"Four Dogs and a Bone" a carnivorous, risqué delight at the Suffield Players

SUFFIELD — For anyone who’s ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of film, you won’t find a more compelling, back-stabbing, witty, or profanity-ridden example than “Four Dogs and a Bone,” playing at the Suffield Players through Feb. 28.
This is an interesting daring production, because the dialog is definitely on the far side of propriety. Let’s just say, this isn’t your typical community theater comedy of manners.
If you can handle the very adult profanity, however, it is hysterical. It is also a terrific cautionary tale for anyone who has ever dreamed of working in the film industry. There are high dollars and future careers at stake every step of the way.
Written by John Patrick Shanley, who is no stranger to stage or screen writing, having written the films “Moonstruck,” and “Joe Versus the Volcano,” among many others.
Most recently Shanley directed the film version of his 2004 multiple award-winning play “Doubt: A Parable,” starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
In this play Robert Lunde plays Victor, Shanley’s alter ego, who has written a screenplay everyone wants to change.
That includes the seasoned, stressed-out movie producer, Bradley, played with world-weariness by Josh Guenter; Brenda the ingenue, “with no talent but lots of personality” played with wide-eyed steeliness by Megan Fish; and the stage actress with “dead-eyes” who is desperate to be the ingenue and not a character actor, well-played by Lea D. Oppedisano.
Oppedisano gets to over-act, and overact she does — reminiscent of the old Hollywood actress Gloria Swanson. While showing she can be sarcastic with the best of them, she also has crashing experiences of occasional vulnerability.
You really never know what these characters are going to say or do next, which is a big part of the play’s appeal.
No question that Shanley experienced much of the insanity of film making in his screen writing and directing career, and in this play, written in 1993, he got to have his wicked comeuppance.
If creating films is anything like this, which they undoubtedly must be, it is a “monkey miracle” any of them ever gets completed.
Sometimes background music, which is so essential in establishing mood in films, is distracting and jarring in plays, but because this show is so over-the-top and dramatic, in a good way, the occasional musical interludes work very well.
When in the second act Colette appears at the producer’s glass door, and a track from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns is played, it enhances the scene, illiciting laughter from the audience — because the two women, bubble-headed Brenda and Kabuki theatre-queen Colette, are headed for a showdown.
The set, with the producer’s office, the women’s dressing room, and the bar, all work great, quite an achievement in such a small stage space — Kudos to set designer Konrad Rogowski.
This show is definitely not for kids and even adults might find it offensive, so be forewarned. That being said, the actors are all excellent, well cast, and move comfortably and easily about the stage, with fine direction by Meghan Lynn Allen.
Every character in this show has his or her own agenda, and it is a feast of fun to watch them all get what they deserve in this biting tale of double-crossing, maneuvering, manipulation, and gargantuan egos — “Four Dogs and a Bone” is a carnivorous risqué delight.

FOUR DOGS AND A BONE

3 Stars
Location: Mapleton Hall, 1305 Mapleton Ave. Suffield.
Production: Written by John Patrick Shanley. Directed by Meghan Lynn Allen. Lighting design and technical direction by Jerry Zalewski. Set design by Konrad Rogowski.
Running time: 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission.
Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through Feb. 28.
Tickets: $17, $15 for seniors and students. Call 800-289-6158 or visit their website at www.suffieldplayers.org.
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Megan Fish ... Brenda
Josh Guenter ... Bradley
Robert Lunde ... Victor
Lea D. Oppedisano ... Colette