MURRAY — Most people are not reading the funnies in the newspaper anymore, but Murray Arts’ production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown makes a strong case that Charlie and his friends are still instantly recognizable and still deeply lovable. The musical is based on the Peanuts comic strips created by Charles Schulz. The original book was written in 1967 by Clark Gesner and later updated with additional dialogue and music by Michael Mayer and Andrew Lippa. The result is a charming, easygoing evening with Charlie Brown and company.
One of the strongest running jokes lands immediately. The cast is clearly older, and the show leans into it. It opens with Charlie Brown (played by David Marsden) announcing, “I am five. I’m more than five,” which gets a quick, deserved laugh. That contrast never fades. It sharpens the humor. Watching grown performers fully commit to childhood problems like blanket dependency, Valentine’s Day anxiety, and glee club rehearsal is hilarious. And Charlie Brown remains as endearing as ever. Marsden strikes a balance between timidity and hope without tipping into self-pity. You spend the whole show rooting for him to catch a break, while still laughing when Lucy or Snoopy inevitably make fun of him.
The cast is small, just six performers, but the stage never feels empty. Scenes are blocked and choreographed by director Jim Christian to fill the space, especially during monologues. The energy stays active and focused. The performances are uniformly strong, with several standouts. Jan Williams Smith’s Lucy combines sharp comedic timing with a commanding vocal presence. Jeremy Botelho’s Schroeder stands out for his physicality. His exaggerated expressions and movements feel as if they’ve been lifted directly from the comic strip. Gary Neilson’s Snoopy leans into dry detachment, punctuated by bursts of enthusiasm, especially when food is involved.
Visually, the production aligns well with the source material. Costumes by Mandela Shaffer are bright and immediately recognizable, matching the playful energy. Projections of classic comic strips before the show and during intermission add a nice layer of nostalgia. During the performance, projections by Josh Roberts capture the signature Peanuts style with loose lines and bold colors. At times, background patterns echo a character’s outfit or palette, which ties everything together. The only drawback is the scaling. Black bars framing certain scenes make the projections feel slightly boxed in.
The set pieces do a lot of heavy lifting in building the world. Oversized props, such as Linus’s couch or Schroeder’s giant pencil, help bridge the gap between adult performers and child characters. The overall effect feels intimate, helped by both the size of the cast and the size of the theater.
Structurally, the show is less about a single narrative and more about a series of vignettes lifted from the comic strip. That is true to the material, though it does affect pacing. The musical numbers help smooth that out. “Book Report” stands out as layered, funny, and impressively tight. It is also a reminder of how full a six-person cast can sound. The songs pull you in and build momentum, just as you start to settle into a rhythm before the show shifts to the next moment. Transitions are supported by sound and lighting cues, but the fragmented structure remains noticeable.
Even with that, the production remains consistently charming. It works as an introduction to theater for younger audiences and as a nostalgic return for those who grew up with these characters. The humor lands, the performances commit fully, and the world feels thoughtfully built.
MORE INFO: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown is playing at Murray Theater. The production runs April 10-11, 13, 16-18 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $22 (card fees may apply). For more information, visit https://www.showpass.com/youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown-2/