Dog Prop

2005:

This was my first role in Omaha.  Got Arthur and Kyrie involved in auditions for Oliver, out at the Chanticleer Theatre in Council Bluffs Iowa.

The director loved Loved LOVED this play, above all others, and he insisted on having a dog in the show.

You know what WC Fields said?  Never work with children or animals.

I was cast as Bill Sikes, so I had to work with that dog.  A German Shepherd with lots of energy and a love for peanut butter.

I had a lot of experience onstage, but no experience animal training.  The dog had ... a lot of energy.

We were about two weeks into rehearsal.  The owners provided me with a choke chain to keep him under control and we were just about to the point where we were used to each other.

So now let me backtrack a bit.

Our stage had a kind of bridge over it.  Stairs leading up both sides and a walkway above.  Very sturdy.  BUT!  The bottom step was about a step and a quarter.

The dog, eager for his exit treat, pulled me a little off-balance.  I missed the last step and fell.  And didn't let go of his lead right away.  I hurt my leg, and he got pinched on his neck.

This set our trust back very badly.

I had to work extra with the dog for another three weeks just to get us back to where we were.

And during that three weeks, I could barely walk.

My thigh turned some very pretty colors.

In the end, though, I even got him to take a bow, so that was nice.

We called him my prop, and didn't allow the kids to touch him.  His owners even got him a bandanna with the word "Prop" on it.

So, that's my stage dog story.