Love. Sex. Fury. Drugs. Identity. Revenge. Sinclair Community College’s production of “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” has it all, and every actor brings it all in this play about the meaning of life, love and death.
CB and Beethoven
Leading the small cast of eight is Steven Brotherton, who has performed in all three productions in the Theatre department’s 2009-2010 season.
“I think it’s exciting to be the lead,” Brotherton said.
Though only 18, Brotherton brings a remarkable maturity to CB, a high school boy searching for the meaning of life after his beloved beagle dies. His portrayal of the awkward teenager is both bold and fearless as evidenced by his poignant soliloquies to his pen pal and his multiple kisses with fellow actor Corey Schall.
Schall, who played Beethoven, said a lot of planning was required before he was ready to play the bullied pianist, including downloading music by Chopin and mentally preparing for his love scenes with his co-star.
“I had to take down a lot of barriers in order to kiss Steven,” Schall said.
Trisha, Marcy and Matt
Lauren Bernstein and Michelle Faulkner play Trisha and Marcy respectively, best friends who finish each other’s thoughts and share each other’s liquor. On opening night the girls captured the audience’s attention on more than one occasion, especially when both girls woke up after a threesome with the violent, womanizing Matt, played brilliantly by James Roselli. The play’s climax revolves around Matt’s anger toward Beethoven, and Roselli delivers.
“It’s really hard playing someone who’s mean,” Roselli said. “Nobody wants to play the nerd in every single show.”
Van, Van’s sister and CB’s sister
The final three characters add wonderful dynamics to the storyline. Most of the play’s drug references stem from Max Monning’s Van, a stoner who proclaims “Nirvana is the f**king way to go.” Monning’s depiction of Van’s drug-induced view of life is both entertaining in its honesty and disheartening in its influences on others.
Katherine Klein does a great job as CB’s sister, a young girl searching for her identity. Klein steals the show twice in a futuristic, one-woman play within a play that delicately reveals her character’s inner struggles.
Little delicacy is afforded to Van’s sister, played by Sara Linker. Linker appears as Van’s sister in only one scene, but she makes her time on stage memorable. Because her character is locked in a mental institution, Linker lets her energy loose on stage, especially when refusing to apologize for setting the little redhead girl’s hair on fire.
“It was so much fun to let go of everything,” Linker said.
Students and actors sound off
The opening show was well received. Sinclair student Aaron Carmona said he enjoyed the show and believed the language was representative of high school.
“I liked how over the top it was,” Carmona said. “Sometimes things need to be over the top to tell the truth.”
Visual Communications student Josh Luis agreed.
“They captured high school pretty good,” Luis said. “Overall—amazing. Great play.”
Brotherton said the best reason to see the play was to see the Peanuts gang all grown up. Schall thinks it will help people understand that being different is not a bad thing. Linker believes the show is a lot of fun.
“I think it’s a good time,” Linker said. “I think people will laugh, and I think people will cry, too.”
I agree. What a show.