See Spot Act

The dogs of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' are ready for their star de-tail

When it comes right down to it, it's basically like acting alongside anyone - you gotta get to know them, butter them up, maybe share a couple of hot dogs.

Before his big scene with Edison, in which he sings a song to her, Decareau is sure to stop backstage and pet Samantha, let her lick his hand and give her a treat. While he's singing the number, he likes to imitate what Samantha does, putting a hand up if she raises a paw, cocking his head if she does. It's rarely the same thing twice.

"I enjoy her and I have the freedom, musically, that if it's different every night, that's OK. Sometimes I just laugh watching her, and the audience laughs, too," he says.

Though Samantha is typically spot on, sometimes, like any actor, she's just not feeling it.

One night, at a spot in the show where Decareau is supposed to turn to his son and say, "My boy, Edison and I are going dog sledding in Alaska," Samantha abruptly booked off the stage leaving Decareau to finish the line solo. He quickly added, "Or maybe not."

Perhaps it's because Decareau has performed for 28 years, both on and off Broadway, that he's able to say, convincingly, that he's OK sharing a curtain call with a shameless stealer of scenes.

"When the dog comes out, it's like a rock star's in the house," he says, laughing. "She gets bigger applause. Every time."