Review By Ashlei Havili Thomas, Front Row Reviewers
You never quite know what to expect when seeing the inaugural production of a new theatre company, but Sentinel Theatre’s Dogfight in American Fork, Utah, didn’t hold any punches. This musical with lyrics and music by the Tony-award-winning duo Pasek and Paul drops you straight into the 60s, the Vietnam War and Chubby Checker doing the twist. With a brilliantly executed set design, star stunning vocals, and a live band, Dogfight brings the house down with a bombshell performance. Look out Utah County, Sentinel Theatre is here and raring to go.
Animal cruelty is the first thing in many peoples’ minds when they hear the word “dogfight,” but Sentinel Theatre’s production of Dogfight isn’t that. The story follows Eddy, a returning veteran of Vietnam where his whole unit is killed, as he’s taken back to the events of his last night in the US before shipping off to fight. There we see Eddy and his unit start a “dogfight,” a contest to bring the ugliest girl to the dance and win the betting pool. Through the night, Eddy’s masculinity and morality are challenged, leaving him trying to figure out what a war hero should be. Sentinel Theatre perfectly balances the gritty undertones of the musical with wit, grace, and young love to create a production that anyone can enjoy.
Dogfight has its love duo, but the showstopper of this production is the phenomenal ensemble, including six men as Eddy’s unit. Sam Bennet (Bernstein) and Nathan Bowser (Boland) create an unreal trio with Adam Moore (Eddy), creating a sound like the rock bands of the early 2000s. The unit is rounded out with Beck Mercury (Stevens), Noah Walton (Fector) and Ricky Tovar (Gibbs) for a raucous good time with enough machismo to fill an ocean liner. Often Bennet and Bowser act as an antithesis for Moore, creating a tension that pulls Eddy into their ideas of manliness, war, and heroism. The interactions between Moore and the ghosts of his comrades is heartbreaking, with nary a dry eye left in the audience. The six actors are impeccably cohesive, masterfully designing this group of young men who are reckless and unafraid of war, when they should be. Noteworthy mention to River Robinson as Marcy and Peggy, as well as Ioane Camacho as Pete and the lounge singer. Both Robinson and Camacho add a levity to the production with deft precision, giving the audience a breath of a laugh before diving back into the drama of the piece.
Moore’s character arc leaves the audience both cursing him and cheering him on in equal measure, while Alison Gordon sweeps the floor with her outstanding performance as Rose. When Rose punches Eddy, there was an audible gasp followed by a rousing cheer for Gordon. Gordon highlights Rose’s innocence without irony, creating a multidimensional character with heart and spunk that the audience loves. Moore and Gordon together create a perfect balance both vocally and with the romantic tension between their characters. This dynamite duo leaves the audience craving more, wishing to glimpse more of their story after curtain call.
It would be remiss of this critic to not mention the phenomenal design and production team of Sentinel Theatre. The scenic and lighting design by Caleb Wallengren along with the sound design by Chari Bennett turns a barebones, three level stage into a warzone, a dive bar, a Greyhound bus and more with a masterful touch. Many of the audience members could also be overheard commenting on the on-theme concessions that were a hit, inviting the audience to enjoy the atmosphere of a 60s movie theater. All in all, Sentinel Theatre is making waves, putting itself as a contestant for best theatre in Utah County.
While Dogfight is a rousing, nostalgic show, Sentinel Theatre does provide a content warning, making this a PG-13 or R rated show. Nevertheless, this is not a show to skip. Sentinel Theatre and the production team headed by Bennett do a wonderful job handling some of the more sensitive aspects of the show, melding grit and heart to bring to life an unmistakably tender experience. This show defies expectations, asking questions of the audience like, “What does a hero look like?” and “What inhibits connection?” Go to Sentinel Theatre’s Dogfight and see if you can glimpse the answers in this once-in-a-lifetime musical, here in American Fork, Utah.
Sentinel Theatre presents Dogfight with music and lyrics by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Peter Duchan.
The Valentine Theatre, 839 E 9th N, American Fork, UT 84003
Dates: April 4, 5, 7, 10-12 7:30PM
Tickets: $25
Sentinel Theatre Instagram
Sentinel Theatre Facebook page
0 Comments