Sylvia

by A.R. Guerney

Librarian's Note: Alternate cover edition for ISBN 978-0822214960

Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg's career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate's career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found in the park or that has found him bearing only the name "Sylvia" on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and Poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of this job and the unknowns of middle age. To Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection. And Sylvia thinks Kate just doesn't understand the relationship between man and dog. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Humor, Relationships, Comedy, Fiction

133 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very clever. Husband Greg brings home a dog from the park, to wife Kate's annoyance. Since this is a play, and her part is extensive, and because Greg is fixated on the dog as if she was a human (and treats her as something of an alternative to his wife), the part of Sylvia is played by a human actor. This is very funny, but it's also insightful about relationships, jealousies, the ways we attach to animals, about midlife crisis, and about the way that exposure to the outdoors can bring out dissatisfaction with our interior lives.

The nice thing is that I think both dog lovers and those who sometimes find their family and friends overly solicitous to their pets would find plenty to enjoy here. I have enjoyed other Gurney plays, but this one is something new and different.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is adorable. I am such a biophile and I loved the psychoanalysis of the Greg/Sylvia relationship. This text is cute and funny.

[Lauren Merrifield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this one very much. I kept picturing in my head what it would look like onstage and it made me uncomfortable. I feel like I would get secondhand embarrassment for the actress who is playing Sylvia. It doesn't sound fun. The characters were pretty good though. It was interesting to see how their lives changed when Sylvia was introduced. I didn't like how everything was about her, though. It seemed like all anyone could ever talk about in this world was Sylvia. It was annoying because even though she's the title character, she's not the center of the universe.

[Juliette II · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gah, I freaking loved this show until the end. Very sudden, and slightly inexplicable wrap-up. Regardless, a bonkers show that examines our relationships with pets. Single, simple set that is adapted to suit multiple settings. Sound a requirement to set the scene. Six characters- three can be played by one person or you can dole out some smaller roles.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So adorable but kind of sad and heartbreaking. I really liked reading the voice of a dog. Sylvia as a character was really important and interesting and this is a story concept I haven't seen too often but really enjoyed.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read! Will be especially great if you love or have a dog/dogs. Explores dog and human relationships in a way that is tangible for humans to understand to the dog’s perspectives. Loved it and cried at the end. Dogs are the best. Also the play is a love letter to New York. 🐶🌃

[Janée Baugher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say too much without spoilers. As a dog lover, it does seem plausible to me that a spouse might find himself/herself in a position of vying for the type of love that the dog enjoys unconditionally.

[spanning skylines · Rating 4 out of 5]

didn't suck as much as i thought it would...didn't love it either. i dont think it holds up thematically, BUT, it's pretty funny and lowkey canon enby/trans character from a play written in the 90s???

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars. This doesn't hold up very well in the human world, although Sylvia is fun and entertaining.

[Lainie Vansant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fun, but it hasn't aged super well since 1996.

[Em]

i’m really not a dog person so i didn’t totally Get this. but whatever

[Debra Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly hysterical!

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

just trying to imagine how to stage this feels utterly humiliating for all parties involved.

[Casey Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ca

[Lauren Kost · Rating 4 out of 5]

this play is actually hilarious and i love it.

[mengwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was actually super interesting! i would love to see it staged! at first i was like what is happening 😂 (in a good way!) but by the second quarter i was locked in! i recommend!

[behsforensics]

Cutting is for Sylvia
By A.R. Gurney

[maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

so true

[Anna Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this play and I loved imagining Sarah Jessica Parker as Sylvia. Honestly, perfect casting and I would’ve loved to see the original production.

[Arianna Schrage · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute! didn’t like the end! but feel like this would be so fun to see live!!!

[Zhihao Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun play! Loved the opposites of Greg and Kate and I believe these characters are so human and really do help explore more about the human condition.

[Michael Galvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly had a blast reading this play! It was funny and heartwarming!

[Kristal Stidham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barring Shakespeare in school, this is the first play I've read -- and then only because it's one of the checkmarks I need to make for a reading challenge. I picked this particular play because it was referenced heavily in a book I recently read (The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead by Douglas Green) and it sounded good. And it IS good... but I think, as a book reader, I expected more. Realistically, I guess, many of the best parts of this story would be added by the actors. I can see how Sylvia could be one of the all-time greatest parts for a really talented actress. I'm going to pass this to a member of my community theater and see if they'll give it a go.

[Alexander Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story on a relationship on the rocks when a married couple find themselves finally without kids at home. And no, it's not because of the addition of another woman... Well not exactly. When Greg brings home Sylvia, a dog he bonded with in the park, it throws his world with his wife Kate for a loop. Kate and Sylvia both duke it out for attention from Greg who is clearly oblivious to the problem of having two loves in his life. I would love to see this play because Sylvia is actually played by an actress and can talk to Greg and Kate throughout the show. Seems cool. This is not your typical love triangle, that's for sure!

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who performed this as Sylvia, I can testify that this piece is brilliantly written and leaves many insights to be found throughout. I fell in love with the piece quickly and have yet to find a way to stop quoting it all the time.

[G. Derek Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really clever script, that dips into some absurdist territory - I enjoyed it but wished it would have gone farther in that territory. Very affecting for dog-lovers -- somewhat annoyed at the denouement, it felt unnecessary and cheap.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick paced and honestly funny comedy. I'd love to see it performed.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun throughout. The notion of dog as mistress -- well what dog owner hasn't been through that? The close is rather too cute and cheesy, given the actual darkness of the play.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Add this to my "would die to have the chance to act in" play list.

[Lyric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little play. The world and language of dogs is a fun experience. Sylvia is a very cute character and her relationship with the other characters in the play is heartwarming.