Fringe 2025 Review: Muttnik
Funny, Tender, and Surprisingly Profound
I’m not a dog owner. I like dogs just fine—I’ve just never signed up for the 24/7 responsibility of having one around. So I wondered, going into Muttnik, whether I’d be able to fully connect with a story told from the perspective of a canine cosmonaut.
Turns out, that didn’t matter at all.
Bruce Ryan Costella’s solo performance is beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and skillfully executed. From the moment he bounds onstage in a dog costume, we’re invited into a story that’s somehow both whimsical and weighty. There’s humor, of course—plenty of it—but also heartbreak, history, and heart. Costella strikes that tricky balance between charm and sincerity, never overplaying the comedy or veering into melodrama. He trusts the story, and the story delivers.
Inspired by the real-life Soviet space mission that sent the first living creature into orbit in 1957, Muttnik imagines the journey from the dog’s perspective. It’s a smart conceit that avoids being cutesy by grounding the performance in emotional truth. The writing is crisp, and Costella’s performance—accent, physicality, and all—is so compelling that I quickly stopped noticing the costume at all. His control of the space (even in the challenging Basement at First Lutheran Church) is impressive.
The tech is simple but effective. A few well-placed sound and light cues, particularly the recurring alarms, do wonders for raising the stakes and drawing us into the world. It’s a great reminder that high production value isn’t a prerequisite for emotional impact—especially at Fringe. What matters is craft, care, and connection.
And judging by the crowd’s response, that connection was deeply felt. There were laughs, yes—but also that hushed stillness that only happens when a room is fully locked in. By the end, I had a lump in my throat. I wasn’t alone.
Muttnik is a great example of what Fringe is all about: inventive storytelling, heartfelt performance, and a willingness to take creative risks. Even if you don’t think you’re a “dog person,” this one’s worth the ticket.
More information and tickets can be found here.