Charlie Brown shows his good side
Family-friendly childhood setbacks on at Globe Theatre
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown highlights the smallbut-important everyday happenings of childhood. Family friendly, it has wellknown songs and an overall feelgood flavour.
Delayed twice by Covid, this Manawatu¯ Theatre Society show is ready to roll.
Based on the much-beloved Peanuts cartoon strips by Charles Schultz, the show is a collection of vignettes starring Charlie Brown and his friends, including Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally, and of course Snoopy the beagle and Woodstock the yellow bird.
Upbeat Charlie faces childhood setbacks that will be familiar to many audience members — running for the school bus, failing to talk to his crush, dealing with his annoying little sister. He is never fazed for long though, and song and dance are around every corner. Ben White is stepping into the spotlight with this role, and enjoying it. “Charlie Brown is an insecure and shy, yet gentle, determined and loyal character — I feel as if I can easily relate to him and his adventures.”
Snoopy, the enthusiastic beagle, came to fame with the rest of the gang when Peanuts debuted in 1950. Known for his flights of fancy, he is both Charlie's sidekick and a character in his own right, enjoying a snooze on the doghouse, suppertime, and chasing the Red Baron of World War I and Snoopy’s Christmas fame. Kieran Murphy brings experience and high energy to the part, a “super pepper-upper” who will delight.
Charlie's schoolmate Lucy is a thug with a well-hidden heart of gold. Audiences should keep a keen ear out for the moment when she reveals it and shows kindness to Charlie. Whanganui import Alyssa Hartley plays this role with maturity and astuteness, emphasising the depth of Lucy's feelings.
Sally, Charlie's sometimes irritating little sister, gives musical aficionado Kaitlyn Crafts the chance to display her instinctive grasp of comic timing. Fun-loving and sometimes sweet, Sally is like many younger siblings; she is bolder and more confident than Charlie, and her cheekiness helps her get her own way.
Another younger member of the gang is Linus, Lucy's little brother. He is the reason the English language has the phrase comfort blanket — but is also able to give lectures without end, about any topic. He is played by Piripi PinfoldWhanga.
Schroeder, played by Benji Grant, is terrified of Lucy, who considers him her one true love. He loves only music.
Snoopy's chum, Woodstock, played alternately by Sarah Wilson and Abigail Franklin-Browne, flits in and out bringing grace and charm, as well as tickling Snoopy's stomach.
The main gang are complemented by an able ensemble of seven, and an off-stage choir, who bring extra pep.