Review Space Dogs (The Other Palace)
Broadway writers Nick Blaemire and Van Hughes are bringing their show Space Dogs to The Other Palace, based on the true story of Sputnik (may Laika rest in peace!).
The Other Palace is famous for being the birthplace of new musicals—think of shows like Heathers, Redcliffe, and so many others. It’s the go-to venue for workshops and the earliest stages of a production, which is exactly why The Other Palace Studio is such a special place. The small stage, surrounded by audience seating on two sides, makes the environment deeply intimate and instantly gives any show an extra-special touch.
Before seeing Space Dogs, I didn’t really know what to expect other than that it was about dogs and space (given the title!). As a dog lover, that was more than enough to trigger my interest. Normally when you step into a theatre, it’s filled with themed merchandise for the show you’re seeing.
However, because Hot Mess was playing in the main auditorium, the lobby was overloaded with Hot Mess merch instead! I collected my ticket from the press desk alongside an info sheet about the show, cast, and creatives, which felt very promising.
Photo by Alex Brenner
Entering the Studio and taking in the stage details made me super enthusiastic. Two flags were displayed alongside a piano and a dog standing on a globe—which I instantly fell in love with!
It's worth keeping in mind that Space Dogs is performed by just two actors. They step into multiple characters while managing their own live music, light design, and basically everything else on stage. Set to catchy, upbeat 80s-style synth-pop songs, it was incredibly impressive to watch; with just one press of a button, they would completely change the vibe. A simple ring on a bell signalled a scene change.
The way they balanced everything was so clever, and it’s something they should be very proud of.
As the story unfolded, I found myself a bit confused at several points during the show. The biggest issue was the sharp contrast in tone: one moment you're watching broad, childish comedy with plush dog puppets being thrown around, and the next, it jumps into heavy, serious drama about loss and political history. Because the show switches so rapidly between playful after-school club humor and deeply emotional storytelling, it was hard to figure out what the show was truly trying to be or where the storyline was heading.
That said, the production kept me engaged! Whenever I felt a bit lost, something would happen at the exact right time to pull me back in. I even got to cuddle a stuffed dog for 20 minutes—though having to throw it back at the end was a bit sad! It was a great bit of audience participation and brought a lot of warmth to the room.
Photo by Alex Brenner
Nick and Van are absolute superheroes. From writing the show to performing the songs, acting, and controlling the lighting buttons, they never stop. Even though the show is only 1 hour and 15 minutes long, they have to maintain intense focus the entire time. They need to be completely in sync with each other; otherwise, the comedy falls flat. Their comedic timing was brilliant and exceptionally well done.
Overall, Space Dogs makes for a lovely night out. If you're looking for something short, fun, and lighthearted with a lot of heart, this show will definitely be for you!
Rating: ★★★
