Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew are probably some of the most beloved comic strip characters ever.
As entertaining as the group were as kids, imagine what they’d be like as teenagers?
That’s what Dog Sees God explores.
The off-Broadway play is a parody of CB and friends and is now making its Canadian première run at Toronto’s Six Degrees nightclub.
The show features a number of esteemed Canadian performers, including Jake Epstein from Degrassi: The Next Generation, Adamo Ruggiero, Mike Lobel, Paula Brancati and Tatiana Maslany.
“Fast forwarding the lives of the Peanuts’ characters… makes the whole play that much more interesting,” says Epstein, who plays the lead role of CB.
“I want audiences to be moved and entertained.”
The Dog Sees God storyline centres on CB’s experience with losing his dog to rabies and questioning whether there is, in fact, an afterlife.
The time of grief and doubt is initially compounded by the fact that CB can’t count on the people closest to him, as they are all grappling with their own, very real teenage issues, including drug problems, the search for self and eating disorders.
But he connects with an old, forgotten friend and their relationship is central to the plot.
“Every teenager can relate to the issues discussed in this play,” says Epstein, 22.
“The play raises awareness of these issues, but doesn’t ‘preach’ any message. It lets teenagers know that yes, it is really hard being a teenager, and that as a teenager, you’re not alone on these issues…I’m hoping teenagers that come will see how theatre can be relevant, funny, dark and moving.”
The Toronto-born and raised actor has been honing his craft since he was 10.
In addition to a diverse array of productions at school, Epstein gained experience performing in such well-known productions as Our Town and Oliver, and was a regular on the Fox Family series The Zack Files.
Stardom struck during the Degrassi years, which yielded the talented thespian a Gemini Award and subsequent nomination, as well as a Young Artist Award nomination.
“Degrassi was a huge part of my growing up,” says Epstein, who played the lead character of Craig Manning on the popular show.
“I got the role on the show in my first year of high school… so my high school years are absolutely linked to working on Degrassi. I think the show has a lot of heart, and I loved the feeling of being part of something important – something that helped other teenagers get through really tough times or at least know that they weren’t alone.”
Although the show brought Epstein a certain degree of fame and celebrity status, his solid Jewish upbringing and down-to-earth values have clearly kept him self-aware and appreciative.
“From being on Degrassi for five years, I learned the importance of being true to who you are,” Epstein reflects.
“Fame is like an abstract painting. People see you and think you can be all sorts of things… [That’s why] it’s important to be happy with yourself, without a TV show defining you.”
Since his time on the show, Epstein has studied at the National Theatre School of Canada and has appeared in such shows as Dangerous Liaisons and Cinderella.
As for the future, Epstein has his sights set on the Big Apple.
“Five years from now, I hope to be living somewhere exciting – maybe New York – performing on Broadway. That’s the dream.”
Dog Sees God is on until April 4. For tickets, call 1-888-222-6608 or visit online at www.dogseesgod.ca or www.ticketweb.ca.
