(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Here come the Marines! Artswest stages the Seattle Premiere of 'Dogfight', The Musical!

Photo: Michael Brunk

by MK Scott

Attended the Opening Weekend of the movie turned Stage Musical, 'Dogfight' at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse. It was originally a joint-production of Balagan, but its recent closure, Artswest took over.

Based closely on Nancy Savoca’s intimate, thoughtful 1991 film, “Dogfight”, which I barely remember, has a fresh new look on the stage, but more of the Hot, Young American sort of way, with a little Full Monty added.

The movie, as I recall,  was an indie showcase for its remarkably gifted young stars, Lili Taylor and River Phoenix. The two sensitively enacted the tentative romance between Rose, a bright, plain-featured, folk-singing San Francisco waitress, and Eddie, a cocky new Marine about to ship off to Southeast Asia. (The time is 1963, before the Summer of Love and during the early U.S. ramp-up of military intervention in Vietnam.)

Photo: Michael Brunk

On stage and screen, “Dogfight” pivots on the nasty game of the title about a group of Marine buddies bets on who can bring the ugliest date to a party. Then each hunts a homely woman to woo under false pretenses.

But the heart of the story is the relationship that evolves after Rose (the excellent Devon Busswood) realizes she’s been duped and humiliated by her date the very cocky, Eddie (Kody Bringman). 

During the course of Pre-WAR and Entitled Marine, Eddie, he manages to change an 180 degrees at the end when sings the emotions overpower his sense of regret.

Photo: Michael Brunk

Act 1 is dominated by guy anthems and antics and the sense of entitlement and 7 young men dancing and singing to get your sympathy.

In Act 2, Busswood’s performance is the highlight as the above mention of Eddie's Ballad, 'Come Back".

Other cast Highlights include Jacob Hoff as Gibbs and also plays a woman, and Chris Carwithen as Pete as well as a few more characters including a woman. Janet Mcwilliams as the Prostitute, Marcy.

Overall the musical is great, the men are HOT, and Dogfight has new generation of Fans.

Artswest's 'Dogfight' is directed by Artwest's new Artistic Director, Matthew Wright, Continues Through November 22nd. Click HERE for Ticket Info.