Dog Sees God...

by Bert V. Royal

August 5th, 2010

Jobsite Theater

Tampa, FL

What do you think happens when we die?

Dog Sees God is an absurdly comedic play that delves into the realms of existentialism and the afterlife using, unauthorized though, the characters of the Peanuts comic strip. With the character's names carefully concealed, sort of, this re-imagining as they blossom into teenagers is sure to entertain.

This "unauthorized parody" begins with CB and his sister as they pay their final respects to their euthanized dog. CB reads a letter to his pen pal that chronicles the death of his dog and shapes his understanding of the afterlife as well as his own existence. Back at high school, CB asks his friends about what they think after they die, but each are firmly placed in their social cliques and aren't interested in the afterlife. The popular party girls, the burnout slackers, the misunderstood and flavor of the week types are each represented. After hearing of an upcoming party, CB makes his way to the music room and listens to Beethoven practice the piano. After CB talks about the death of his dog, Beethoven scolds CB of the years of teasing and ridicule, culminating to an intimate moment as they call a truce. The social balance is turned upside down at the party when CB and Beethoven arrive and bring it to a screeching halt. CB leaves to see a friend at a psychiatric ward as Beethoven is visited by a less than friendly classmate. As the events unfold over the course of the play CB and everyone else each experience their understanding of death and develop their own interpretation of what happens when a "Dog Sees God."

With characters developed from such iconic and recognizable figures of americana, the cast of Dog Sees God takes the torch and runs to new heights. As the lights go up over the stage, Shawn Poanessa and Kari Goetz banter at the funeral of their dog as CB and CB's sister. Paonessa's somber yet optimistic exposition to begin the show was well delivered and set the story up for success. Goetz's chameleon like changes to make due for CB's sister's different personae showcase her adaptability and execution. Well done. This highly comedic play wouldn't be so without the work of Summer Bohnenkamp-Jenkins, Jason Evans, and Katrina Stevenson adding their well timed witty anecdotes to this darkly themed show. Meg Heimstead is at her best I've seen this year in her role of Marcy. Richard Kennedy puts a bright new face to the Pig Pen character as the sex crazed neat freak Matt. Well done Richard. Anchoring the show was Spencer Meyers as the piano playing antithesis, Beethoven. Meyer's spine chilling monologue of a memory he'd much rather forget gave the play a depth I wasn't expecting. After forty minutes or so of crass and lowbrow comedic dialogue, it was refreshing to discover the play had a heart.

Shawn Poanessa & Spencer Meyers as CB & Beethoven in Dog Sees God

c/o Jobsite Theater

With a story based on such recognizable characters as the Peanuts gang, the job of imagining them as hormonal high schoolers was no easy task, yet was humorously achieved by playwright Bert V. Royal. Jobsite Theaters' indelible knack for producing top notch theatre continued with Dog Sees God as the cast took us on a journey of death, sex and emotional rediscovery.

In summation, Jobsite did a wonderful job of producing the funny but touching play. If you're going to see this play and expect to see a Charlie Brown Christmas, you'll sadly be mistaken. But, if you're heading to the Shimberg Playhouse with an open mind and ready to laugh, you'll have a fantastic evening of theatre thanks to the collective effort of the cast of Dog Sees God.

Dog Sees God plays at the Shimberg Playhouse through August 29nd. The show has been extended from it's original run an extra week to fit the demand for this hysterical play. Be sure to get your tickets now because this show is sure to sell out it's final week of shows.

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Music of the Post - further seems forever