Dogfight
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Book by Peter Duchess.
Based on the Warner Bros. film and screenplay by Bob Comfort.
2016 Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne
The whole damn world might change tomorrow. So we go for broke today.
It’s November 21, 1963. On the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia, three young Marines set out for one final boy’s night of debauchery, partying and maybe a little trouble. But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace (Alex Woodward) meets Rose (Olivia Charalambous), an awkward and idealistic waitress he enlists to win a cruel bet with this fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of compassion.
Based on the 1991 cult movie of the same name starring River Phoenix, Dogfight premiered Off-Broadway in 2012 where it won the Lucille Lortel Outstanding Musical Award and was nominated for numerous Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards.
“Director Darylin Ramondo brings out the intensity and focus required for the cast to convey the brisk but heavy storytelling... Zoy Frangos works with unflinching power as Boland... Olivia Charalambous is absolutely charming as Rose, singing sweetly and frequently flashing a disarming smile..”
- SIMON PARRIS
CREATIVES
Produced by Angelique Helman
Directed by Darylin Ramondo
Musical Direction by Trevor Jones
Choreography by Leanne Marsland
Costumes by Rhiannon Irving
Lighting by Martin Kinnane
Sound: Marcello Lo Ricco, LSS Productions
CAST
Alex Woodward as Eddie Birdlace
Olivia Charalambous as Rose Fenny
Zoy Frangos as Boland
Jaclyn DeVincentis as Marcy
Joel Granger as Bernstein
Daniel Cosgrove as Stevens
James Coley as Fector
Jack Van Staveren as Gibbs
Sally Bourne as Mama
Tim Carney as Lounge Singer
Hannah McInerney as Ruth Two Bears
“The talented ensemble cast of Dogfight manages to find the balance between bitter and sweet with strong female leads and comedic moments that lift the audience from the darker themes of the piece.”
- THE AUSTRALIAN STAGE
“…it is told with tenderness, depth, and emotion – without ever feeling too clever or sentimental. This is quality theatre,”
- PLUS ONES
“This powerful play DOES NOT disappoint.”
- WEEKEND NOTES