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Come! Sit! Stay! See 'Sylvia'!  The Little
Theatre of Fall River is going to the dogs -- well, one particular mutt in
particular, actually, by the name of "Sylvia." The community theater troupe will
conclude its 2000-2001 Firebarn season with A.R. Gurney's play, "Sylvia."
The opening tomorrow night. The comedy about a marriage and a
dog will be presented at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, Jan. 25 through 27,
and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Jan. 28. All performances will be at the
Firebarn, Little Theatre's home at Prospect Street and Highland Avenue in
Fall River. In Gurney's
play, Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after 22 years of
child-rearing in the suburbs. Greg's career as a financial trader is
winding down, while Kate's career, as a public school English teacher, is
beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found
-- or that has found him -- in the park. Her only identification is the
name "Sylvia" on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and
poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and
wife. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the
unknowns of middle age. To Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection,
while Sylvia thinks Kate just doesn't understand the relationship between
man and dog. "Sylvia"
stars Karen Robinson, Jay Burke, Jeff Belanger and Deborah Sadler. The
production is directed by Robbie Morgan Burke, with Beverly Robinson as
stage manager. Ms.
Burke's Little Theatre directorial credits include "Falsettos" and the
Moss Hart Award-winning "The Secret Garden." She is thrilled to bring
"Sylvia" to Fall River audiences. "'Sylvia' is a touchingly funny
play," said Ms. Burke. "When the arrival of a dog threatens a marriage, it
certainly provides an unusual twist to the midlife crisis situation."
Since the title character
in "Sylvia" is a stray dog, Ms. Burke and Little Theatre publicity
chairman Kathy Castro saw the production as an opportunity to do something
for the community. Two local animal shelters, Faxon Animal Rescue League
and Forever Paws, will each receive one dollar from the sale of each
individual ticket (not subscriptions). "We're also setting up donation
boxes in the lobby so audience members can donate much-needed towels,
blankets and other items to these shelters," said Ms. Burke. "The only other partnership of
this type was last year when we did 'Grace and Glorie' and had a Hospice
representative come in to provide information," said Ms. Castro. "Our intention is to do more of
this partnering with community organizations, when the shows lend
themselves to it," she added. Stray dogs have touched the Burke
household before. Robbie's dog Jesse is an "alumnus" of Faxon. "This opportunity to give back to
the shelters brings the situation full-circle for me," said Ms. Burke.
Single tickets are $10
for "Sylvia." Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of
20 or more. For reservations and information, call the Little Theatre box
office at (508) 675-1852.
Looking ahead to future Little Theatre productions, Arthur Miller's "The
Crucible," about the witch hysteria in Salem, will be presented in March,
and the musical "Blood Brothers" will be staged in May at the Margaret L.
Jackson Art Center Theater at BCC.
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