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Perhaps the highlight of this New York trip was seeing The Little Dog Laughed at Second Stage Theatre on Friday night. It's a play by Douglas Carter Beane (who wrote that drag movie, To Wong Foo). It's hella gay. And it's hella good.

Now I'm not the biggest theater fag at all so, really, I have no idea what I'm talking about. But I did like this show. A lot. It's the story of an up-and-coming Hollywood star who falls for a (straight) male hustler (with a girlfriend) while in New York to accept an award, a story as told by the star's hilarious agent and beard. I suppose the show says a lot about what it means to be a celebrity and/or a homosexual in the world today, but it really shines when it's about these two men -- the movie star and the hooker -- falling into something. For a play with such a superficial synopsis, there's a surprising amount of heart and humor.

The movie star is played by Neal Huff, whom I also saw (also naked) in Take Me Out a couple years back. I enjoy this guy -- he's got a good everyman sorta presence (even when playing a celebrity). Plus he's got a hot hairy chest and a cute butt. Speaking of naked -- the hustler is played by Johnny Galecki, best known for playing Darlene's boyfriend on Roseanne, and you get to see his (enormous) penis in this play. (Sadly, you don't get to see Neal's.) The nude scene comes after a lot of build up and it's titalating and well deserved. Even when these guys aren't naked, they're sparkling on stage, especially when together. They're both funny, (mostly) sweet, charming, sexy, and heart-breaking.

Aside from the love story here, the highlight of the play is Julie White (whom you may recall from Six Feet Under, or as Nadine from Grace Under Fire). She's the acid-tongued agent and would-be narrator. She's vicious and hilarious throughout the entire play, sometimes vulnerable, always spiteful, and often evil. She's amazing. Loved her! Forget the cock, I would see the play again just to see her.

The set is really well done and the music fits well (it's not a musical at all -- it's just like interludes between scenes). The play's only weak spots may be it's semi-quick finish, which would feel very contrived if we didn't live in a post-TomKat world. The end worked well, very well, but I would've liked another scene or two. And the actress who plays the hustler's girlfriend was cute and funny, but sort of paled compared to the rest of the cast (which probably isn't the actress' fault -- it could just be the character).

Second Stage is a cool theater, too. Very orange. And Randy Harrison, Justin on TV's Queer as Folk, was sitting a couple rows behind me.

What an exciting night at the theatre!

The Little Dog Laughed is at the Second Stage Theatre until January 29th. It's 20sum Approved -- so go see it if you can!