drew Arisco) – who are shipping out of San Francisco the following day for Vietnam decide to spend their last night stateside playing a sadistic and humiliating game. This Marine tradition involves setting up a contest in which each man attending must put in a sum of money and bring an ugly girl. The escort of the homeliest date wins the pot.

During a slew of song and dance numbers, the untried marines (including the male chorus) express their excitement at being in San Francisco, going off to war, and the contest. They rush about searching desperately for an unattractive date, singing “Hey Good Lookin’.” Eddie Birdlace wanders into a diner where a waitress is plucking a guitar and singing to herself. Rose (Alejandra M. Parilla) is shy, awkward, but hardly ugly. That the actress is quite pretty, if a bit plump, belies some of the lines. The script gives the impression that its creators were too timid to carry through with the premise.

Birdlace flirts with Rose, pretending he shares her knowledge and love of the early 1960s’ music scene. Despite her timidity, Rose eventually accepts his invitation to the party and spiffs herself up in an unfortunate ill-fitting maroon dress. Birdlace, uncomfortable about what lies ahead, tries to convince Rose not to go to the party. Finally, ambivalent about the situation, he takes her to the seedy nightclub the Marines have rented. Rose dances happily with Birdlace without understanding what is going on. Sick from drinking too much, she goes to the ladies room where Marcy (McCaela Donovan) a prostitute involved in the scheme explains the game. Rose’s reaction is something of a coup de théâtre. Shocked by the sadism, she punches Birdlace and gives him and his buddies a dressing down. The next scene finds Rose taking refuge in her bedroom where she releases her hurt and disappointment in the gripping song, “Pretty Funny.”

In the second act, Birdlace breaking away from his sexist, tough guy approach to life, but still confused about his feelings, awkwardly apologizes to Rose. She consents to go to dinner with him and give him a chance. They sing the charming “First Date, Last Night,” which expresses their doubts and hopes. Although the first date is in part a lesson in manners for Birdlace, the two reach a new level of understanding and finish the evening in bed together.

Birdlace and his buddies are completely unprepared for the horrors and sacrifices of war as demonstrated by the lyrics in “Some Kinda Time”: “Goodbye to chili fries, to apple pies and Dina Shore …” Boland and Bernstein are almost simultaneously killed in Vietnam. Birdlace, suffering from PTSD returns to the shock of anti-war San Francisco. Nonetheless, the story has a happy ending with Rose and Birdlace reunited.

While the plot is pat, the show is enjoyable. Alejandra M. Parrilla and Jordan J. Ford are wonderful as the two unlikely lovers. Their duets were highlights of the performance. Both are strong actors as well as singers. On occasion, however, Ms. Parilla could not be heard while speaking. Of the eleven performers in Dogfight, six are either Boston Conservatory current students or recent graduates. The young company as a whole is filled with talented singers and dancers.

Dogfight continues through June 4, 2016

Scene Design Christina Tedesco
Costume Design Elisabetta Polito
Lighting Design Jeff Adelberg
Sound Design David Reiffel

Cast
Rose Fenny Alejandra M. Parrilla
Eddie Birdlace Jordan J. Ford
Pete/Sergeant/Praying Drag Queen/Lounge Singer/Waiter/ Big Tony/
Diner Patron Patrick Varner
Boland Jared Troilo
Bernstein Drew Arisco
Stevens Dylan James Whelan
Fector Dave Heard
Gibbs/Steven’s Date Edward Rubenacker
Peggy/Marcy/Hippie McCaela Donovan
Librarian/ Ruth Two Bears/Chippy/
Hippie Jenna Lea Scott
Mama/Suzette/
Hippie Liliane Klein

Musicians
Conductor/Keyboard José Delgado
Violin Danyele Homer
Guitar Tom Young
Drums/Percussion Hector E. Saint-Hilaire