This week's Weekend Read is Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Bert V. Royal. This was the first play that I finished and wanted to personally direct. And I have little to no aspirations to be a director. Without giving too much away, the play loosely follows The Peanuts gang in high school dealing with some pretty heavy topics. Growing up, coming out, acceptance, their peers. What is so wonderful about this play is Royal's colloquial language. His characters, though take offs of well known characters, are insanely accessible to the audience and never tread the line of chariacature. And the themes within the play are ever so prevalent, and probably will be for years to come. It had some remarkable names attached to early stages of the play, but it's Off Broadway premiere had some recognizable names. Perhaps you've heard of Logan Marshall-Green or Eddie Kaye Thomas or Ian Somerhalder or Eliza Dushku or Ari Graynor or America Ferrera. Just to name a few. Pretty amazing group of actors to have on one stage. And if you're looking for a wonderful film to watch by Royal, Netflix Easy A. The man knows how to right teenagers damn well.
