User reviews for The Little Dog Laughed on London-Theatreland

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Number of Reviews: 15

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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

A sassy, witty satirical romp , Jan 11, 2010

reviewer: Wesley from London - See all reviews by Wesley

This play makes a for really enjoyable night out, and reviewers who say it lacks emotional depth are missing the point. It's very much a New York gay writer's take on Hollywood hypocrisy over gay actors, which makes its point through laughter and plot device rather than by grabbing us with heart-rending tension. Tamsin Greig's performance is stand out and very funny as the agent determined to keep her star in the closet. The male leads are pleasant to look at, at times touching ( in both senses) and their romance not unconvincing ; perhaps the bisexual hustler's relationship with the girl works less well, although her dilemna is archetypal. This play isn't trying to be Anna Karenina or My night with Ted - it's a jolly, amusing night out which skates over emotional depths in exactly the same way as the Holywood it is satirising.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Funny, loveable and deeper than everyone else is making out , Jan 14, 2010

reviewer: Anonymous from Anytown, AT 55555 - See all reviews by Anonymous

THIS PLAY IS GOOD!
Well written, with exciting characters, I'm a little confused as to why people dislike this play.
It is true that Tamsin Grieg dominates the play, but the rest of the cast make up a well formed team. Rupert Friend is quietly convincing and believable as a man struggling with the pressures of fame on his private life. Harry Lloyd is the best performer, aside from Grieg, who has more experience. He is an amazing and talented actor who brought a loveable quality and sexiness to the role. Unfortunaltey, the role that Gemma Arterton has is a bit of an annoying character who just seems to get in the way a bit. But she plays the role expertly, showing a lonely but selfish socialite.
I loved this play and when I saw it on the 9th, i followed a stream of people in tears at it's realistic and bittersweet ending.
A play that will stay with you for a long time, this play is important to understanding how Hollywood works, and well worth £40 for a good ticket!!

5 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

Cynical and pathetic, Jan 10, 2010

reviewer: John from London - See all reviews by John

This is the sort of play to put you off theatre for
life. The script and plot was laughable whilst
taking itself ever so seriously. I kept being
reminded of the RENT parody in Team America.
You could occasionally see in their eyes that the
actors knew as much. Friend and Lloyd put in a
tolerable performances - although both struggled
to make their frequent mood swings believable -
but Greig and Arterton were shrill and desperate.
The staging was bizarre - beds appearing in some
scenes only to disappear in others - so that Alex
and Mitchell were sleeping together on the floor
for no apparent reason. The spotlighting for
'important speeches' frequently missed the
performers, and the bedroom scenes were so
bright they wouldn't feel out of place in an
episode of Hollyoaks. The only upside to this
cynical staging of an appalling play was that it
falls into the so-bad-it's-good category - a rare
feat.

4 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

WHAT A DOG!, Jan 10, 2010

reviewer: John and Anna from London, UK - See all reviews by John and Anna

After nearly forty years of theatre-going in the West End, this play ranks among the worst we have even seen. The script was paper thin and the acting dull and incompetent, with the notable exception of Tamsin Greig, who struggled valiantly to keep the show going. Hence the one star. The script was leaden and the production awful. There was no chemistry between the two male leads, poor diction and the minimalist set and lighting would have been an embarrasment to an amateur dramatics society.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

This little dog laughed..., Jan 09, 2010

reviewer: Thos from London - See all reviews by Thos

Tamsin Greig is a dominating presence in this entertaining, if superficial, satire on Hollywood attitudes. Almost excessively glamorous in a series of impressive outfits, Greig shows a clean pair of 6-inch heels to amiable, competent face-of-the-moment, Gemma Arterton - of course, Greig's role as an ambitious, cynical agent is the best in the play by miles. Her brilliant timing and delivery bring most of the laughs in the show, though the relentless loudness of the character risks monotony: although entirely true to the role, perhaps she will find a bit more variation in pace and tone as the previews continue. Rupert Friend as the covertly homosexual movie star has a composed stage presence, quietly charismatic and persuasive. Harry Lloyd as Friend's boyfriend is fluent and amusing, but the attraction between him and Friend's movie star does not convince. Still, stylishly staged and performed with verve and pace, the talented cast make the best of a not-very-deep play.

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