Cailean the dog makes stage debut in Manitoba Opera's Of Mice and Men

A 12-year-old furry actor is making his debut in the Manitoba Opera production Of Mice and Men.

Cailean, a black Labrador, plays the dog of Candy, an old ranch hand in the performance. Candy's dog is old, ill and eventually is shot, said Donna Basso, Cailean's owner.

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"He's so energetic he doesn't look like he's that old, dying dog," she said.

"It's very difficult for him. He's very social. He's a very happy dog, but he's exceedingly devoted to me and really, in his mind, I'm the most important person there is."

Basso stands at the side of the stage and gives Cailean hand signals to put his head down during the play.

"He's supposed to stay under the bunk but his bum does tend to slide out a little bit when he turns to look at me," she said. "I remind him to stay in that down by giving him that signal."

Basso, a professional trainer, taught Cailean to sit, come, say please with a paw, high five, play patty cake and heel. She said making Cailean an actor was another training challenge for both of them. 

Cailean was part of six rehearsals and his first performance was on Saturday. Basso said it went pretty well.

"He had one moment where he started moving around a little bit and in the case that that happens, rather than let him get agitated, which he might do if he was left to his own devices for too long, I just went in and replaced him and he was fine," she said.

Basso said Cailean is forward, goofy and has a sense of humour. 

"He loves to bring me presents," she said. "He'll bring me just about anything — he'll bring me food that he does not eat in the hopes that I'll give him a reward."

The black Lab gets along with the actors pretty well, especially the ones who give him food.

"One lady gives him a little bit of cheese from time to time and he loves her. He's at the point now, he sees her and he goes up to see if she has any cheese for him. He's not dumb," Basso said.

Cailean will perform in Of Mice and Men on Tuesday and Friday this week.