Dog Sees God Brings Laughter, Tears, and a Strong Message to MTSU

Bert. V Royal’s parody of the popular Peanuts comic strip comes to life at a sold out performance at MTSU’s black box theatre. The show is a delight to those who grew up with the original Peanuts comic strip and the several movies produced for the holidays. Getting to see your favorite “blockhead” and his friends going through their teenage years brings a bit of nostalgia and lots of laughs.

The small space is utilized to its full potential with the set housing CB’s (portrayed by sophomore theatre major Jay Mullens) backyard, the inside of the school, and Marcy’s (portrayed by junior theatre major Courtney Coppa) house with just a few prop changes.

The show opens on a spotlight on our leading man writing a letter to his pen pal telling them of how his dog contracted rabies, killed a little yellow bird, and almost bit CB. His parents made the decision to put the dog to sleep and we come to a scene with CB and his sister (freshman theatre major Brianna Smart) arguing over who will say a prayer for their dead dog at his funeral. As the show goes on we run into Matt (freshman Donovan Hughes) once perpetually surrounded by a cloud of dirt now is germ-phobic and a bit of a homophobe, best friends and mean girls Marcy and Tricia (junior theatre major Hannah Ewing), blanket carrying stoner Van (Conner McCabe) and his psychotic sister (senior theatre major Beth Ann Stripling), and the piano prodigy outcast Beethoven (senior Ben George) all making nods at the original characters created by Charles M. Schulz.

Once the show begins it’s clear to see why this show is an 18 and older only production. Swearing, smoking, drinking, and sexual pursuits are sprinkled throughout the course of the action, but it doesn’t seem to take away from the story. These things that have a tendency to shock unsuspecting audiences adds another layer of reality to the plot and enhances the characters. Watching our favorite childhood characters go through the trials and tribulations of typical high school: identity crises, eating disorders, peer pressure, bullying, suicide, coping with death and the afterlife, and discovering who your friends are brings a sense of reality to the production.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead will continue its run at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre Oct. 4 and Oct. 6-9.