"Dog Sees God: - Four Woofs
2007-03-01
Ski, skate, snowboard or drive... to see the Theatre Works production of Dog Sees God (Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead) for a delightful respite from the winter doldrums.
While the program disclaims any connection to Charles Schulz, the characters seem very, VERY familiar. In the opening scene of this play (not for little children) "CB", endearingly, sensitively played by Ben Grinberg, explains why his dog was put to sleep. He had killed a little yellow bird in his red doghouse. Rabies. CB is left to ponder that most universal of all questions ... is there life after death... for a pet?
His quest provides a laugh a minute despite the fact that we are witnessing the loss of childish innocence and the stunning revelation that the kids' childhood experiences were not so innocent after all.
Hilarious moments are provided by John Stegmaier, as the tripping Buddhist; Devon Caraway McCorkle as CB's sister (now a Wiccam) and the clueless Tricia and Marcy played to the hilt by Keilly Gillen McQuail, and Samantha Tuozzolo. Margaret Ann King is marvelously manic as CB's "Lucy-like" pal ... who still plays with CB's head though she's lost her own. Joe Morris gives power and dimension to the zany "Matt" (the boy with a perpetual cloud over his head). Finally, there is "Beethoven" brilliantly, poignantly played by Joe Russo.
As the play unfolds we can identify with the growing pains of this present generation and realize that sometimes the young people's pain is unbearable. Their subsequent "scream" is stunning and propels this comedy to a surprising dramatic climax. Like Schulz's Charlie, this CB, created by Burt V. Royal, is no blockhead. By the Final Curtain, he (and we) have learned a most important life lesson ... that no matter how much we are hurting ... we must trudge on doing the best we can. This Charlie will succeed... "You're a good man, CB."
Special credit must be given to director Susan Pettibone whose empathy for teenagers is apparent as she brings forth energetic performances of immense integrity and a heart-warming production of significant relevance.