Before there was Neil Armstrong, or Captain Kirk, or Han Solo, there was Layka. Pronounced “Leica” (like the camera), this cute mongrel, plucked from the streets of Moscow, became one of the first animals in space, and the first animal to orbit the Earth, in November 1957.
Layka and 39 other space-bound dogs are the subject of “Space Dogs,” a goofy but energetic little musical, written and performed by Nick Blaemire and Van Hughes, about the competition between the Americans and the Soviets to dominate outer space.
Those of a certain age may recall that space travel was still in its infancy back in the late 1950s. Monkeys, bears and other live animals were projected into space—mostly by the Soviets—before such an adventure was considered safe for humans.
Rather than live dogs to tell the tale, Nick and Van (who in their enthusiasm are not unlike puppy dogs themselves) use stuffed animals—making them speak, sing, dance, play the piano, and strapping them into a faux Sputnik space ship (which they call “Muttnick”). This anthropomorphism may remind playgoers of the musical “Avenue Q” from years back. Should this sounds unbearably corny at first blush, the musical numbers (the one about Werner von Braun is a standout) are smart and witty enough to make you sit up and beg for more.
Question: why anyone in their right mind would be interested in a musical about dogs in space? Answer: take a look at your neighbors or within your own household. Everybody (with the possible exception of Donald Trump) loves dogs. And the toy dogs in this production will have even the most hardened theatergoers
baying at the moon by show’s end.
“Stray Dogs” is a production of MCC, not a theater company known for turning out dogs. Two arfs up.
Ugh, it was a meandering, repetitive, and stupid piece of dog shit, shrouded in fancy lights and video. Simply a terrible night wasted. I assume, you, like most of the audience who saw it the night we were there, are related to the cast.