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Arts & Entertainment

Teenage Angst Taken to New and Highly Entertaining Level

Talented young actors ready to shine in four more performances of "Dog Sees God" this weekend at Pulse Performing Arts Center.

Remember the breakfasts of your youth? Lazily eating Frosted Flakes, reading the daily comics and realizing, hey, those little cartoon guys are dealing with tough challenges, and yet you ended up laughing.

Well, you're all grown up now, and so are those comics kids… and they're on stage this weekend in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead at Pulse Performing Arts Studio in Bedford Hills.

The play is directed by recent Harrison graduate Devon James.

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It may take you a few minutes to recognize these familiar characters from the Peanuts comic strip but not too long—  thanks to spirited portrayals by this group of committed young actors. "CB" (hey, you figure it out), as portrayed by Robert Tyc, is still tortured by uncertainty and self-questioning— still writing to his pen pal, and still waiting for an answer.

When the audience keys in on his sad opening story about his dog (yes, that dog), we start to think "uh-oh, this is going to be a major downer." But life marches on, and these comic strip kids have followed some pretty hilarious drumbeats that will keep you laughing… and thinking.

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CB's best friend and confidant is still waxing philosophic, but through a thick cloud of smoke. And where's that blanket? Under normal circumstances you wouldn't believe it, but Sergio Marroquin's "Van" is a convincing (if slightly too-Cheechy) stoner who knows what he likes.

The overwrought gang is in high school now and their problems, concerns and obsessions are too big to fit into little comic strip squares. "Tricia" and "Marcy" have found new ways to beat classroom stress, but their "boss-lieutenant" dynamic hasn't changed. Maura Scatenato's forthright bravado and Kayla Gersten's portrayal of brainiac supplicant give the audience a rollicking R-rated reprise of the classroom duo. Impeccable timing convinces us that these two have been inseparable for years.

When the bully shows up and starts pushing people around, we lose our way a bit, but quickly realize that the shy piano player is a guy we used to know. Who's the loud mouth? He's certainly loud and Lance Troiano invests "Matt" with a lot of rage (and some fine "stage combat" in Act II), but we'll have to wait to find out why.

It's when CB and the piano player interact that we really get to the heart of it. We feel the anguish of Thompson Crozier's "Beethoven" before he has a chance to pour his heart out— which he does to great effect. His switch from pathetic pipsqueak to thoughtfully questioning youth gives the audience— and CB— plenty to think about. Both actors boldly take us into uncharted territory, giving the audience and the whole well-drawn gang a new take on things.

When the going gets tough for CB, the "doctor is in." Van's loud-mouth sister gets a chance to give CB her views in a well-written, rapid-fire rant. Kiah Thomas plays Van's sister with an indefatigable energy that results in a few lost lines, but more than enough laughs to make up for it. And some things never change: she deftly manages to verbally pull the football right out from under CB.

It's CB's younger sister who has the best handle on things— although she convincingly changes religions and social identities at will. Eva Mangone enchants the audience, even when she's a tough-as-nails Goth girl. Her "one-woman-show" illuminating the play's theme enthralls, thanks to Mangone's lithe movement and total commitment to the character's earnestness.

More mayhem and sadness ensue, and rather than "tie up loose ends," the play leaves the audience with a lot to think about.

In a pre-show chat, James noted that he "wanted to do this play the minute he finished reading it," and it's easy to see why. Although not suitable for younger teens (even sensitive parents won't want to acknowledge how "real" the party scene is), Bert Royal's clever, uncompromising script captures the hard-edged realities facing today's young people.

James is to be commended for directing peers with a sure hand to create a powerful production, the first Westchester performances of this 2004 NY International Fringe Festival winner.

So forget today's comics. Wolf down that cereal and head to Pulse Performing Arts Center for some finely drawn characters that will show you how to deal with life's challenges— and yeah, even leave you with a laugh.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Bert Royal. Directed by Devon James. Saturday, August 14 at 2:00 and 8:00 pm; Sunday, August 15 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Pulse Performing Arts Center, 196 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, NY  10507. General admission: $12. Call 914.358.9222 or purchase at the door.  A production of New York Performing Arts Center. Carol Grabbe and Annamarie Mastroberardino, producers.

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