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Disclaimer:
The reviewers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheatreLouisville.org. |
Peer Reviews "Good
to Great" By Joe Monroe, II Entire contents copyright © 2009 Joe Monroe, II. All rights reserved.
In March 1967, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown opened and had nearly 1600 performances between its opening and 1971. It was revived in 1999 on Broadway, and has been performed all over the world, for audiences big and small, ever since. I had the auspicious opportunity of escorting my daughter to see CenterStage's production of this show. Although it was not my first time seeing this show performed, I was just as excited because it was hers, and I wanted to witness it through her eyes. We were looking forward to a wonderful experience. As we walked into the "Gymatorium," the first thing we noticed was a set that was simple yet aesthetically pleasing to see. The live orchestra was warming up, and the audience was taking their seats. The crowd that evening was a mixture of young and old, and everyone was all a-buzz, anticipating the opening night of the last show of the CenterStage season. This show was about a day in the life of the notorious Charlie Brown. A character created by Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown is the "leader" of the Peanuts gang. But you don't have to know Charlie...to love Charlie, or even to know any of the characters to like them. It does help to know the history of the characters because the comic strip comes to life as soon as the characters hit the stage...or at least it should. Let me first say, this show was good. I don't think just "good" is what the director was going for, but the potential greatness is there. There were some pitch problems and character development problems on opening night, but all were fixable. One thing about opening night, it can be nerve-wracking for all involved. Some in the industry refer to it as the "real" dress rehearsal. But as with any good show, there were some great performances in this one. Sally, played by Jennifer Casey Thompson, was true to form from beginning to end. I never had a younger sister, but I could only imagine that this would have been what it felt like. The most memorable character for my daughter was Schroeder, played by Chris Bryant. She said, "He really looked like he was playing the piano." Pete Lay as Snoopy added some much-needed comic relief as well. There were no major glitches to the show. Anything that one could be critical about was probably fixed at the meeting with the cast after the show. Once all the characters reflect the same energy that some of them portrayed, this show will rock. It has all of the elements it needs: a great set (loved the doghouse), a great orchestra, and a very capable cast. I strongly believe that if I had been watching the third night of the show instead of the first, there would be nothing but accolades for all. That means you still have an opportunity to see a show that was good for me, but should be great for you.
May 7 - May 17, 2009
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