‘DOG SEES GOD’ OPENS FRIDAY Peanuts parody ‘holds laughter, depth, emotion’
By: DANIELLE POHLMAN – Lead A&E Writer
Remember Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Linus and his blanket? They’re back. Well, now they’re in high school with more issues than Lucy’s psychiatric booth could solve for five cents. But they’re just like you and asking the question,
“Is there a reward for living through all of this?”
University of Dayton’s Studio Theatre will present “Dog Sees God”, opening this Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. The cast of eight, directed by senior sociology major Eleanor Hurney, will be hosting the show in the UD Studio Theatre room 155, the Black Box Theatre, located in the CPC.
“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” by Bert V. Royal is an unauthorized parody of the Peanuts characters in high school. The parody and the character development are imagined as Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, but he’s not the playwright.
Charlie Brown, now referred to as C.B. (senior sports management major J.G. Golab), writes to his pen pal once again after saying goodbye to his best friend, leaving him questioning the existence of an afterlife. All around him, C.B. begs of this question to his sister, best friends, ex-girlfriend and someone he never thought he would have a connection with.
The Peanuts are back in a whole new light, one that many in our generation can identify with. The overall motto is evident: immerse yourself in life, don’t ever stop asking questions and be yourself without apology.
It touches on all the topics our generation is faced with today – whether it’s drugs, suicide, eating disorders, abortion, violence, sex, homosexuality, religion – and the list continues. These are issues many ignore or tend to overlook because “they are too complicated.” However, this play addresses it all from A-Z within a Black Box Theatre performance.
“One of the biggest challenges was working with our new theatre space with more width but not as much depth,” Hurney said. “Even though we all grew up knowing these characters, we had to take time to develop and get to know our characters.”
Many struggle with identity in high school or some point in their lives. This show is incredibly relatable to the cast and the audience. It holds laughter, depth and emotion.
“I’ve been in close to 20 shows in my time at Dayton and this is the one I’m most proud of. I hope people come to see it, as I will not be able to because I will be on stage most of it,” said Golab. “I fell in love with it after reading the show and we’ve wanted to do it for years.”
Show times are Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets are free of charge and open to anyone. Call (937)229-3685 or visit The Studio Theatre Facebook page.