On March 20, 21, and 22, the Chatham University Drama Club presented “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on campus at Eddy Theater. Many students, faculty, and community members had the opportunity to enjoy the show during the three-day run.
The show follows the life of Charlie Brown and his friends, characters created in the popular “Peanuts” comic by Charles Schultz. It included various vignettes that gave the audience insight into the lives of the kids, as well as multiple musical numbers throughout.
The show’s title character, Charlie Brown, was played by first year Krista Arena, who is majoring in chemistry. Arena showed off her impressive musical talent during her solos in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and proved that newcomers to campus certainly cannot be counted out.
Arena also served as the show’s vocal director and was in charge of hair for the performances.
Jessica Keller, also a first year chemistry major, played the role of Linus Van Pelt and showed her acting and musical skills during the hilarious number, “My Blanket and Me”.
Diana Cabrera, who is no stranger to the Chatham theater scene, played the role of Sally Brown, Charlie Brown’s younger sister. Her rendition of “My New Philosophy” had the audience in stitches. Cabrera is a sophomore with a Business Management and Public Relations major.
Jennifer Grahnquist, a sophomore in Elementary Education, portrayed the ever-cynical Lucy Van Pelt. Her banter with Charlie Brown kept the audience smiling throughout the production.
Erika Ramsey, a 2014 graduate, returned to the Chatham stage as Schroeder, the mini-piano-prodigy. Ramsey shone during the number “Beethoven Day,” leaving the audience laughing about her fervor for Beethoven.
Erick Sovich, a pre-med student at Hood College, was brought to Chatham to play the role of Snoopy. His underhanded observations throughout the show were greatly appreciated by the audience, and he stole the show with his big number, “Suppertime.”
The cast was small, but truly filled the theater with their talents. The comedic timing of each of the players kept the audience interested and engaged–even the younger viewers, who turned out en mass for each of the performances.
While each member of the cast shone individually, it was the group performances throughout the show that really made the show something special. Numbers such as “The Book Report” and “Glee Club Rehearsal” were among the highlights of the show, each showcasing the fantastic group dynamic within the cast.
“It was really cute, and it was well done,” first year Teri Bradford said. “It was very funny and charming.”
The show was enjoyable for all and showed, once again, the immense amount of talent that can be found on Chatham’s campus.