Fresh from a divorce and newly crammed into a tiny Brooklyn flat, Sarita is trying to rebuild her life. She may not have all the answers, but she knows one thing: she is definitely not a dog person.
Then a scruffy stray appears on her doorstep and refuses to take the hint. Suddenly Sarita is navigating dog parks, meddling dog owners, and a canine companion who seems convinced they’re soulmates.
As her carefully ordered life descends into comic chaos, Sarita discovers that sometimes the family you end up with is better than the one you planned.
Dog Mom is an offbeat and heartfelt comedy about starting over, finding your people, and learning that love occasionally arrives covered in mud.
Review by Richard Lambert.
We all know that a dog is an angel without wings, sent to save us, and Dog Mom is a heartwarming comedy that explores just how profoundly a four-legged companion can change our lives.
The story follows a single woman whose relationship has broken down and who is moving into a new apartment alone. On the very same day, a stray dog from the streets decides that she is her person and promptly moves in. Initially reluctant to take responsibility for her unexpected visitor, she takes her to the pound, only to fear that she will be put down. Unable to leave her to that fate, she takes her home and names her Foster. What follows is a journey of bonding, laughter and discovery as this initially hesitant woman gradually embraces her new identity as a dog mom.
The set is beautifully constructed, establishing the exterior of an apartment building with a sofa bench on stage. The action moves between the street, the apartment and the dog park, creating a flexible setting for the unfolding story.
As with the wonderful play Sylvia, the dogs in Dog Mom are portrayed by human actors. It is a theatrical device that works well here, with each dog’s individual personality carefully developed. The attention to their mannerisms and characterisation suggests a genuine love and understanding of our canine companions, while the ensemble acting is superb. The first half is full of humour and comic situations, making for a thoroughly entertaining experience. In the second half, however, the tone takes a darker turn as Foster develops a medical condition, bringing a more poignant and emotional dimension to the story.
While the cast are strong overall, the lead performer has moments of uncertainty, with some hesitation over her lines and occasionally seems a little unsettled. Some small mannerisms, such as brushing her hair back behind her ears, momentarily draw attention, further interrupting the flow of performance.
The lighting, direction and costumes are all effective, but one design element proves particularly perplexing. A video wall behind the set becomes visible through the gauze, yet the imagery appears only in sporadic, inconsistent sections. Odd panels of what should be the relevant scene or location appear without any clear visual logic, creating a disjointed effect that feels unnecessary rather than enhancing the production.
As a dog owner myself, I found much to identify with in the situations and themes explored. The production captures the joy, companionship and emotional investment that come with sharing your life with a dog. I laughed, I cried, and I found myself genuinely moved. While some aspects of the technical staging and lead performance could be more polished, Dog Mom remains an enjoyable and emotionally engaging production, particularly for anyone who has ever loved a dog.
Cast
Vinita Belani — Sarita
Patty Gallagher — Foster
Tom Barnes — Ruben
Joey Holden — Nell
Jarreau Antoine — Ensemble
Creatives
Tate Elizabeth Hanyok — Writer
Ajay Chowdhury — Director and Producer
Sean Cavanagh — Designer
Oliver Brown — Lighting Designer and Production Manager
Naveen Bhatia — Sound Designer
Vinita Belani — Producer
Annie-Celeste Taylor — Stage Manager
