The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of SA
TICKETS: https://www.gandssa.com.au/youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown
If the definition of ensemble is emphasising 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 have given new definition to a near perfect ensemble piece while at the same time allowing 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 was theirability 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 encapsulated 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 part of an outstanding performance.
The two ladies of the cast, Claire McEvoy as Lucy Van Pelt and Liliana Carletti as Sally Brown, contrasted their characters beautifully. Most recently appearing in ‘Come From Away’ and ‘&Juliet’ respectively, they represented the ensemble/individual nature of the productionperfectly. 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, emphasised the latter with an outstanding delivery of ‘My New Philosophy’.
Nicholas Centofanti, in the role of Linus Van Pelt, gave a sensitive portrayal of the blanket hugging and thumb sucking Linus. Who knew that a blanket could be imagined as such an important prop in his singing of the ‘My Blanket and Me’. Certainly, the audience would 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 held his own and was a very equal partner. Michael Butler as Shroeder portrayed 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 concluded with a beautiful ensemble number, ‘Happiness’. It was hard to believe we had really witnessed just one day in Charlie’s life and this song brought the audience home to how wonderful a day in the life of a child can be. Where the orchestra had 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 Brunneersituated 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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