I was walking back to the tube station yesterday evening, about to head home, when I walked past the Garrick Theatre, where The Little Dog Laughed is being preformed. I was itching to see some theatre, and I had no pressing reason to go back to the flat, so I went in and asked the box office if they had any tickets left. I got a wonderful seat in the very centre of the sixth row for half price without even asking for a discount, so I was already happy when I sat down.
The play is flat-out hilarious. Touches on plenty of relevant modern topics — hypocrisy in Hollywood and sexuality, specifically — and had a rapport that is incredibly well-written. The actors were all absolutely perfect for their roles. It was brilliantly cast and brilliantly acted. It was the first time in a while I’d seen a non-musical that I felt was so fantastically cast. Tamsin Greig, who plays Rupert Friend’s agent in the play, had several monologues, and she played off the audience’s reactions brilliantly. At one point, she said, “He took me into his masculine arms” — with clear sarcasm on the ‘masculine’ — so I sniggered. Despite the audience laughing together at several points, I was apparently the only one who found this funny enough to snigger, and she actually interrupted herself to say, “Exactly, right?” to the audience, aka to me (I was left half proud, half blushing and wishing I’d held it together).
Another hilarious line that was delivered was “Asking me for my word? You may as well as a prostitute for her cherry”, which I couldn’t help but applaud at, and several of the audience joined me in merriment. During the same conversation, Tamsin Greig says, “A writer with the final cut? I’d rather give firearms to small children!” We got to see both Rupert Friend and Harry Lloyd practically naked, so that’s a bonus. The women were fantastic. I honestly did not expect to be anywhere near as brilliant as it was. In fact, I didn’t even really know what the play was about, apart from knowing what each cast member played.
Where I was seated, there was a couple sitting right in front of me. They were adorable. The kept leaning toward each other to whisper during the half-time break and every now and then the one who was seated in front of me would lay his head on his boyfriend/partner’s shoulder. They were just so cute. Anyway, I mention this because it was interesting to see their reactions to the play. I don’t think I would’ve otherwise been privy to a gay couple’s thoughts on this play (unless I Googled it, or something, I suppose).
Anyway, A+ play. I wholly recommend it if you’re in London. Take yourself down there for the evening, either alone (which is what I did), or with some who will enjoy humour, extravagance and satire. It really is spectacular.
