Freeline Productions, from Orlando, presented Hammered Dog in the Red Venue at Fringe.
Shy, insecure, and emotionally fragile, Sandra (Sarah Lockhard) met the handsome, sexually possessive Ted (Steven Johnson) at a nightclub Sandra was clearly unsure of herself in the loud club, but when she spotted Ted, she perked up. She hesitated before approaching him and when she finally worked up the nerve, he turned to walk away and her drink splashed on his shirt. Her cursed and stormed off. Later she considered cutting herself in the alley, but he intervened, becoming her knight in shining armor. The title of the play came from Ted describing other men he would make fun of at the club. He would watch them get hammered and then try and hit on women. He would laugh at their failures and then hit on the girls himself since he was such a catch. He called these losers Hammered Dogs. I despise those who denigrate others in an attempt to raise their own self-worth.
This chance interaction quickly led to an intense, volatile relationship. He had to be the most self-absorbed and lazy boyfriend of all time. When she offered him a home cooked meal, he insisted she get him a Publix rotisserie chicken instead. It was his one redeeming quality, since Publix does have some good chicken. He was jealous at every turn, saying she was lucky to have found him. He was one of the most repulsive characters I have seen on stage.
Ted’s horrible behavior mirrored behavior she had experienced from her dad in the past. Her only life line was a gay older co-worker (Todd Allen-Long) who helped her out and listened to her, hoping she could get her life back on track. His affection and support would have driven Ted mad. So each intimate conversation was a ticking time bomb.
Under the strain of her obscure past and Ted’s emotional manipulation, her life took a fateful turn. Some wounds never heal.
Tickets for Hammered Dog are $12 plus the $10 Fringe Button.
Only one show date remains and that is tonight:
Sunday, May 26, 2019 9:15 PM to 10:15 PM