by Christina Foster '07
"Good grief!" The famous line uttered by Charlie Brown time and time again in the Charles M. Schultz classic Peanuts comes to life on center stage in the Virginia Wesleyan production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
The timeless comic premiered in 1967 in an off-Broadway production, was made into an animated version in 1985 and was revived into its final Broadway musical version in 1999. This latest version is the adaptation that Director and Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Travis Malone has chosen to be performed on the Hofheimer Theatre stage starting Fri., Oct. 27.
"The show captures well the heartfelt determination... of the comic strip,"
said Malone. "It reminds us of the real priorities of life, which are really important to our community now."
The plays provides key moments taken directly from the comic strip, including the baseball game, Charlie Brown flying his kite and Lucy giving her "sound" advice. It is a metaphoric day in the life of Charlie Brown.
"I have been doing theatre since I was in the third grade," said freshman theatre major Stephen Eley, who plays Linus. "My third grade teacher was the head of the drama department at my elementary school in Belgium and she introduced me to it."
Many other cast members have also been in plays previous to this one. Sophomore religious studies major Kori Robins, who plays Sally Brown, performed in The Children's Hour by Lillian Helman at Virginia Wesleyan last fall. Freshman David Aintablian, who plays Charlie Brown, has performed in four other plays before this one, including Cinderella, in which he played Prince Charming.
One member of the cast who has not acted before is senior art major Jennifer Justis, who plays Snoopy. She does have a background in choir, though, which prepared her for the musical aspect of the play.
"I've never acted before in my life," she said. "I wanted to give both of my parents something special in return for everything they've done for me."
Dr. David Clayton, professor of music, is responsible for convincing Justis to audition. According to Malone, Virginia Wesleyan tries to put on a musical every two to three years.
Although the level of acting skills varies among the cast, there is one consensus: a small cast is a good cast. This play consists of six characters, including Charlie Brown, Sally Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder and Snoopy.
"Everyone gets along," said freshman theatre major Lynea Cook, who plays Lucy. "I have really gotten to know them better and we are friends."
Luke Crownover, who plays Schroeder in the musical, agrees.
"I love working with a small cast," he said. "When there's only six people in a play, a close bond forms between cast members."
In addition to Malone, two others have helped with the production "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." Clayton and Associate Dean of Students Lina Green have worked with the cast every step of the way. Green conducted all choreography and Clayton was instrumental in preparing the six cast members' musical numbers and helped coach the cast in their musical abilities. Justis and Crownover were the only experienced singers of the group, so Clayton's help was greatly appreciated.
"I have zero dance experience whatsoever," said Justis. "If [Green] hadn't taken time out of her busy schedule to meet with me outside of rehearsals to basically teach me how to dance, I'd be one boring Snoopy."
The cast also had nothing but shining compliments for Malone's kind-hearted direction.
"A lot of the time, I find myself mimicking his interpretation because it seems as though he fits Charlie Brown really well," said Aintablian.
Overall, the decision to pick a musical for this fall's student production was well-received by the cast. The classic comic connects on a personal level with so many people who are reminded of a time when they read Peanuts as children. And Charlie Brown is the good-hearted character from the comic strip who always had the worst of luck, but never gave up.
"That's what makes him so endearing – he continues to try," said Malone.
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be performed Oct. 27, 28, Nov. 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in Virginia Wesleyan’s Hofheimer Theatre.