Sylvia at the New Theatre Restaurant is a Tail-Wagging Romp

At the conclusion of the performance of Sylvia, the current production at the New Theatre Restaurant, I couldn’t wait to get home. Not because I didn’t enjoy the show—au contraire, I loved it!---but because I couldn’t wait to hug my dogs.

Sylvia is a dog-lover’s delight. Cindy Williams (of the former ABC-TV sitcom, Laverne and Shirley), Jim Korinke (New Theatre veteran and star of more than 150 area productions), and Cathy Barnett (who proves herself to be a hilarious comic actress, deftly carrying three roles—male, female, and gender-indeterminate) all act their parts with aplomb, but it is Broadway performer Susan Louise O’Connor, the human woman who portrays the dog, Sylvia, who steals the show. (W.C. Fields’ famous quote, “Never work with animals or children” might be amended to read “Never work with a human who acts like an animal.”)

What’s even crazier than having a human woman portray a dog is the play’s premise: the husband, wife, and dog are all involved in a romantic love triangle. The wife and the stray dog that the husband found roaming in Central Park are in a fierce competition for the husband’s affection. And, for most of the play, Sylvia, the dog, is winning.

And, guess what? The play works, mainly because O’ Connor channels her “inner mutt” well enough to pull the whole thing off. Narrow your eyes just a little, and you’d swear you were peering at a cocker spaniel instead of a beautiful New York actress.

O’ Connor gets all the expressions, body language, and emotions down pat. Just watch her as her new owner (Korinke) bends down to pet her and tell her she’s a “good dog.” You can be absolutely sure from the look on her face that she’s “in the Zone.” Any dog owner worth his/her kibble will be familiar with that look of complete Nirvana a canine gets when the master is caressing her.

Of course, since it’s the New Theatre Restaurant, you not only get a fantastic show, but also a grand buffet worthy of one of the world’s finest restaurants. Chef Mark Webster, who has earned some of the highest levels of certification in the culinary profession, outdoes himself during the run of this show with all sorts of amazing dishes—a vegetable medley, edamame (the pineapple, ginger, and soy glaze is remarkable), baked broccoli mornay, pasta arrezzio, baby red potatoes, polenta, ancho pork, salmon fillet, fried chicken, and roasted beef shoulder tenderloins (extremely succulent and tender). If you feel adventurous, try the grilled boneless chicken and emerald rice—you won’t be disappointed.

Special mention must be made of the sauces accompanying several of the entrees. They are all so extraordinary (with very interesting combinations of flavors), and are perfect accompaniments to the meal.

Save some room for the warm and wonderful chocolate cobbler for dessert. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream, crunchy toffee candy, and freshly toasted almonds---and probably shouldn’t even be legal.

But there’s something even more special and heartwarming about this production. Thanks to the efforts of animal lover Cindy Williams and New Theatre co-owners Richard Carrothers and Dennis Hennessy (who have twelve rescue dogs between them), more than 70 dogs are getting a chance at adoption during Sylvia, which runs through January 16, 2011. Each night, to “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience, Cindy and one of her costars bring a sweet, adorable, cuddly—and homeless—dog onstage at the end of the show. If someone from the audience wants to adopt the dog from Animal Haven (a no-kill shelter in Merriam, KS), New Theatre will pay half the adoption fee.

The night I attended the play, my waitress told me that about half the dogs presented after the shows had already been adopted. These lucky dogs may very well owe their future happiness in their “forever” homes to the New Theatre Restaurant’s directors—and Cindy Williams.

So you might not only get to see a very funny play and partake of excellent cuisine when you come to the New Theatre Restaurant’s Sylvia, but you could also come home with your new very best friend.

Sylvia runs through January 16, 2011 at the New Theatre Restaurant. Call 913-649-7469 for tickets or go to www.newtheatre.com.