Attending this show without any previous knowledge of what was on offer was a mistake on my part. The first few presentations and songs seemed to have no continuity and I was wondering where the play was heading. Then it all became clear: each section was a vignette of the comic strip which highlighted and gave each of the characters a chance to show off what their roles are in the comic strip.
The Director Andrew Broadbent faced many firsts in this productions including the MBP&S performing in a new venue, a cast with only a little experience and a show that was outside the normal confines of a stage play. With all that in mind he has pulled together and presented a show that will allow for future presentations in this very large venue.
The six cast members plus the two adorable Woodstock Birds put their all into their individual parts plus the chorus where they all sang with gusto. The vocal directors, Serenity Taylor and Sophie Meers, had their work cut out as there were no memorable songs that the audience could remember or sing along with. However they produced some good performances on the night. As well as her vocal directing Sophie also played the part of Schroeder, which was a standout.
The role of Charlie Brown was performed by Daytona Luke. Her expressions were outstanding and although her voice was very pleasant it varied in volume so that some of the words were lost. Charlie Brown’s sister Sally was played by Amelie Rooney who left no doubt as to who this character was her powerful voice. The same could be said for Chloe Chigwidden as Lucy Van Pelt with her actions and stage presence. Maddie Stock held onto the blanket in true Linus Van Pelt style. Her actions when being bullied over her blanket or when trying to leave it were memorable. To round out the cast was Snoopy played by Jack Humphrys. This role seemed to be miscast as the mind seems to picture Snoopy as a lovable small dog. However the role was made more comedic by Jack’s tall physique and the costume with the tail that he made work for him.
All the production team and crew played their part in putting on a regional show and we look forward to the next one.
