Once-heartwarming childhood characters stepped onto the stage this weekend to address much heavier issues — ones without the cheer of a familiar yellow zigzag shirt or a black-and-white beagle.
For its annual spring charity show, Boston University’s Stage Troupe produced “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” a play that follows the darker teenage years of the beloved Peanuts characters. As they grow up, the group struggles with complex themes like sexual abuse, bullying, homophobia, depression and suicide.
“Dog Sees God” sheds light on the repercussions of sexual abuse and the effect it often has on other relationships, especially internal ones. The emotional challenge to figure out one’s own identity plays a major role throughout the show and voices the inner fears many teenagers may face.
“[Sexual abuse] is one of the more under-the-surface themes, but I think it’s definitely one of the most important, in terms of the fallout,” said Eli Saracino, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and the actor who played Matt (better known as Pigpen). “What is the fallout? It’s bullying. It’s struggling to find one’s identity. It’s all of these things that have stemmed from it.”
To emphasize this idea and support a greater cause, Stage Troupe donated all proceeds from the show to Massachusetts Citizens for Children, a child advocacy organization that works directly with children who have experienced sexual abuse.
MassKids became very involved with the production, and the enthusiasm and cooperation of the organization further inspired Stage Troupe’s cast and crew this year.
“It feels so good to actually be working alongside each other,” said Karlie Fitzgerald, a senior in the College of Communication, secretary of Stage Troupe and assistant producer of the show. “If you’re doing good theater, your goal is to really change the world in a way — make them think differently, make them think about what they’re seeing onstage and make them think, ‘Is this applicable to my life?’ I think incorporating a charity takes it one step further and makes it so much more real.”
Danny Ehrenpreis, a senior in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Stage Troupe vice president of special projects, played one of the show’s main characters. He too said MassKids’ involvement has contributed to the meaningfulness of the show.
“We feel more of a connection to the mission at hand and about the characters and what they’re thinking and what they’re going through,” he said, “and we can actually help.”
Ehrenpreis’ character, Beethoven, is the type of kid MassKids often works to help: those sexually abused by a parent, judged by peers or bullied to the point of suicide.
“We speak out on behalf of the most vulnerable children in the commonwealth, whatever the issue might be,” said Jetta Bernier, the executive director of MassKids.
The organization strives to give voices to victims and to educate parents, professionals, citizens and youth about how they can better prevent sexual abuse.
“We have a tool kit with lots of great materials and curricula and strategies so that people can learn to be proactive and learn to prevent sexual abuse in the first place,” Bernier said.
And the movement doesn’t stop there, Bernier said. MassKids has been working on countless legislative acts as well. One act would mandate comprehensive education about sexual abuse prevention within schools and youth organizations. Another closes a loophole in the current “age of consent” law, and yet another strengthens the capacity of schools in screening prospective employees.
Both Stage Troupe and audience members said abuse does not always get the attention and raise the concerns that it should.
Connor Gallacher, a freshman in CAS, was “blown away” by the intensity and thought-provoking material of the performance. It not only inspired him to take action, but also changed his perspective on many of the topics addressed in the play.
“I had no idea it could be this bad,” he said. “I thought about [these issues] in one specific light, like from an outsider’s point of view, and this really brought me into the heads of people who are experiencing these terrible things.”
Gallacher’s reaction was the audience reaction the cast and crew said they were aiming for.
“I feel like if these heavy themes are resonating with the audience this way, it’s something that we’re doing right,” Saracino said, admitting that he was glad to see some audience members shed a few tears.
By producing shows as significant as “Dog Sees God,” organizations like Stage Troupe are able to provide a platform to discuss big issues through informed and mature conversations. After Friday night’s show, cast members came out on stage to hold a talkback to answer any of the audience’s questions about sexual abuse or MassKids.
“It just hits you,” Ehrenpreis said. “And I think everyone is starting to realize that this is something bigger than what we are. This is going toward something that is huge, something that can actually change the whole way this whole situation goes about.”
Sometimes these topics can be difficult to digest, but Bernier said the full understanding and maturity of the cast was impressive.
“I walked away from the performance feeling that the world was in good hands if this is the kind of generation that is coming up through the ranks,” Bernier said. “We’re in good hands here with the next generation.”
