Six adorable figures from the original Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz come to life exactly as they are drawn and this production shows us their charm and why this is such a popular comic for adults and children alike.
This splendid cast totally commit to their characters without overplaying the child element and the simple, effective staging allows every one of them to shine. Charlie Brown is a different kind of musical and that’s it’s charm. Instead of the usual story arc; conflict, romance, plots and sub-plots it’s a breezy series of vignettes, like a revue linked by strong characters and universal ideas.
Charles Schulz produced Peanuts for fifty years, running in 2,600 newspapers worldwide including our own beloved Possum Pages in the Sunday Mail. Schulz’s original character drawings are the opening backdrop to the show.
You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown presented by The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of South Australia.
A musical based on the comic Strip Peanuts by Charles M Schulz. Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner Additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
Director Ryan Ricci, Musical Director Dani Greaves, Choreographer Lucy Newman
July 1-4 2026, The Arts Theatre, Angas Street, Adelaide
The show is Ryan Ricci’s first time directing and Dani Greaves’ debut as musical director.
I note that they were both performers in G&S’ excellent Merrily We Roll Along in 2025 and Lucy Newman was choreographer for the same show. Lucy used all the classic musical, jazz, tap and vaudevillian styles to differentiate each character but added some clever ensemble movement which added even more interest. This is a cracking team which we will follow with great interest in the future.
Lindsay Prodea is one of our most experienced, talented and versatile performers. He plays Charlie Brown with great sensitivity. We believe his anxieties and frustrations, his longing for friendship and desire to fit in.
Claire McEvoy, Lilliana Carletti, Nicholas Centofanti, Michael Butler and Brady Lloyd play the other iconic characters with great heart and wit. Their vocals are so precise and their physical comedy and timing tight. Brady Lloyd as Snoopy the dog cleverly slips into his tap shoes to give us an hilarious show-stopping vaudeville-style-number, Supper Time. A big pat on the head and a treat for Brady for this gleeful scene stealer!
Comic strip kids and dogs they may be but you will recognise all the same emotions in the adults around you. Lucy has a stand where she offers not lemonade but psychoanalysis for 5c. Who amongst us doesn’t have a friend dispensing advice and judgements for less?
This is a joyous, pure show where strong characters who appear to be fighting most of the time clearly love each other deeply. You could not help to believe in this Peanuts comic strip family. The final song, Happiness will have you a bit misty-eyed and leave you wanting to spread some of the love radiating from the stage.
Such a pity that it was only given four performances. Word of mouth would have surely lifted the second week.
– Vicki Arnold
