Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts have always appealed to Aidan Rolle.
“When I was younger, I really liked the comics. I have a book of the comics. I love the specials and everything,” said Aidan, 15, who plays Charlie Brown in Musical Theatre Workshops’ upcoming performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown in particular appeals to Aidan.
“Charlie Brown is special. He tries so hard. He’s awesome. He’s down on his luck and can’t seem to do anything right,” he said.
And Mickey Lubeck, Musical Theatre Workshops director, said he was the perfect choice for the role when auditioning her students for the show.
“This is in-house, so you sort of, kind of know them, but then they come and audition, and they surprise you all the time,” she said. “Aidan is Charlie Brown. He exudes Charlie Brown.”
The show typically has a cast of about six, but for this production, Lubeck added an ensemble to provide richer vocals and allow other children to perform. She even has a group of Woodstocks who are participating.
One thing LaShay Rice who plays Charlie Brown’s nemesis, Lucy, likes is the way the musical is written.
“The scenes aren’t like traditional scenes,” said LaShay, a Greenbrier High School junior. “They are like little skits. They are trying to emulate the comic strip. One skit has Charlie Brown on the wall; another has Lucy and Schroeder. It reminds me of how a comic strip would be in the newspaper.”
LaShay said she sees more to the character of Lucy and hopes to bring a different side of her out.
“On the surface, she’s a mean, snobby little kid. On the inside, she cares, but she doesn’t want anyone to know it. That’s what I try to bring to the character that she’s outside one way, but on the inside, she’s different,” she said.
Both LaShay and Aidan say the play embodies the spirit of the comics as well as the animated specials.
“It’s such a great adaptation because it brings all the pieces everybody loves about Charlie Brown, but it’s not trying to be the specials. It’s new, but something that’s sincerely Charlie Brown,” said Aidan.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be performed at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Presidential Dinner Theatre at Fort Eisenhower. Although the show will be performed at the dinner theater, Lubeck said it’s not part of the Fort Eisenhower season so it will not have a meal.
For tickets, go here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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