(out of 
)In celebration of Charles Schultz' creations' 50th anniversary, Mesa Little Theatre is mounting the other musical about the Peanuts® gang. While most are aware of the pseudonymous Clark Gesner's creation, not as many know that composer Larry Grossman and lyricist Hal Hackady put together another show which ran Off-Broadway in the '70s. Snoopy! is eerily similar in structure and format to You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. There's many of your favorite comic strips brought to life, from the Citizen Kane strip to The Great Writer strips. There's also a "knowledge" song, a "school" song, and a "life-affirming, positively-upbeat anthem" finale. Old characters Schroeder and "naturally curly haired" Patty have exited, replaced by some of the newer creations, tomboy Peppermint Patty, Sally Brown and Woodstock. And, it's still very cute, funny and the kind of show that will delight youngsters and the inner-child in even the grumpiest of oldsters.
Director Matthew Cary has cast this production almost perfectly. Every actor on the stage, save one, looks and basically acts as though they have stepped from the strip to perform. He has paced the show at a brisk clip, and with some clever stage pictures. In this case, less is more, and Mr. Cary has let the script and songs drive this show. And while the actors seem more like their characters than being them, often remaining as two-dimensional as the newspaper that carries the original, this is definitely one of those shows that can survive limited depth.
Let's just say it and be done with it: Glenn Parker and Chris Nickerson were made for the roles of blockhead Charlie Brown and egghead Linus Van Pelt respectively. Mr. Parker may not be vocally strong, but he is so convincing as the ever optimistic, luckless kid, one can't think of a better actor for the job. Mr. Nickerson has been Linus in the other Peanuts® show, and seems to have been made for the part. He is the strongest of the cast, bringing across both the intellect and the insecure balance to the role. Though they initially seemed switched in their casting, Julia Fordtner and Linda Lieberman prove that wrong as they recreate bossy Lucy Van Pelt and the granola Peppermint Patty. Ms. Fordtner plays brassy and self-centered, while impressively belting her songs. Ms. Lieberman does a great job of acting, but surprises all by revealing her depth of performance and her character's softer side during the understated, bluesy "Poor Sweet Baby." As the younger sister, cutesie Sally Brown, Jenn Wheelwright plays broadly and sings sweetly, with the three women doing a great job during the enjoyable "I Know Now." In the difficult role of little yellow bird, Woodstock, Kathleen Marie dances up a storm, and perfectly hams her way through her interactions with best bud and soulmate Snoopy.
The only major hesitation of the show comes from the titled character himself. As Joe Cool and Great Writer, John Rich is more understated and tentative than his broad character calls for. While he hoofs well, and struts like a regal beagle, his voice is soft and his manner a bit mild. He does compliment Ms. Marie's simplistic choreography. The other actors, though, do not do as well with the dance component, and many of Ms. Marie's choices are not appropriately cartoony, feeling more new age at some times and old hat at others.
Fran Lindsay has created a good set, and Caryol Gebhardt's lighting is solid. No one owns up to some of the plain, and just plain wrong choices in costumes, which includes an almost all-white costume on Snoopy, save for an inexplicable, enormous black streak/spot on his back that looks like a reverse-imaged skunk, and sneakers rather than the trademark Birkenstocks on Peppermint Patty.
This is a rare chance to see the other Peanuts® musical, and enjoy the nearly perfect casting that Mr. Cary has concocted. While it may have its rough patches and weaker moments, it still raises a smile and squeezes a tear, and is a further step in the increased production values of MLT.
Production Details:
Snoopy!!! Music by Larry
Grossman & Lyrics by Hal Hackaday
Mesa Little Theatre
The Mesa Arts Center
(480) 834-9500 (Option 1)
November 12th - November 28th, 1999