The Little Dog Laughed

Smart Lips production has mounted a solid production of Douglas Carter Beane's very cynical view of Hollywood. "The Little Dog Laughed" revolves around a tough Hollywood agent attempting to keep her rising star client rising-and locked in the closet.

For those of you lucky enough to have caught Julie White's 2007 Tony Award-winning turn as the acid tongue, rapier witted agent Diane, you know it would be unfair to compare Amanda Abel's very capable Diane to White's highly-raised barred tour-de-force. But human as I am, I kept comparing.

Where White entered like a lethal tornado with Diane's opening monologue, Abel takes her own effective approach, ultimately making the role her own. Abel's Diane slowly reveals her ruthlessness and Hollywood savvy. Abel especially soars in one of the play's pivotal scene. Diane is having a business lunch with her star client Mitchell and the unseen writer of a hot new play Diane is desperate to option as the perfect film vehicle for Mitchell's upwardly mobile career.

Sean Faye (Mitchell) and Abel ever-so-smoothly spit out the Beane's brilliantly written version of Hollywood-ese, volleying their sycophantic compliments and asides with impeccable timing, never overlapping, doubles-teaming as smoothly as tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams.

In a later scene, Abel's Diane actually gets the chance to show a tiny glimpse of her humanity. (Gasp! A no-no in Beane's cynical -no, realistic -vision of Hollywood!)

Christopher Leyva has the looks and the intriguing mixture of bravado and innocence of Alex, the gay-for-pay escort the closeted Mitchell drunk dials for the evening. Of course, Mitchell, still denying his gayness, falls for Alex, and, of course, Alex isn't really gay either -he has a girlfriend.

Kristin Carlisle vivaciously plays the girlfriend Ellen, (the fourth wheel in this love triangle/quartet?) with just the perfect mix of dumb blonde-ness, street smarts, and vulnerability. You really feel her pain as she voices her hurt at being referred to as "a party girl."

Director Jeremy Witcher keeps the action fast and furious. I'm sure that as the production runs the pacing between scenes will be quicker and smoother.

If I have to quibble, two minor and easy costume fixes would make Diane calling Ellen "a party girl" more plausible and a braided bracelet for Alex to be wearing would clearer illustrate the relationship Ellen has with Alex.

The final scene of the four characters features just the right amount of phony sincerity from Carlisle and Faye to leave the intended lasting impression.