The Hampton Theatre Company Presents “SYLVIA”

Saturday night's enthusiastic audience at The Hampton Theatre Company’s performance of A.R. Gurney’s 1995 comedy, “Sylvia,” was both a testimony to the successful staging of the show itself, and a collective homage to the first indoor theatrical production on the East End, since the pandemic slammed the world shut. With that said, this heartwarming play about a wacky love triangle involving a husband, a wife, and a dog, provides just the right dose of laugher-as-the-best-medicine to lockdown weary Long Islanders.

Greg, a man in the midst of a massive midlife crisis, begins a passionate relationship with a stray, potty-mouthed dog named Sylvia. His wife's jealous reaction to her husband’s ever-growing affection for Sylvia and her efforts to break up what is becoming an obsessive relationship, forms the basis of this two-act comedy.

The Hampton’s Theatre Company is known for its incredible set designs, and Sean Marbury’s realistic set of a New York City apartment, complete with a three-dimensional window view, doesn’t disappoint.

Aptly directed by the talented Diana Marbury, the four-member cast formed a tight-knit ensemble that didn’t miss a beat. Amanda Griemsmann gives an endearing performance as the sometimes lovable, often irascible mutt. Ms. Griemsmann is a gifted actor, and the highlight of the show was watching her scratch, cuss, eat, rollover, bark, sniff, grunt, and prance doggy-like around the stage. This part is a difficult one to portray because it is so highly physical in nature, but Ms. Griemsmann had the energy and stamina to maintain a frisky performance throughout. She also does a fabulous job of navigating the myriad emotions Sylvia goes through, from being overly compliant to outright confrontational, from being deliciously lovable to absolutely despicable. The scenes where Sylvia is in heat, well, you just have to see them to believe them.

Greg, as brilliantly portrayed by Edward Kase, is a sweet, troubled, lost soul, whose only solace comes when he is in the presence of Sylvia. His serendipitous discovery of Sylvia in Central Park seems to temporarily assuage his disillusionment with his job and his existence, but his wife, Kate, begins to feel increasingly threatened by the deepening relationship he is developing with his dog. Greg, always the people pleaser, tries to make everyone happy, often at the expense of his own happiness. Mr. Kase’s facial expressions and body language speak volumes, and the character he created was likable and believable.

George Loizides garnered some of the biggest laughs of the evening as he adeptly took on three diverse roles. As Tom, a streetwise guy, who warns Greg to stop thinking of his dog as human, or it could lead to dire consequences, he was so believable that I kept thinking, I know 10 people just like this guy! Mr. Loizides portrayal of Phyllis, an upper-class New York City woman with a drinking problem, was hysterical, and his depiction of Leslie, a gender-fluid marriage counselor was spot-on.

Catherine Maloney is always an audience favorite because she cuts right to the heart and soul of any character she plays. She gives an outstanding performance as Kate, deftly delivering her many comedic lines with expert precision.

This show runs three weekends from May 27 through June 13 at the Quogue Community Hall. The theatre is following all COVID-19 safety protocols, including social distancing, wearing of masks, and is only allowing 33 percent seating capacity, so you can feel free to go and enjoy this must-see production of “Sylvia.” Since there’s a 60 people maximum limit per performance, drop everything and purchase your tickets now!

Discount tickets for “Sylvia” are available for veterans, Native Americans, seniors, patrons under 35, and students. For reservations and information on all available discounts, visit www.hamptontheatre.org or email info@hamptontheatre.org.

To purchase tickets, visit www.hamptontheatre.org, or call the HTC box office at 1-631-653-8955.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright, and the author of two spiritual self-help books, "Grant Me a Higher Love," and "Why Good People Can't Leave Bad Relationships."