Dog Opera
by Constance Congdon

Name: Dog Opera
Brand: Constance Congdon
SKU: 9780573695742
Rating: 4.45 (15 reviews)

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Reduced Casting (Doubling Possible) Unit Set/Multiple Settings American Comedy

Synopsis

Comedy / Characters: 5 male 2 female

Scenery Requirements: Simple set

Peter and Madeline have been friends since they were teenagers in Queens.

They have Manhattan apartments and separate unsatisfactory sex lives.

Though more loving than most couples and searching for partners they are incompatible: he is gay.

Maddi is overweight and drawn to men who treat her badly.

He hides behind snappy retorts and skepticism.

Maddie's alcoholic mother Peter's father lovers pickups and friends with A

Press Reviews

"Insinuates itself into the consciousness like a conversation in the next booth at a diner... Everything slowly comes together to form a coherent, sometimes funny and finally moving contemporary comedy... It's a singular work created by an imagination of redeeming freedom and eccentricity."
— The New York Times

"Nicely observed in every small, telling moment... The relationship between Pete and Maddy feels exactly right from the opening scene, which has the two of them not-so-subtly cruising passers-by."
— Variety

"Congdon consistently rides the wave(s) of human emotion, from the laugh-out-loud funny to the deeply dramatic... Though the play initially opened in 1995, its themes of tragedy, pathos, jealousy, and pride are as relevant today as ever."
— Jonathan Alexandratos, Once More With Geekery

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Madeline Newell 35+, insecure about her looks, chubby or more, heterosexual, very VERY funny, good blue-collar Catholic girl raised in Queens who made the very long trip into Manhattan to go to NYU so she could have an interesting life.	female	—	35+, insecure about her looks, chubby or more, heterosexual, very VERY funny, good blue-collar Catholic girl raised in Queens who made the very long trip into Manhattan to go to NYU so she could have an interesting life.
Charlie Szczepanek 58 or so, about to retire from the NYPD where he's had a desk job after 20 years as a homicide detective an ten years on the beat. A widower of several years and Pete's father.	male	—	58 or so, about to retire from the NYPD where he's had a desk job after 20 years as a homicide detective an ten years on the beat. A widower of several years and Pete's father.
Bernice Newell early sixties, not in good health, bur irascible and matter-of-fact. Tough old broad, Madeline's mother.	female	—	early sixties, not in good health, bur irascible and matter-of-fact. Tough old broad, Madeline's mother.
Jackie 17, from Midwest, on the street for a year or so, a hooker who dances to taped music.	—	—	17, from Midwest, on the street for a year or so, a hooker who dances to taped music.
Steven an anal, cheerful date of Peter's	—	—	an anal, cheerful date of Peter's
Joe'S Lover 30+. speaks at Joe's memorial service	—	—	30+. speaks at Joe's memorial service
Chris	—	—	—
David	—	—	—
Brad	—	—	—
Ruby	—	—	—
Hank	—	—	—
Starvos	—	—	—
Dale Williamson	—	—	—
Doris	—	—	—
Sanny	—	—	—
Arapahoe	—	—	—
Peter Szczepanek 35+, insecure about his looks, secure about his homosexuality, vulnerable, very VERY funny, good blue-collar Catholic boy raised in Queens who made the very long trip into Manhattan to have an interesting life.	female	—	35+, insecure about his looks, secure about his homosexuality, vulnerable, very VERY funny, good blue-collar Catholic boy raised in Queens who made the very long trip into Manhattan to have an interesting life.