Charles Schulz’s iconic Peanuts children become turbulent teenagers in contemporary America. Actually, these characters are close to Schulz’s, but use different names, because Bert V. Royal’s irresistible speculations are unauthorized by the Schulz estate. C.B. (Joseph Porter) ponders the death of his longtime pooch, his unexpected attraction to the now-loathed piano prodigy Beethoven (Wyatt Fenner) and the continuing metamorphoses of his sister (Andrea Bowen). The formerly blanket-addicted Van (Jaden Leigh) has found substitutes. Transformed Matt (Nick Ballard), whose story resembles that of Pigpen, has reacted to his past by becoming germ- and homo-phobic. Tricia (Christine Lakin) and Marcy (Lauren Robyne) dominate girl power in the absence of the locked-up Lucy … er, Van’s Sister (Megan McNulty). In the hands of director Nick DeGruccio (who played Snoopy at the Colony), it’s cool homage more than parody. Hudson Backstage, Hollywood. (323) 960-7774. Plays411.com/dogseesgod. Closes July 6. Source

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