'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' by Castle Craig Players - My Review

Nine summers ago the Castle Craig Player’s “kids” wanted to do a summer show while they were home from college and the summer “company” was born. Their first summer production was You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and nine years later they have brought it back to the Castle Craig stage. Putting a show together in five weeks is not easy and these “kids” and their director Melanie Del Sole have done so very well.

The musical in two acts by Clark Gesner is based on the iconic comic strip PEANUTS by Charles M. Schultz and includes just five of the beloved characters and one famous beagle, each more well-drawn than the next. The setting is an average day in the life of Charlie Brown and includes many vignettes of what makes him so memorable.

The always marvelous Ian Galligan played the title role and simply did what he does so well to make for the perfect little kid in the yellow zigzag shirt. Watching him try to work up the courage to speak to the little red haired girl or attempt to fly his nemesis the (offstage) kite could not have been more fun to watch. Mr. Galligan, who just directed Sound of Music at this theater, wins the prize for the best bio in the program.

The adorable Jenny Del Sole (who was Kate Monster in Avenue Q) played Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally. This actress has grown up on the Castle Craig stage and is returning to UCONN to work on her Masters in Special Education and Literacy Intervention. Trust me, she does not look old enough to do so as she played Sally with a cute little (but not annoying) speaking voice. This young lady is truly a bundle of talent.

Linus is played by Art Canova (Avenue Q) who is a student at Central CT. Here he dragged around the infamous blanket while he philosophized about life in general and tried to stay out of his sister Lucy’s way. The role of the crabby one was played to the hilt by Simone McMahon who was such a marvelous Elsa in Sound of Music. This Lucy Van Pelt can ...wait for it...belt.

The piano playing, Beethoven loving Schroeder was played by Jorge Melendez (Avenue Q and set painter for Sound of Music.) He worked very well with Music Director Andrew Gadwah and was probably very glad that the latter had to cover on the piano the classical pieces and all the other challenging music in the delightful score. As Schroeder says in the show, “Playing great music is an art.”

The final member of the cast is the dog with the big imagination played to perfection by Wesley Tack (who was also in Avenue Q and Sound of Music.) His expressive face and wonderful voice made his Snoopy so endearing, especially as he opened his “Suppertime” show with a song and dance.

Melanie Del Sole and her dad Warren co-founded the Castle Craig Players over 20 years ago. By day she is a second grade teacher in Middletown. She has an impressive directorial resume and made sure that every member of this cast had their chance to shine. Mr. Gadwah accompanied the vocals on piano and made sure that the harmonies were always in sync. I loved the choreography in “Beethoven Day” and the ever changing musical clips that made up “Rabbit Chasing,” the one time that the music director could take a breather.

The comic strip scenery designed by the director (and I mean that as a compliment) set the stage so well, as did the wonderful costumes by the director and her daughter, Mr. Galligan and Mr. Melendez. Mr. Galligan was also responsible for the cheeky sound effects.

This is a great show for young kids and adults who loved PEANUTS as a kid. Next season the CCP have planned for the fall The Man and His Music, a musical tribute to their founder the late Warren M. Stephan, featuring alumni from the past 22 years. Also scheduled are It’s a Wonderful Life, Nunsense A-Men! and Into the Woods.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown continues next weekend Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. Tickets are $20. Tickets are available online at www.CastleCraig.org, or by calling toll-free 1-800-838-3006.The Playhouse is located in downtown Meriden at 59 West Main ST. There is a parking garage behind the storefront theater.

Pictured: The cast of ’You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Broadway Musical’ Photo by Castle Craig Players