A Dog, and a Bit about Love

Flatwater newcomer Blue plays Crab the Dog in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Blue, a 13-year-old “All American” canine, retired from agility competition just last year. During his competitive career, Blue accrued over thirty-five titles. While this is his first performance on a theatrical stage, Blue has given dozens of agility demonstrations in Lincoln, including at the Lied Center, the Lancaster Event Center, and First Plymouth Church. When not shaved down for the summer, he has a 3-4 inch long dark gray coat with black spots. His mother was an Australian Shepherd; his father was a traveling sales dog, of the spaniel variety. Blue’s owner is Jayne Sebby.

Blue finds the greatest challenge with Shakespeare is panting in iambic pentameter. He observes that dogs usually breathe in trochees: HUH-ah, HUH-ah, HUH-ah. Concentration, he says, is the key to turning the beat around. Although warned against ever appearing on stage with a clown, he has found that Robie Hayek’s Launce only rarely upstages him.

See Blue in Flatwater Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona in the Swan Theatre at Wyuka, 3600 O Street in Lincoln, beginning Thursday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Friday-Sunday, June 11-13; and Thursday-Sunday, June 17-20 and 24-27. All show times are 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students. Call 484-7640 for reservations.