The Lady here is a hunting dog with an avid taste for Pop Tarts, but her story is only one strand in Craig Wright’s complex tale of three old friends on a hunting trip. Lady’s friend and owner is Kenny (Matt Kirkwood), a goodhearted slacker who spends his days watching old movies and smoking the medical marijuana supplied to his cancer-afflicted wife. He hates political talk because, like Rodney King, he wants everybody to just get along, though there’s little chance of that once Dyson (Shawn Michael Patrick) and Graham (Mark Doer) get together. Dyson served as a campaign manager for Graham during his successful run for Congress on the Democratic ticket. Once elected, Graham turned neocon Republican, ardently supporting American supremacy and the Iraq War. Militant pacifist Dyson regards this as betrayal and blames Graham for his son’s decision to join the Marines and risk his life in Iraq. Wright’s taut drama is less political debate than examination of the unpredictable ways in which conflicting ideologies undermine old loyalties, bonds of friendship fray, and lurking hostilities turn murderous. Scott Alan Smith directs with a sure, subtle hand, eliciting eloquent performances from his three actors on Stephen Gifford’s handsome, semi-abstract set.
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: April 25. Continues through June 28, 2008

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.