Bowser Bialystock

Dear Dog Lady,

I was fortunate enough to attend the opening night of "The Producers" in Boston. The road company was terrific. I was also quite lucky (not through my own clout but through the largesse of a generous friend) to be sitting across the aisle from Mel Brooks, the comic genius behind the hilarious musical, and Brooks' wife, actress Anne Bancroft, who looks fabulous.

Throughout the show, which I loved, I spied on Brooks. He didn't see me staring because he was wrapped up in his Broadway baby. He smiled, laughed, sang along, clapped vigorously. By now, the man must have seen "The Producers" a million times. He wrote both the 1968 movie and the Tony award-overloaded musical. Yet, the whole shebang seemed new and exciting to him.

Brooks reminded me of my dog, Rascal, who chases and retrieves the same tennis ball until the fuzz is gone, the rubber wears away, and the ball cracks in half. No matter how many times Rascal fetches the ball, my dog romps and enjoys the game like the first time he played it.

Tell me, Dog Lady, in another life, do you think Mel Brooks was a dog?

Nathan, Providence, RI

Nathan, Dog Lady knows nuthin' of past lives nor of future incarnations. However, in the moment, Mel Brooks does have a lot in common with a dog -- your dog, my dog, all merrily manic mutts.

There are certain blessed humans who have a free-spirited canine sensibility. They enjoy life. They chase their tennis ball dreams with exuberance. They don't care what anyone thinks of them. They are not bound up by political correctness. They probably sleep well. They also must have long and satisfying relationships with partners who love them just the way they are through all the years of growls, snarls, snores, slurps and fart jokes (a Brooks specialty). And they love back unconditionally, I imagine.

Perhaps that night at "The Producers" you not only saw your Rascal in Mel Brooks but you also witnessed something more meaningful: A rascally model of a contented man. Mel (and Dog Lady doesn't know him but wishes she did) not only has piles of money but lots of joie d' vivre. He obviously enjoys his life, which shines through in his dizzying, dazzling "Producers." You can't ask for anything else in this world -- except a dog.

By the way, don't you think "Bialystock" is a great name for a dog? Dog Lady pictures a galumphy, slobbery, slap-happy puppy whose eyes turn shifty whenever there's food to be stolen.

Posted by Dog Lady at June 28, 2003 08:56 PM