D IS FOR DOG: 100% – SWEET

Michael Scott Allen, Guy Birtwhistle, and Taylor Coffman in "D Is for Dog" at studio/stage. Credit: Kris Bicknell.

SWEET
Like the best science fiction, “D Is for Dog” gains its power from the vulnerability of its characters, human or not. I was so engaged that it didn’t occur to me until afterward that not only are the styles of the 1950s fun to satirize, but the denial, faith in technology, and pharmaceutical escapism we associate with the era also chillingly reflect our own.
Maragaret Gray – LA Times

SWEET
The very able cast handles the transition between broad comedy to genuine pathos most effectively. Bring some Kleenex and be prepared to leave the theatre WOW-ed!
Gil Kaan – Culture Spot LA

SWEET
No matter how nebulous or complex, D is for Dog is theatrically engrossing and enjoyable fare from start to finish. As to the significance of the title, you must go and witness for yourselves.
Don Grigware – BroadwayWorld

SWEET
Director Sean T. Cawelti uses set, lighting, music, sound, puppetry, CG and video deftly, creating a convincing world, but his work with the actors is so good the show could almost be as effective on an empty stage.
Terry Morgan – LAist

SWEET
In an era where sci-fi thrillers are created with CGI, it’s refreshing to see that imagination and creativity can still trump computers in presenting a narrative that has a compelling story, a gripping plot, exceptional acting and a message that leaves you thinking. This one is a real winner on all levels.
Jose Ruiz – Reviewplays

SWEET
Theirs is a truly unique, thought-provoking theatrical experience.
Mary Wright – The Imitated Life

SWEET
It’s equally hard to guess what’s going to happen next in the Rogue Artists Ensemble’s discomfiting “D is for Dog,” an off-the-wall mash-up of 1950s family sitcoms and B-movie science fiction. Don’t ask, because my lips are sealed. But there’s great use of visual effects and wonderfully original music.
Jordan Young – LA Examiner

SWEET
Director Sean T. Cawelti and tech director Tyler Stamets marshal a panoply of talent to relay what metamorphoses into a riveting sci-fi tale that, like the best of that genre, comes off as frighteningly prescient.
Deborah Klugman – LA Weekly

SWEET
When the venerable company’s use of modern technology (digital media and theatrical illusions) and ancient storytelling techniques (such as music, masks and puppetry) are used to enhance a fabulous and cautionary fable such as this, the results are mind-boggling and truly blur the parameters of traditional theatre.
Tony Frankel – Stage and Cinema

SWEET
D is for Dog‘s post-apocalyptic take on the 1950s sitcom rings eerily relevant in Hollywood, where the line between fiction and reality is blurred. A nice coat of film fiction can conceal a world of concerns. How refreshing to see these myths start to peel in a black box theater tucked away on Western Avenue: a reminder of what an imaginative, thought-provoking theater town LA can be.
Sarah Taylor Ellis – Compositions on Theatre

SWEET
The actors are skillful, and their performances are stylish, but the fact that, aside from tormented Mr. Rogers, the characters are patently and intentionally unreal limits their creative possibilities. The play is intriguing and provocative, but its ultimate meaning(s) are murky and unclear.
Neal Weaver – Backstage

SWEET
Now, with D is for Dog, let’s add Rogue Artists to the list of LA companies that should be considered for any future RADAR L.A.
Don Shirley – LA Stage Watch

SWEET
I have done our readers a disservice by not getting to D is for Dog until nearly the end of its run, and I apologize. You only have until August 7 to get to the Studio/Stage Theater at 520 N. Western and see this astonishing play. In a word: GO.
Trevor Thomas – EdgeLosAngeles

SWEET
The Twilight Zone television series was famous for presenting what seemed like normal reality to viewers, only to later reveal some kind of mind-bending twist that shattered expectations. D is for Dog is the theater equivalent of The Twilight Zone. It’s fascinating, disturbing and it challenges perceptions. The play is also wonderfully produced and performed by a talented and energetic cast. The production is marred, however, by logistical confusion and a script that isn’t quite realized. Nevertheless, D is for Dog is a unique and enjoyable concept that is rarely touched on in theater and that any lover of live performances will appreciate.
Rene S. Garcia, Jr. – WorkingAuthor

D IS FOR DOG
Presented by Rogue Artists Ensemble
Studio/Stage
520 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles
8 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. 4 p.m. Sundays. July 1 through Aug. 7, 2011
Tickets: $20; (213) 596-9468
Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes