Craig Nudelman, Bryony Bosman, Martine Kawalsky, Erin Gemmel, Jaydon Farao, Simon Thompson, Robyn Williams These are subtly layered, sometimes making reference to literary works such as a school scene touching in on Edgar Allan Poe. Youngsters younger than 10 years old may find difficulty understanding each episode, as well as Hal Hackady’s lyrics. However, as the musical is based on Schulz’s daily cartoon strip, instinctively adults take each scene on its own merits. Other than a slim theme that Snoopy is growing independent of Charlie no real story line is followed. Other characters are costumed in typical Schulz designed clothes and beginning with The World According to Snoopy, the musical unfolds in sung, danced and spoken vignettes. Snoopy, as the only human acting an animal, wears whites and a brushed up hairdo. On audience right is Snoopy’s (Jaydon Farao) red kennel, next to Snoopy’s kennel a white picket fence hides the four-piece Harvest Band, and on audience left is a silver nest where Woodstock (Erin Gemmell) lies curled up. Other bits and pieces add to taking the audience into a child’s space Suspended above the huts a cloudlike cut-out acts as a video screen on which clips further the story line. Set designers Waldo Buckle and Zain Cassiem have dressed the tiny arena stage with facades of three, small, multi-coloured semi-detached hut-like homes – a closeness indicating Snoopy’s characters are tightly knit buddies. Presently showing in Artscape’s Arena, Darryl Spijkers production is a delightful two hours spent with adults living out a children’s world. Simon Thompson, Robyn Williams, Jaydon Farao, Martine Kawalsky, Erin Gemmel, Craig Nudelman, Bryony Bosman They’d only learn about Snoopy the beagle “muddling up” Peppermint Patty “crabby” Lucy “complex” Sally Linus and his blanket “twittering” Woodstock and “loveable loser” Charlie Brown if they attended Clark Gesner’s musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, or Larry Grossman’s musical, Snoopy. On his retirement cartoonist Charles M Schulz declared “no cartoonist will be permitted to carry on my Peanuts cartoon strip.” This meant young people born after 2000, missed out growing up knowing Schulz’s quirky characters.
Martine Kawalsky (Peppermint Patty), Bryony Bosman (Sally Brown) and Robyn Williams (Lucy van Pelt). Set design: Waldo Buckle and Zain Cassiem. Based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M Schulz.
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