Sylvia

When: Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Continues through June 22 2019

Greg is middle-aged and restless, particularly when it comes to his job, which he's tired of. When he finds a stray dog in the park, he names her Sylvia and brings her home. His wife, Kate, is not as smitten with the dog as Greg, but reluctantly agrees to let her stay for a few days while they figure out what to do. In this little window of happiness, Greg and Sylvia enjoy long walks together while Greg tells Sylvia his life story and avoids work, all of which alienates Kate. Can their marriage survive another woman, even if she is a dog? A.R. Gurney's Sylvia is a comedy about the importance of really connecting with someone — dogs, wives, husbands, whomever — in which the dog is played by a human woman for comedic and empathetic reasons. Stray Dog Theatre presents Sylvia at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (June 6 to 22) at the Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue; www.straydogtheatre.org). Tickets are $25 to $30.

— Paul Friswold