You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown - 5 out of 5 stars
The G&S Society of SA
TICKETS: https://www.gandssa.com.au/youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown
If the definition of ensemble is emphasizing the roles of
all performers rather than a star performance, then this show is theoretically
confusing because it delivers that dictionary meaning in spades, while equally
delivering individual star performances! That this show can deliver on both is
a wonderful credit to the creative team and the performers themselves.
Led by Ryan Ricci as Director, Dani Greaves as Musical
Director, Lucy Newman Choreographer and Daniel Brunner Assistant Musical
Director, this team give new definition to a near perfect ensemble piece while
at the same time allow the individual performers the space and creativity to
herald their own individual talents. I am certain that the creative space of
the rehearsal room at ‘the G&S Shed’ was the perfect environment to
cultivate this ensemble/ individual production where the production was created
within a tight and professionally respected team environment. At times,
audience members can be heard saying during a production ’this all looks so
effortless’, without regard to the hours upon hours of back-and-forth rehearsal.
Cast experience meeting opportunity has created something special here.
The Arts Theatre stage can seem big to any Director, and
there are many ways in which to fill it. To ponder that with a minimal set and
six performers takes some courage and yet it was a risk worth taking because at
no stage did the stage dwarf the performers such is their ability to shine.
Indeed, a minimal set kept the space open, and the set design was supportive
and efficient, adding to the overall lightness of the production. Is it a bad
thing for an audience not to pay too much attention to surrounding elements
like set and lights? Not in this production and so well done, the blended whole
filled the stage.
Lindsay Prodea as Charlie Brown, an experienced and awarded
performer across multiple genres, portrays the seemingly least captivating
child in the group but if you believe that description of the character then
you have been deceived. Lindsay’s well-balanced portrayal provides the perfect
outlet for the Charles Schultz (creator of the Peanuts comic strip)
philosophies on display while allowing the other cast members to shine equally
around him.
In a clever and talented performance, Brady Lloyd as Snoopy
encapsulates the ensemble/ individual nature of this show so well. As part of
the ensemble, great comic timing however brief, a terrific team player. Individually,
his dancing and singing in The Red Baron and Suppertime become part
of an outstanding performance.
The two ladies of the cast, Claire McEvoy as Lucy Van Pelt
and Liliana Carletti as Sally Brown, contrast their characters beautifully.
Most recently appearing in ‘Come From Away’ and ‘&Juliet’
respectively, they represent the ensemble/ individual nature of the production
perfectly. Lucy’s interplay with Schroeder and her attempts to have people say
she wasn’t a crabby personality showcased the controlling accent of her
character, strongly supported by her vocal tone and accent when delivering her
dialogue. Sally, portrayed as the slightly dizzy sister of Charlie Brown
seeking her own personal understanding of what life meant to her, emphasises
the latter with an outstanding delivery of ‘My New Philosophy’.
Nicholas Centofanti, in the role of Linus Van Pelt, gives a
sensitive portrayal of the blanket hugging and thumb sucking Linus. Who knew
that a blanket can be imagined as such an important prop in his singing of the
‘My Blanket and Me’. Certainly, the audience will have had no doubt that
his prop would have been held close by during the entire rehearsal period such
was his practised use of it.
Although the least experienced performer amongst his
colleagues (according to his bio) he more than holds his own and is a very
equal partner. Michael Butler as Shroeder portrays his character in such a
clever way, cerebral, seemingly completely immune to Lucy’s manipulations and
mostly above the day of dramatics that framed the whole Peanuts experience.
Cleverly, the production concludes with a beautiful ensemble
number, ‘Happiness’. It is hard to believe we had really witnessed just
one day in Charlie Brown’s life and this song brings the audience home to how
wonderful a day in the life of a child can be.
Where the orchestra has played away in the background
without too much notice, their playing and support of the cast singing was spot
on, and Dani Greaves and Daniel Brunner situated them perfectly.
On a final note, the G&S took an opportunity to provide
a special matinee for five local schools this week. I am advised that this was
very well received by their young audience. G&S should be congratulated for
supporting these schools and their youth theatre programs, a highlight being
allowing the cast and creative team to undertake a Q&A after the show for
the students and teaching staff.
- Dave Kilsby
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