Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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14 UCW SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 1, 2019 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The Gilbert Theater opened the 2019-2020 season with "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," based on the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz. The show, which launched its 26th season, brings the familiar fun of Charlie Brown and his friends to a new audience, while thrilling the inner child of older audience members with a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The show runs through Oct. 6. Linda Flynn, the stage designer, kept things simple with a sunny back- ground, reminiscent of the original comic look. The actors carry the few props they use in and out of each scene as necessary. But they didn't skimp on tradition. Schroeder's piano, Lucy's psychiatric advice booth and Linus's blanket all feature promi- nently throughout the play. The production also stayed close to tradition with the costumes. Lucy is in a blue dress, Sally wears pink and Charlie Brown is unmis- takable in his iconic yellow tee shirt with brown zig zags. Their characters are as familiar as a childhood friend. The cast dazzled the audience. 18-year-old Dan Follett was irresist- ible as Charlie Brown. He plays the anxiety-ridden character perfectly and has the audience in tears as he pines for the 'red-head girl' from beneath a brown paper bag. Jennifer Czechowski is the de- lightfully bossy, Lucy. She bounces back and forth between know-it- all psychologist and lovestruck schoolgirl pining away for Schro- eder with ease. Gage Long plays Schroeder, the tortured artist who's more infatu- ated with Beethoven's "Fur Elise" than Lucy's attention-seeking moves. His character seems hope- lessly out of place when he's not banging on his beloved keyboard. Caryn Festa plays Sally. Her platinum ringlets and fluffy pink dress notwithstanding, she's the most adult-like character in the bunch with an innate ability to ma- nipulate everyone from the teacher to Snoopy. LeeAnn Valcarcel is Snoopy, America's most beloved pet. Whether she's lounging on top of the doghouse or chasing rabbits with Sally, she's delightfully sarcas- tic and always manages to appear cooler than the humans. And finally, Quentin King steals the show as Linus. His lispy line delivery juxtaposed with his four- syllable dialogue were charming. Who else could deliver a five-min- ute dissertation on the psychologi- cal similarities between a security blanket and an adult's hobby? And he truly believes he can walk away. "It's a cozy sanctuary but it's far from necessary, 'Cause I'm just as self-reliant as before. As a simple demonstration of my independent station, I will go and leave my blan- ket on the floor." Until he realizes he can't. The entire cast warbles through each song, slightly off key but with the enthusiasm only a school- aged child could deliver. And they bounce from one scene to another, staying only long enough to remind you of some long-forgotten conver- sation, maybe on the playground or in your best friend's back yard. And then they're off again, bouncing around your childhood memories and hitting all the hot spots. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.Gilbert- Theater.com. 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' hits all the right notes by ELIZABETH BLEVINS EVENT Name: Phone Number: Email: www.schgnc.org Please send completed entry form to: Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 or fax to 910-484-9218 Scotland County Highland Games Saturday, October 5th in Laurinburg, NC Enter for Your Chance to Win passes to Enter for Your Chance to Win passes to ELIZABETH BLEVINS, Founder of HopeMills.net. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is at the Gilbert eater.