A Night at the Dogs

Synopsis

Four mechanics form a syndicate to buy a racing greyhound whose winnings they hope will change their lives. On the night of the dog's first race, the men are ambushed by a colleague and, in a surprising reckoning, they learn an unexpected lesson about family, fathers and fortune.

Our Review:

13 April 2005

Matt Charman is a young playwright with a sharp eye and a quick ear. His play, winner of the Verity Bargate award 2004, begins with some cracking dialogue - funny, quick, true-to-life and nicely differentiated for each of the characters in this enclosed male world.

Three workmates from a crash repair shop - Carl, Lionel and Chalky - await the arrival of Rick in Carl’s sparsely furnished East London flat. Rick, the fourth member of their newly-formed syndicate, is bringing the greyhound that they hope will deliver riches as well as a guaranteed good night out at the track. Also present is Carl’s brighter brother Danny (Joe Armstrong exuding world-weary loyalty) who is prevailed upon to stay. But Rick is not the next to arrive. Carl has been showing off about the syndicate and, unbeknown to the others, has invited the group’s line manager Paul (nicknamed Punchy) to join. The moment Paul, a strapping David Hounslow, enters, so does a whiff of menace.

Charman is very go...

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Latest User Review

217.33.15.251) - 28 April 2005:

Excellent production. Both in terms of the script, but also the acting: superb. Cleverly tackles perception of homosexuality and associated intolerance, subtly linking with various kinds of socially tolerated interpersonal abuse. I particularly liked Mark Hadfield's portrayal of Chalky, but then I think he is a brilliant actor in whatever he does....

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