You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

The Peanuts gang came to the attention of the public during the 1950s, through the popular comic strip by cartoonist Charles Shulz. The 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner was based on those loveable characters; a few songs he had put together to accompany humorous and touching skits.

Director Hayley Horton has assembled a magnificent cast to bring to life the innocence of childhood in this playful musical. Settling into your seat, it is hard not to be impressed with the striking set. Designed by Jamie Richards, excerpts from the comic strip are abundant with colour provided by costumes and vivid set pieces.

Charlie Brown is the loser in us all, the likeable boy trying to understand the ways of the world and his lack of influence. Dealing with self-esteem, young love, baseball and glee club are just some of the problems he has to face and all at the tender age of 5.  Many of the songs are character portraits and provide humourous banter and tender life lessons.

Miss Horton’s attention to detail and the obvious hard work of the six cast members means that the characters have depth and are not merely caricatures. Charlie Brown (Gareth Wilkes) is an easy foil for his friends’ insecurities and though his heart is in the right place he never does win then girl. Wilkes portrayal is tender and convincing and has you rooting for him from start to finish. His sister Sally, played by Millicent Sarre, is adorably feisty in her mission to find her philosophy and sparkles whenever on stage. Lucy and Linus Van Pelt played respectively by Amy Nagesh and Buddy Dawson, ooze talent and provide an entertaining contrast. Lucy is never quite happy with the world and for the most part is grumpy and bombastic, never more so than when she is proclaiming that she wishes to be queen. Nagesh stomps about much to the audience’s delight. Linus is sugary sweet as he tries to give up his blanket that is with him throughout the performance. Dawson’s convincing lisp provides much laughter as he tries to spit out his lines enthusiastically. Beethoven loving Schroeder (Omkar Nagesh) hits the right note and gives a fine performance. Rounding out the cast is Charlie’s best friend Snoopy (Fahad Farooque), who is wonderful and gives this fame hungry dog time to shine in such numbers as The Red Baron and Suppertime.

Musical Director Peter Johns conducts a playful score and choreographer Vanessa Redmond adds flair to an already energetic show.

Though the plot is thin, the banter and musical interludes provide enough entertainment to leave the audience happy.

Kerry Cooper