Skip to main content

Review: Dogfight - Spotlight Theatrical Company

Written by Jake Goodall

Get ready for a night of vocal excellence in Spotlight Theatrical Company's latest production of Dogfight! Located in the central Gold Coast, their latest production is sure to shock and delight all theatre lovers.

It's 1963, and a group of young marines have gathered in San Fransisco the night before they ship off to Vietnam. They decide to celebrate their last night of freedom with a cruel game they call a “dogfight” where every man sets out to find the ugliest girl he can and brings her to a party. Everyone puts in money, and the man with the ugliest date wins the pot. 

This harrowing and horrific story showcases the toxic masculinity of the US Marines in the 60s but also provides an insight into PTSD and the terrors of war. One uplifting event in this musical is that it isn't about women changing themselves for men, it is about the power of becoming confident in oneself and not bowing to a man's wishes just because he says so which is the troupe for many musicals set in this time piece.

Directed by Joshua McCann-Thomson, the production was in good hands. McCann-Thomson is an extremely talented director who assembled the best of the best for this show, allowing us to be drawn into the story easily. Musically Directed by the formidable Julie Whiting, they whipped the vocals into shape. The highlight of this production was the vocals, the score is an incredibly difficult sing especially for the male characters however it is clear Whiting worked hard with the performers to push the absolute best out of them. Choreography by Natalie Cassaniti was simple yet effective, Cassaniti created some beautiful pieces of choreography that helped to move the story along. 

Lighting Design by Jamie Watt was beautiful, Watt created some stunning lighting scenes to emulate the light and shade of the production. Audio Design by Marcus Du Toit was commendable, occasionally it was difficult to hear the actor's words as the balancing between the leads and the ensemble or the leads and the band were slightly off however this got better as the show went on throughout the night. Set Design by Josh McCann Thomson and Michael Sutton was simple and effective utilising a small raised platform across the entire stage with a revolve in the middle which was able to create some beautiful scenes. Additionally, there were six window-like pieces and two interior house pieces that helped to create time and setting. 

The three male leads of the production, Brody Seignior as Eddie Birdlace, Marcus Du Tout as Berstein, and Jordan Lee as Boland were all outstanding in their roles. Vocally each one was faultless, providing an impressive vocal selection throughout the evening. Laila Chequer De Souza as Rose Fenny was stunning, She perfectly encapsulated the giddiness of a first date and gave us a layered character throughout the entire production. Angelique Giuffre as Marcy was hard-hitting and gritty, exactly what you need from a Marcy. Giuffre's rendition of the titular song was haunting and beautiful at the same time. 


Packing out this cast is a multitude of stunning performers; Hunter Wall as Lounge Singer and others, Nikki Wilde as Mama, Jess Ng as Ruth, Anthony Vitetzakis as Fector, Andrew Kassab as Gibbs, Dylan Pereira as Stevens, Chloe Smith as Ensemble, Greyson Vaughn as Ensemble, Leah Erskine as Ensemble and Tabitha Woods as Ensemble. Each of these performers was fantastic in their own right and helped to create a beautiful production. 

Overall Dogfight at Spotlight Theatrical Company is a harrowing tale told beautifully by some of the best talent on the Gold Coast. Dogfight performs at the Spotlight Halpin Auditorium until the 1st of June, don't miss out! BOOK NOW!

Photos by Vargo Studios

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Picnic at Hanging Rock - Javeenbah Theatre Company

Written by Mark Rickell “The infamous picnic has become a faux Australian history that has haunted the Australian psyche for almost fifty years.” - Hunter Wall, Director This is the backdrop on which the story takes place, not that of the period in history, but in the present. In the effect of this story and what it means to Australians. Children study the text in schools, the name, and the mystery, is synonymous with Australian literature.  “Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction, my readers must decide for themselves. As the fateful picnic took place in the year nineteen hundred, and all the characters who appear in this book are long since dead, it hardly seems important.” - Joan Lindsay, Author This adaptation of the text is extremely true to the original material, and serves as an excellent example of the power of theatre as a way of bringing stories to life. This adaptation, expertly staged at Javeenbah Theatre, is a triumph of storytelling. It is clear that dire...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Cemetery Club - Tugun Theatre

Written by Rett Visser Meet the Cemetery Club! Three longtime friends in their late fifties to early sixties, who are now also united by bereavement. Meeting once a month to visit the cemetery where their deceased husbands lay, their friendship and love for their husbands form the cornerstone of ‘The Cemetery Club’. As in real-life, each woman is dealing with grief differently, as every relationship is different: Doris is struggling with losing the love of her life Abe, despite it being four years since his passing, Lucille is kicking up her heels and spending the inheritance left by the unfaithful Harry, and Ida misses her Murry but realises that she doesn’t want to mourn forever. When Sam, the widower meets the ladies whilst visiting the grave of his deceased wife, a shy attraction to Ida sees cracks in the friendships begin to grow. Efficiently directed by Julie Neumann, the space was well-considered enabling the audience to feel like they were included in the conversation as the la...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Freshblood Festival - Vena Cava

Written By Thor Morrison Upcoming creatives need a place to experiment, to prosper, to explore, and even to sometimes miss the mark. It is essential that spaces that allow this to happen exist, especially in a world obsessed with perfectionism. The Freshblood Festival is an annual event run by QUT Student Theatre Company Vena Cava, focused on young writers and performers, and it does just that. It provides a space for the new and upcoming creatives of Brisbane and surrounds to experiment, have fun, and create really exciting performances. Held at BackDock Arts in Fortitude Valley, and running over two consecutive weekends, it is a massive endeavour Vena Cava have given themselves. 14 independent shows, two play readings, and 8 music acts ensure that Freshblood has something for everyone to enjoy, and shows the variety and scale of the Festival itself. Drama Dispatch was able to attend most of the second weekend, seeing a total of seven shows and a play reading, and was greatly impresse...
Post a Comment
Read more