You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
at Glen Burnie

Reviewed on December 6, 2019

Caroline Wilking
Notre Dame Preparatory
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Charles Schultz's beloved Peanuts characters were brought to life in a bright and amusing new way in Glen Burnie High School's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown".

Clark Gesner's "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is a comedic musical that premiered off-Broadway in 1967 and came to Broadway in 1971. It combines classic scenes from Charles Schultz's comics and both familiar and new music to create a unique live experience.

Glen Burnie High School's production was grounded in impressive technical elements and an energetic cast. The attention to each detail in this show and the cast's ability to fully become their characters made this show immersive and memorable.

Colbey Parks, who played Charlie Brown, performed with emotion and mannerisms that gave his character believability and clear personality. Erin Shields, who played Lucy Van Pelt, delighted the audience and created a standout role. She induced laughter frequently with her spunky and headstrong nature. Parks and Shields worked together effectively, especially in their song "The Doctor is In".

Supporting Parks and Shields was a talented group of actors. Fred Fairson, who played Snoopy, gave his character a fantastically humorous voice and was noticeably charming in both his solo moments and scenes featuring other characters. Sarah Petraska, who played Woodstock, danced beautifully throughout the show and was able to express herself without any words. Messiah Brown, who played Schroeder, sang spectacularly and thoroughly entertained the audience, specifically in the remarkable number "Beethoven Day".

This production could not have been as good as it was without the amazing technical design. The multi-leveled set was particularly great and the details in the costumes and props gave the show a unique touch. The world seemed to expand in moments, such as that in "The Kite", where props and set pieces flew out from the stage and over the audience. The entire show flowed seamlessly due to the work of Glen Burnie's stage crew and designers.

Glen Burnie High School's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" revived Charles Schultz's cherished stories impactfully and memorably.

Kara Mestanas
Broadneck
Submitted for publication to The Gateway

Watch the lovable Peanuts characters come to life in Glen Burnie High School's high-energy production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown".

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is a musical adaptation of the classic Peanuts comics by Charles M. Schultz. The show first premiered in March 1967 at Theatre 80 in New York before hitting Broadway in 1971. The original Off-Broadway Production won various awards, including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical. The show follows the Peanuts as they deal with school, love, and fitting in.

Glen Burnie's production excelled in its production aspects. Ross Earley's costuming mixed with Naveah Patron and Devyn Smith's hair and make-up made it so each actor was easily recognizable. The set, designed by Fred Fairson, Duncan Sollers, Josh Uder, and "The Peanut Gallery", brought the comic's environment to life.

Colbey Parks embodies the mopey, self-critical essence of Charlie Brown through his use of physicality and tone. Erin Shields counteracts with her portrayal of the confident yet crabby Lucy. Shields excels in her performance of the song Schroeder, producing an abundance of laughter from the crowd.

Despite not being a lead, Messiah Rogers as Schroeder stole the show with his phenomenal singing and comedic ability. Fred Fairson as Snoopy ensured laughter with his mastery of physicality and pacing.

If you are looking for a hilarious, high-energy show sure to fill you with nostalgia, Glen Burnie's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is the show for you.

Gloria Robberto
Notre Dame Preparatory
Submitted for publication to The Tribruin

Get ready to do Snoopy's happy dance, because the Peanuts gang is back at it again! Glen Burnie High School's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" brings the characters to life in a lively performance sure to bring a smile to anyone's face!

The comedy musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is a collection of short skits and scenes based on Charles M. Schulz's comic script Peanuts. Full of quick witted humor and nostalgia for the original comics, this production was first brought to the stage on Off-Broadway in 1967 followed by a series of productions in West End, a US Tour, and Broadway.

Bright, colorful, and energetic are three perfect words to describe this production, full to the brim (of Snoopy's dog bowl, of course) with animated movement and expressive stage presence. The small number of the cast members worked in their favor as a close, comfortable environment was created among the characters. This was especially visible during entertaining group numbers such as "Beethoven Day", where everyone's interactions brought the celebration to the audience.

In the show, Charlie Brown thinks no one really likes him, but Colbey Parks brought sympathetic smiles to people's faces as he sat under his tree contemplating kite flying, and though his posture and exasperated tone when he spoke. The character Lucy, however, believes that everyone should love her as if she were a queen, and Erin Shields' powerful voice brought a clear message to the audience that for her, it was either to love, or be slugged. It can be difficult to tackle the part of a dog, especially one so loved around the world, but Fred Fairson (Snoopy) did not disappoint. Whether he was waiting for supper or battling the WWI Flying Ace, the audience prepared to laugh when he stepped on stage. The character Snoopy brings light and color into Charlie Brown's life, and Fairson did the same to the show.

Messiah Rogers' passion for composers such as Beethoven and Chopin was nearly contagious, and his love for music spread to the audience as he preformed" Beethoven Day" with powerful conviction and fabulous vocals. Loralei Wolf also brought Sally's philosophies center stage through her bright voice, helping her play the young child with bundles of energy.

The simple yet effective set was a beautiful way to show the essence of the musical, and the bright colors of Schulz's world were created in a multi-tier set. Snoopy's comical bright red doghouse created a focal point for the stage, and masterfully fell apart as he was defeated once again by the Red Baron.

"Happiness" is watching the cast and crew have fun while preforming "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" at Glen Burnie High School!