TCT announces the BeeKay as a "home for stray dogs"

Tehachapi Community Theatre is in Rehearsal for Sylvia, opening Friday, Jan. 30.

In Pete Gurney's 1995 comic masterpiece Sylvia, he wrote about a dog who totally seduces the attentions and affection of a hard working, middle class husband, in one howler of a play. Some may dismiss this glorious evening of nonstop laughs as lightweight entertainment, but beneath all the fun is Gurney's usual focus on the fantasies and foibles of middle class life. "I consider this play to be a variation on the plot of the menopausal married male falling in love with an enticing young girl," says Gurney. "Only, in this case, the girl happens to be an adorable stray dog named Sylvia". The man's affection for her costs him his job and almost his marriage.

As in any suburban household, there are two languages spoken, one used by the adults to one another, and one used to communicate with babies, young children, and pets. The tickle in the ribs comes when the pet speak is accidentally applied to the wife, as when Greg absent-mindedly orders Kate to "Sit!" several times during a tense scene. The genius of the play is that Sylvia concentrates just as much on what our actions and feelings as humans mean to dogs as they do to us. As we watch, we do not have to imagine what this dog is feeling, we hear it firsthand as we get it straight from the pooch. Sylvia's canine-style licks and tricks amuse, but it is in the shaded reactions of both Hall and Taylor that we find the humor.

Jonathan Hall is one of the TCT's most credible actors, and his performance as the as the husband Greg is subtle, shaded and satisfying. Michelle Taylor plays his wife, Kate, which is her debut in a TCT main stage production – though her talent was seen briefly during TCT Playwright's Festival 2013. Hanna Clare is thrilled to be playing Sylvia, and has admitted that she not only loves dogs, but has a wonderful retriever named Bobby. Watching her on stage you can see how her constant observation of Bobby has impacted her hilarious performance. There is one more person in the cast, Rick Gould, a fine dramatic actor though he has a comic side we rarely get to see. Rick plays three characters in Sylvia, Tom, Phyllis and Leslie.

Performances are Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., doors opening at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees are Feb. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m., doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at http://tctonstage.com and at TCT ticket outlets.