Exposing Hollywood’s closeted side

Exposing Hollywood’s closeted side

Think movie stars, a rent boy and homosexuality -” The Little Dog Laughed is a play about a successful actor, Mitchell Green (played by James Millar), and his struggle with being in the closet.

Trying to hit the big time, Green falls for a rent boy (played by Lindsay Farris) while his agent, Diane, tries hard to hide his sexuality as she’s certain it will affect his work opportunities -” ring any bells?

Directed by Andrew Doyle, the play questions what we must sacrifice for the sake of financial gain or pleasing the punters. Actor James Millar said the play is not afraid to ask questions about the manipulation of the truth in someone’s personal life in order to -˜keep them safe’ in their professional life.

In this play, this is dealt with in the context of an actor, his homosexuality and disguising it in order to give him a better shot at potentially rising to bigger and brighter places in Hollywood, he said.

He drinks too much and has secret dalliances in order to satisfy a kind of kindling rage he has developed. He looks to others for answers that, in many cases, only he can answer because they apply to his own heart.

It’s a play about relationships and how the wants and needs of each of the characters directly affects everyone else. [Playwright] Douglas Carter Beane has woven them together really intricately.

Millar co-wrote and starred in the musicals The Hatpin and Love Bites and most recently appeared in Gutenberg! The Musical! and Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Sydney Opera House.

The Little Dog Laughed is set to expose the sordid side of the entertainment industry.

As an actor I like pieces that are entertaining for their audience first and foremost, Millar said.

It’s a brilliantly written play and is so enjoyable to perform in because it’s fast-paced and funny while still asking big questions about our personal truths, and how sometimes we hide them for professional reasons.

info: The Little Dog Laughed plays at the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli from Thursday 9 July until Saturday 15 August. Tickets start at $39. Bookings on 9929 0644 or at ensemble.com.au

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