Rubicon's 'Dog Sees God' Proves Grief Can Be Good!

A couple years ago, one of my best theatre friends who lives in New York called me and insisted that I make a special trip to see a new play that opened off Broadway, which I did.  The play was Dog Sees God, which won raves earlier at the New York International Fringe Festival. It was one the best nights I ever spent in a theatre. That production featured "Ugly Betty's" America Ferrera and "Lost" castaway, Ian Somerholder.

All the emotions that were present in the Off Broadway production were relived at Rubicon Theatre Project's new production of this sure to be cult classic.

The full title of the work, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is written by Bert V. Royal and picks up with the beloved Peanuts characters in their teenage years. Though the names of the characters have been slightly altered to protect the playwright against a copyright suit as this is an "unauthorized" telling, all our favorites are in human form.

The story begins with Snoopy having been put to sleep after contracting rabies and eating his best friend Woodstock. This has made C.B. (Charlie Brown) ponder, as only C.B. can, what happens to dogs when they die. These life and death questions are the pedestal of which this remarkable work takes shape. The title of the play is derived from the notion that when a dog sees their owner, they see God. That idea is enough to make any dog owner like myself get goosebumps.

As the story unfolds, each of the classic characters are coping with their own issues and demons including sexuality, depression, drug use and O.C.D.  Linus Van Pelt, now called Van, has grown into a pot-smoking Buddhist; Charlie Brown's sister is a black-clad Wiccan; Peppermint Patty and Marcie (Tricia & Marcy) are hard partying, school sluts; Lucy's a pyromaniac; Pigpen has grown into Matt. a jock who has become phobic, both to germs and gays; and most detached of all is Schroeder, referred to as Beethoven throughout the play, who has grown into a sexually confused loner who still seeks solace in his piano but is now bullied by the rest of his classmates, including Charlie Brown.

Director Ron Ropp has assembled an amazing and talented cast, most notably with Chris Kordy's stellar work as C.B. Most of the weight of this play falls on C.B.'s shoulders and Kordy handles each scene with such an honest and heartfelt emotion that when the final scene arrives and he is sitting atop Snoopy's red dog house, his breakdown leaves not a dry eye in the theatre. Michael Rashid's take on Schroeder is heart wrenching. Rashid's scenes with Kordy is a course in theatre study for all to watch and learn. George Remus' Matt has a foreboding quality which, just by watching his physical movements, you can see the inner demons he is battling. Liz Hoffman is also terrific in her psyche ward scene with C.B.

Each of the other cast members, Jacob A. Ware (Van), Michelle Gross (Sally), Colleen E. Miller (Tricia) and Anna Schutz (Marcy) turn in remarkable performances by playing homage to the characters they inhabit, but giving them such a human quality that you never once doubt they are the animated character the world has grown up with.

If this emotional roller coaster happened to the beloved Peanuts characters as teenagers, just imagine what lies in store for the "South Park" kids!

I would like to mention that Rubicon's production of Dog Sees God is dedicated Kassi Dallmann, co-founder of the Rubicon Theatre Project who passed away this summer at the age of 28. I am sure she is looking down and giving each of the cast and crew a standing ovation for the work they have created.

Dog Sees God: A Confession of A Teenage Blockhead is playing through December 15, 2007 at the Oracle Theatre, 3809 N. Broadway, Chicago, 60613.  For show and ticket information, visit www.rubicontheatreproject.org or call (773) 466-1835.

Photo: Chris Kordys