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