You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown

The phrase “the show must go on” is incredibly apt for Uniting Productions latest offering of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Originally scheduled for April 2020, the company has had run the gauntlet that most theatre companies have faced since the pandemic began, but when the COVID plans were finally settled and signed off, and the new dates booked the company then had to face cancelled rehearsals due to major storms and a last-minute withdrawal of a major lead.

Despite all this, they’ve managed to pull together a delightful production with enough zest and appeal to provide just under two hours of exceptionally engaging entertainment.

If Google is to be believed, this musical is a staple of the community theatre, but this is the work’s first production in the region in nearly 20 years. Without any linear plot, the work borrows from the original cartoons’ stories and styles heavily, opting for short vignettes and scenes, with witty one-liners and wonderful songs that stick with you long after leaving the venue.

Director and Musical Director Kathryn Peterson is commended for making even this seasoned theatre-goer forget he was sitting in a small church hall. Her eye for detail and passion for the material is abundant, aided by Jissel Toomey and Madeline Wells’ rich choreography, Rebecca Howarth’s clever set design (with artwork by Tor Tipton), and Linda McWilliam’s cartoon actuate costumes.

Darren George brings a nuanced gentleness to Charlie Brown in the titular role, filling the stage with life and happiness. George plays well against each company member, constantly lifting the bar each time he enters.

Kira Stallard’s Lucy is extremely compelling, even more so when you read the program note and find out she had just 4 rehearsals to learn it.

Jamie Sturgess plays a charming Schroeder, Rebecca Howarth is a powerhouse as Sally, and Addison Morley is a complete scene-stealer as Linus.

Madeline Wells ably supports the lead cast as Woodstock, with Jordan Snook as Rerun, Sam Luxford as Schremy, Lyn Hunt as Violet, Nicola Morley as Peppermint Patty and Beck Wolski as Marcie. Normally when reviewing, the ensemble gets overlooked, save for a “they were great” to avoid not singling out one over another, but when there are only 6 of them, and all of them work beautifully unified, it’s warranted.  

Above all shines Chris Brame’s Snoopy; his performance provides the beating heart, pushing the entire company to give more in every scene. Finding the humour in even the simplest moments, Brame once again proves why he’s one of the region’s most sought-after performers.

If one has any complaints, it’s that the community doesn’t get behind regional companies like Uniting Productions enough, meaning budgets don’t stretch to microphones. Despite this, Lachlan Rush’s lighting, and Bear Peterson’s sound doesn’t detract from the work for a moment - they aid it immensely.

This production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown is community theatre at its best. In a time when modern theatre has become significantly darker in response to the world around it, this production is nothing but light, joy, and happiness. This reviewer’s generation’s knowledge of Charlie Brown and Peanuts may be limited, but Uniting Productions has made these adorable characters relevant, relatable, and extremely worth the trip into Gosford to see.

Joshua Maxwell