The Performing Arts Department at Cedar Crest College has staged a colorful and enjoyable production of the comics-based musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
The show which is Feb. 25 to 27 in Samuels Theatre, on Cedar Crest's Hamilton Street campus in Allentown, is thoroughly playful and ultimately uplifting.
The entire cast of 13 are charming as Charlie Brown and his youthful friends and many of the familiar situations from the Peanuts comics strip are brought to brightly hued life from Charlie Browns baseball team to Snoopys doghouse to Lucys psychiatrist booth.
Anthony Rizzuto is touching as the beleaguered Charlie Brown and is heartfelt in songs like the hopeful title tune and the heartbreaking "The Baseball Game" and "The Kite." He is the determined heart of the piece.
Carter Reichard is pushy and abrasive as the notoriously crabby Lucy. Reichard mines the laughs in "Schroeder" and "Little Known Facts," and gives Charlie Brown an unexpected glimmer of hope in "The Doctor is In."
Mackenzie Lewis is enjoyable sassy and self-centered as Charlie Browns little sister Sally and shows attitude aplenty in the very funny "My New Philosophy."
Todd Croslis is sweet and gently humorous as the perceptive-beyond-his-years Linus. He is adorable in the ode to his ubiquitous comfort object "My Blanket and Me."
Ashlyn Auriemma brings lots of bold character notes to Charlie Browns dog Snoopy and hits the mark in the melodramatic "The Red Baron" and the joyous "Suppertime"
Cameron Kunsman is quietly passionate as Schroeder, and leads the cast in the totally delightful "The Book Report," which is one of the highlights of the show.
Schroeder also is the conductor in the amusing "Glee Club Rehearsal" which dissolves into chaos.
The energetic ensemble includes Madison Anusky, Lukas Barnett, Zaria Berry, Joanne Holler, Mark Ingram, Corrine McClain and Deven Windisch all of whom shine in the high energy group numbers. Another highlight is the show-ending "Happiness," which leaves everything on an uplifting note.
JoAnn Wilchek Basist shows a deft hand in keeping what are basically separate vignettes connected and keeping the action moving briskly.
Kudos to set designers Vicki Neal and Dick Kendrick who have created the vividly colored set which immerses the audience right into the comic strip.
Costume Designer D. Polly Kendrick has dressed the cast in the primary colors and designs expected of the Peanuts gang, even down to color-coordinated masks which are won throughout the show.
However, the masks do have an impact on the performance, mostly in that sometimes, you are not sure which character is singing , particularly in ensemble numbers.
Performances are 7 p.m. Feb. 25, 2 and 7 p.m. Feb. 26, and 2 p.m. Feb. 27.
All audience members are required to wear masks in Samuels Theatre.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Contact the box office at
For information, go to cedarcrest.edu/stage or call 610-606-4608.