WISH-LIST WEDNESDAY: Dogfight

Artwork for the 2014 London production of "Dogfight"

Before they took the worlds of stage and screen by storm with works like Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, and The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote a little known musical about badly behaved G.I. soldiers about to head off to fight in the Vietnam War. That musical was "Dogfight", a story about toxic masculinity, misogyny, body shaming and finding human connection in unexpected places; it premiered off-broadway in 2012, with an impressive cast featuring early career performances by eventual Tony winners and nominees Lindsey Mendez, Derek Klena and Annaleigh Ashford.

We all know that young American G.I's in the 1960s weren't exactly known for being the most kind, benevolent, or even pleasant individuals, and this is highlighted by the notion of an "ugliest date" contest that is held between a group of recent military graduates on their final night before being shipped off to war. Our primary protagonist is Eddie Birdlace, and we begin with him on the bus back home from the war, as he reminisces about the time four years prior when he and his closest friends, Boland and Bernstein, once tricked women to date them in a misogynistic contest to reward the one whose date was the biggest "dog" from the pack with a cash prize.

Lindsey Mendez and Derek Klena in "Dogfight" off-broadway in 2012

The development of Eddie from slimy to sympathetic and guilt-ridden is at the forefront of the narrative, and in lieu of his initially shallow personality, he develops feelings for his chosen girl Rose, a waitress and musician, as they bond over dinner as the other soldiers continue with their night of debauchery. Though the show has been criticised for its showcasing of sexist and outdated attitudes, it also displays a great deal of emotional depth, as well as having a rich, beautifully composed score by Pasek and Paul. It has also premiered in London, playing Southwark Playhouse in 2014, with Jamie Muscato starring as Eddie, however it has been a good while since we last saw any sort of professional production staged, so perhaps it's time this highly underrated musical made a comeback soon...

Have you ever seen "Dogfight"? What's your favourite song from the show? Let me know in the comments, or in the corresponding post on my Instagram page.