"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

August 30, 2017 — Don't assume this is a children's play, although it's appropriate for all ages. It would be most enjoyable by those familiar with Charles Schulz's cast of kids, some wise beyond their years, with very adult issues, in his long-running comic strip, "Peanuts." Jean's Playhouse in Lincoln, New Hampshire, presented a perfectly charming performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," based on Schulz's characters. Book, music and lyrics are by Clark Gesner with additional dialog by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.

The cast consisted of six talented young adult actors. Charlie, the lovable loser whose baseball team never wins and whose kite always gets eaten by the tree, is played by big Matthew Woodside, towering over the other actors. Schroeder, he of the grand piano, is portrayed by Tyler Stettler. Joe Keiserman is the blanket-dependent Linus. Trent Hayward, dressed in white tux and black tie, trousers cut off at the knees and white sneakers, is Charlie's dog, Snoopy, with all his delusions of grandeur. Analise Rios is crabby Lucy. Sally is played by powerful-voiced Clare Rea. The little red-haired girl shy Charlie admires from a distance is never seen. The story is told mostly in song lyrics. The music is catchy and the dialog witty.

This production was directed and choreographed for Jean's Playhouse by Lisa Travis. B. C. Williams' set design and Colleen Keith's prop design faithfully reproduced the look of the comic strip, including Snoopy's doghouse, Schroeder's Piano and Lucy's psychiatrist's booth. Jordan Ostrowski was music director.

This was an afternoon well-spent in Lincoln, one of my favorite New Hampshire towns, minutes from Franconia Notch, the Kancamagus Highway and other White Mountain attractions. As I strolled around the town with it's attractive parks, resorts and quaint shops, especially the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shoppe, I was saddened with the knowledge this is probably the last time I'll see it until next summer.