Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy are just two of the characters from the inspired pen of cartoonist Charles Schultz, the creator of “Peanuts,” who turned his young characters into the world’s most beloved ‘gang of young children’ who in retrospect look suspiciously a lot like us. 

With the Pandemic now about 75% corralled in America, thanks to vaccinations, the Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) of Palm Springs launched its current production “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, the Musical” on Friday, July 9^th to an enthusiastic, welcoming and energized audience.

America’s live stage venues have been closed for over 14 months.  Theatre and film fans have been hungry for entertainment.  PCT’s current production is a feast for the eyes and ears as well as for its nostalgia of a different time.  One can’t help reflecting backward to our own childhood experiences and memories when watching it.

 ‘From the mouths of babes,’ it is said, comes many funny, insightful, wistful at times, but always truthful comments.  No guile from these youngsters except for the character of Lucy Van Pelt, winningly played by Leslie Benjamin, who comes to realize she’s a crabby, needy, lonely little girl who must get her way all the time.  I dare say most people can identify the Lucy types of the world.  If that’s true, then we must also must admit that it would be a pretty dull and boring world to inhabit if we all thought did things the same, n’est-ce pas?

PCT Theatre founder Dr. William Layne lovingly directs a wonderfully talented ensemble cast of six actors that perfectly fit the vision of Layne and that of playwright Clark M. Gesner, who originally wrote the music and Lyrics for the show back in 1967. 

Additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa fleshed out the musical revival version of the production into a musical becoming one of the longest-running productions in Broadway history with 5,975 Broadway performances, including the revival production of 1997.

The beauty of this PCT production lies totally in its ensemble cast.  Each performer delivering a believable and authentic performance as a six, seven, or eight-year-old character.  We’re looking at adults acting like children who believe in what’s taking place on stage.  In less talented hands, the performances would appear as ridiculous and embarrassing.  For purists and “Peanuts” lovers, it’s a joy and a delight to reflect once again on our childhoods in action.  One of the problem with life, alas, is that some of us never seem to grow up into traditional adults at all.

Shout-outs are definitely in order for this inspired cast of performers, whose talent and commitment could easily light the entire city of Palm Springs with the energy emanating from the stage.  Actors are always ready to receive audience feedback as a way of upping their performance skills, just like radar signals that are sent always bounce back to the sender.

The cast in alphabetical order consists of Keith Alexander as Linus Van Pelt, a little boy who is in love with his blanket; Allegra Angelo as Sally Brown, Charlie’s inquisitive little sister who maybe baseball-challenged as team player, but considers herself a budding child philosopher;  David Brooks as Schroeder, a Beethoven loving boy acolyte and child pianist; the aforementioned Leslie Benjamin as Lucy Van Pelt; J.W Layne as Charlie Brown,  the luckless, ‘born loser’ type who remains an eternal sports optimist who believes his neighborhood baseball team he captains, will one day win a ballgame and Paul Grant as the inimitable Snoopy, the world’s most famous Beagle and flying Ace hero of WW I will one day bring down his arch-enemy The Red Baron while flying his Sopwith Camel biplane in aerial combat…  Dogs ya know, lead rich fantasy lives too.

In the technical department, the credits at PCT are always spot-on.  The choreography is designed by Se Layne.  The musical director is Scott Smith.  Costume Designer Derik Shopinski gives the production the look of authenticity of Charles Schultz’s original cartoon images so familiar to fans of the “Peanuts” cartoon strip.  Wig designs are by Mado Nunez with Props by Marsha Berry.  Nick Wass stage manages the production.

The orchestra led by Musical Director Scott Smith on piano and David Bronson on drums, Larry Holloway on Bass, and a mystery, uncredited, female violinist who together back the sixteen songs and numbers with ACT I’s   “My Blanket and Me,” “The Book Report” and Act II’s “My New Philosophy,” “Suppertime “ and “Happiness,”  being five of my faves out of many good numbers. 

“You’re a good man Charlie Brown; the Musical” is the perfect production for the entire family to enjoy following our 14-month pandemic ordeal as we begin to return to our entertainment choices once more. But PCT musical productions are still having ongoing problems with the location of the orchestra being too close to the on-stage actors to the point that, at times, the music drowns out the on-stage dialogue.

This delightful production runs to July 18, 2021.  For reservations and ticket information, call the box office at 760 –323-5123 or go online to www.palmcanyontheatre.org.