CityLife

Why Vertigo has Bert going nuts

TEENAGE KICKS: Dog Sees God

AFTER a hit-run at Taurus on Canal Street, Manchester-based Vertigo Theatre Productions are bringing their version of Dog Sees God: Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead to the Lowry Studio from Thursday.

Theirs’ is the first UK production of a play, written by Bert V. Royal, that caused something of a sensation when it was produced in New York and which is about to be turned into a film.

Royal has especially revised the script for Vertigo, who he says he “adored getting to know. They completely ‘get’ the play. As a company they’re really pushing the envelope.”

The show is directed by Craig Hepworth, who is also a co-owner and producer of Vertigo Theatre Productions along with Adele Stanhope and Karl Burge.

Returning in the lead role is Rick Carter, who has now been a lead in three productions with Vertigo.

The show itself is based on the popular Peanuts cartoon, albeit completely unauthorised by the Schultz estate.

In fact, the author had to change the characters’ names to avoid legal issues.

“It focuses on the lives of the original cartoon characters, but as they are now, as teenagers, and deals with the many issues teenagers face, such as bullying, sexual identity, drug abuse, teen suicide.

“I hate teenagers,” Royal laughs. “I can’t stand them. They scare me.
“I just think it’s this period of time where puberty makes you crazy.

Nasty

"They’re such nasty human beings.

“I wanted to write a teenage story where we had some background as to who these kids were and the idea of having these kids dealing with things far greater than kites getting stuck in trees was very funny to me,” explains Royal of his notion of using the Peanuts characters.

“What was so appealing about these kids is that life was always so sad, even though there was nothing to be sad about.

“I thought the idea of taking them and putting them in real trauma could be really interesting.”

Schultz’s death occurred only a few years before Royal began work on the play. “What would you do in the absence of God or your creator?” Royal asks.

“Ultimately, the play is about your creator and the life that you’ve led in your creator’s eyes. It becomes very much about looking outside your world.”

He emphasises that “the piece is a parody and was never meant to be portrayed as a sequel, I think it’s important that people realise that no-one could ever continue the legacy that Mr. Schultz began. This is just a modern reimagining by a fan.”

Dog Sees God: Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead is at The Lowry Studio from Thursday until January 24. Call 0870 787 5780.