MANSFIELD — It’s true, the comedy show opening at the Mansfield Playhouse this weekend is titled “Men Are Dogs” – but that’s really not fair to the dogs.
The latest offering at the Playhouse may seem a bit one-sided at first blush, but director Doug Wertz insists it’s a show for all audiences.
“It’s absolutely a show for men, and it’s so funny because we can relate to the psychosis that we cause, of course,” Wertz said with a laugh. “As long as we’ve all been around we’ll never understand each other, so it’s something I’m sure we can all relate to.”
“Men Are Dogs” tells the story of Cecilia, a successful psychologist with an overbearing mother and a group of neurotic patients with serious man issues. Through both individual and group therapy sessions, the women interact with a part-time male actor through therapeutic “role playing.”
“Just the group therapy sessions alone are worth the price of a ticket,” Wertz said. “The characters are just wonderful, you find out a little about each of her patients about who they are, why they’re there, and how they express their own … aggressions.”
Playing Cecilia is Playhouse veteran Carla Eighinger of Mansfield. She reveals that her character was once in a relationship, but her husband died unexpectedly.
“He died before she had kids, her nitpicking mother just moved in upstairs after her third divorce and she’s constantly badgering her to go out and meet men,” Eighinger said. “But she’s just not quite ready, because they’re all creeps in her mind.”
Eighinger said she enjoys that her character is straightforward with her patients, even though she may also be a bit hypocritical.
“I like that she’s kind of snarky with people, she always has some sort of a comeback,” she said. “But as the show progresses, you really do start to see that she’s vulnerable in the relationship part of her life, even though that’s what she’s trained for and counsels others for.”
Part of that counseling involves group therapy sessions with an actor named Tony who, as Wertz describes it, doesn’t realize he’s about to become a victim.
“He’s confident that he’ll be able to handle this divorced and single women’s group, but it doesn’t turn out as well as he thinks it will,” Wertz said.
Playing Tony on stage is Ryan Kiley, who describes his character as “an egotistical jerk.”
“But that changes really quick,” Kiley added with a laugh. “By the end of the show – I can’t give anything away, but he changes drastically from what he was to what he becomes.”
Joining Kiley and Eighinger on stage are Renee Rebman, Kevin Hutchison, Johnna Gustafson, Jodi McCall, Kanashay Greyeagle and Mary Schalmo. Wertz said the cast is a nice mix of Playhouse veterans as well as newcomers to the stage.
“We have some very seasoned people on stage, and it’s nice to pull something new behind the motivation they need to portray their characters,” Wertz said. “Seeing that growth has been fun; even though it’s a comedy, there are still real moments and there’s a psychology behind every character you’re playing.”
“Men Are Dogs” opens at the Mansfield Playhouse at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. Additional performances are Feb. 25, March 3 and March 4 at 8 p.m. and March 5 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 419-522-2883.
“Any single out in the field can relate to this, but they have to relate to it with a sense of humor,” Wertz said. “There are some tender moments – however few – and it’s great fun.”
For Kiley, the show has brought a moment of self-reflection.
“We really are dogs,” he said. “You actually do learn a little bit of stuff about how to treat women a little better, which all men should do. But we won’t change, you have to learn to love us the way we are.”
