Theatre Preview
Eleanor Pearson 3 February 2016 No Ordinary Dog’s TaleSylvia is a story about a man and his dog. Or rather - a man, his dog, and his wife. In this comic drama playwright A.R. Gurney takes a whimsical look at a middle-aged man’s obsession with a stray dog, called Sylvia.
In Pymble Players’ Sylvia actor Faith Jessel plays the title role. “It is a love story.” Jessel said. |
Sylvia
Season Starting: Wednesday, 17th of February (click on "Upcoming Events" for exact times.) Address: Corner of Mona Vale Road & Bromley Avenue, Pymble NSW 2073 |
The action unfolds when a man picks up a stray dog in a park, and brings her home, much to his wife’s dismay. So ensues a love triangle, of a most unusual nature.
“It’s a metaphor for an affair.” Jessel said. “Sylvia’s very much the other woman without the sex.”
“It’s a metaphor for an affair.” Jessel said. “Sylvia’s very much the other woman without the sex.”
“Sylvia fulfils what he thinks he needs. She’s sexy, sassy, and always wants to please.” Jessel explained.
The play premiered in 1995 Off-Broadway with Sarah Jessica Parker playing Sylvia. Pymble Players’ Sylvia remains set in the 1990s. “Sylvia’s an incredibly funny, loveable character, and she has an amazing story arc.” Jessel said. “But Sylvia is just a dog. She behaves according to the dog code: shelter, love, protect, food, sex, bond.” “You get to behave badly,” Jessel added, cheekily. Jessel is a self-confessed pet-lover. So expect some poignancy in her portrayal of the pampered pooch. |
“I believe animals do have souls,” Jessel said. “People will come to Sylvia expecting to laugh, and not expecting to have a little cry as well.”
Toongabbie resident and special education teacher Jessel worked hard to get her “dream role”. For a start, the Sylvia auditions were held on the only night off she had while performing in Hunters Hill Theatre’s Brief Encounter.
If you imagine Sylvia is a world apart from playing the tearoom manageress Myrtle Bagot in Noel Coward’s 1940s drama Brief Encounter, you’d be right.
“I was between accents. Sylvia has a young voice and Myrtle had a cockney accent.” Jessel said.
At 44, the former ballet dancer also faced younger competition for the physically demanding role. But her efforts paid off. As Sylvia, Jessel wears kneepads, and at times a tutu and a “cone of shame”.
“Dogs do really embarrassing things, some things are outright undignified…There’s a lovely juxtaposition of human and dog.” Jessel said.
Jessel said the play was “a pet-lover’s paradise.”
“It’s written with affection,” Jessel said. “Anybody who is a pet-lover will relate to the bond with Sylvia. People who don’t like pets will sympathise with the wife.”
Sylvia plays February 17-March 12, 2016
Toongabbie resident and special education teacher Jessel worked hard to get her “dream role”. For a start, the Sylvia auditions were held on the only night off she had while performing in Hunters Hill Theatre’s Brief Encounter.
If you imagine Sylvia is a world apart from playing the tearoom manageress Myrtle Bagot in Noel Coward’s 1940s drama Brief Encounter, you’d be right.
“I was between accents. Sylvia has a young voice and Myrtle had a cockney accent.” Jessel said.
At 44, the former ballet dancer also faced younger competition for the physically demanding role. But her efforts paid off. As Sylvia, Jessel wears kneepads, and at times a tutu and a “cone of shame”.
“Dogs do really embarrassing things, some things are outright undignified…There’s a lovely juxtaposition of human and dog.” Jessel said.
Jessel said the play was “a pet-lover’s paradise.”
“It’s written with affection,” Jessel said. “Anybody who is a pet-lover will relate to the bond with Sylvia. People who don’t like pets will sympathise with the wife.”
Sylvia plays February 17-March 12, 2016
Performers and Crew
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Racquel Boyd
Penny Macoun Natalie Boyd Jan McLachlan Graham Boswell Geoff Jones Reg Lunn, Charles Williams, Peter Morris, Colin Harrison, Jim Steel, Rene Bartel Graham Boswell, George Trippis, Melanie Brooker, Ian Ackland, Lindsay Donovan Jan McLachlan Peter Wright Des Harris Penny Macoun |