TheatreOCU’s second Stage II production of the season will open this weekend.
“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” will be performed at 8 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 2, and 2 p.m Nov. 3 in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center.
The play, written by Bert V. Royal, reimagines characters from the Peanuts comic strip as teenagers dealing with the harsh realities of adolescence.
Anastasia Pellar, theatre and performance junior, is the director.
“Imagine the Peanuts characters with a dark twist,” Pellar said. “Pretty much every character you know and love are portrayed as having struggles and identity crises, from their sexual identities to the way they look and behave.”
Pellar said the show’s focus on the characters’ issues and how they choose to either suppress or work through them reflects our own world.
“The show has a lot of themes that are very relevant in today’s society,” Pellar said. “It goes to some very dark places. We aren’t publishing any official trigger warnings or anything, but the show deals with some serious issues and has dark moments.”
Cesar Carreno, music theatre sophomore portraying “Matt” in the play, said the rehearsal process has been emotionally taxing at times due to the nature of the themes portrayed.
“It’s a dark show, and that can be hard to process sometimes,” Carreno said. “It’s not all dark, though. There are lots of light moments, so you get both ends of the spectrum. Really, it’s fun and sad at the same time. I’ve loved being a part of something like that, where you get a mix of both.”
Katherine Abel, acting junior portraying “Trisha” in the play, said the cast has grown close during the rehearsal process, with Pellar checking in on them emotionally.
“There’s definitely a point in the show that is so beautiful, to the point where I cry every time,” Abel said. “I haven’t experienced any serious emotional turmoil or anything, but I know my director and cast would have my back if I did, which is very special.”
Pellar said she tried her best to provide the actors with freedom and flexibility when crafting their interpretations of the characters.
“I asked the actors lots of questions, and encouraged them to expand on certain aspects at times, but ultimately I wanted to let them create their own characters,” Pellar said. “I think it’s a very important part of the show. I wanted the characters and their relationships to feel natural in the way they connect and intertwine with each other.”
Pellar said she has a close personal connection with the play.
“I started thinking about this show last fall, when I directed a scene from it for a class,” Pellar said. “I submitted it as a Stage II, it was accepted, and I’ve been basically thinking about it constantly ever since.”
Pellar said directing the show has been a learning experience, and a great joy.
“I have loved every single rehearsal,” Pellar said. “It has been the highlight of my day, every single day. It’s such an important piece, and I want everyone to experience it.”
Carreno said he encourages students to see the show.
“For one, the characters are really relatable,” Carreno said. “I think anyone who comes can have someone to identify with in the show. Also, the story is just really relevant right now. These are topics that have been talked about before, but they’re presented in a new, funny, heartbreaking way and through the eyes of characters that a lot of Americans know and love.”
Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance through the ticket office in the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center or by calling the ticket office at 405-208-5227.
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