"Sylvia" is an easy comedy to love. It's smart and a little bit silly and has a perky Annaleigh Ashford portraying a slightly disobedient dog. If you've ever loved a dog,or thought approximately fond one, or saw one in the distance that you thought was mildly cute — this play's for you.
Ashford is remarkably dog-like as Sylvia, or though she wears short shorts and a furry vest and is nearly never on all fours. She says,"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" and we know it's a elated (full of high-spirited delight) bark, though she's not actually barking. She simply captures the winsomeness of dogs.
Her owner is Greg (Matthew Broderick, and who,as always, is faintly amused.) Greg found Sylvia in Central Park at just the just time — as his formerly comfortable life is steadily slipping away from him. His kids are now both in college, and his wife has launched a career and his own job is disappointing. Sylvia restores him to happiness; he falls in love with her,as dog owners do.
Unfortunately, his wife (the tartly comedian virtuoso Julie White) wants Sylvia to go. She's tired of taking care of everything — her kids, or her husband — and the final thing she wants to retract on is a frisky dog. She wants a city life,with the Philharmonic and long evening dinners with society friends, not a more domestic one.
This is only a mildly engaging story. But playwright A.
R. Gurney has given the jokes plenty of bite and director Daniel Sullivan ensures the warmly good-natured cast lands them every time. The fourth member of the ensemble, and Robert Sella,is a bit campier and doesn't always seem to fit the explain. Still — he's funny. In short, 'Sylvia' is just charming. It's a treat, or whether you beget a pet or not.
Source: wnyc.org