'Of Mice and Men' ... and dog: Lab has bit part in UTPA production

A new star has been born in the University of Texas Pan-American’s theater program.

“Buttercup,” a golden lab retriever, will make her debut to the stage 8 p.m. Wednesday in the University Theatre Productions’ rendition of John Steinbeck’s classic novel Of Mice and Men. The show will run through Sunday at Albert L. Jeffers Theatre on UTPA’s campus. It will play at 8 p.m. every day and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Few productions of the play cast the dog, which is usually discussed but never shown, said Marian Monta, University Theater professor emeritus. There is a tradition among theater people never to share the stage with a child or a dog because they will steal the focus, she said.

But the director of the play, Brian Warren, suggested they rescue a dog from an animal shelter to play the character.

Stage director Dulce Navar then found Buttercup at the Palm Valley Animal Center in Edinburg. Buttercup was just two days away from being put down. Following the play, she will become Navar’s dog.

“She is doing fine, and the cast loves her, of course,” Monta said.

The cast and crew even set up a blog for Buttercup to record her experiences since she began rehearsing with them Sept. 30. Readers can find the blog at buttercupsblog.blogspot.com.

They also set up a “scholarship” for her. Like actors or actresses who receive flowers at the end of each performance, any audience member wishing to support Buttercup can buy a $1 doggie treat and give it to her. All money collected will be donated to the Palm Valley Animal Center in Buttercup’s name.

“The word is out that she’s trying to get a movie part and find an agent,” Monta said. “She’s also been snooping up to Eric Wiley. He’s written the [University Theatre’s] next play called The Red and the Blue.”And since he wrote it, she’s trying to get him to write a part for her.”

Nick Pipitone covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.