<< Back 5/15/02 ‘Charlie Brown’ finds life after Schulz in Bryson City By Michael Beadle For years, Charlie Brown has been the guy we can all identify with no matter how old we are. Hopeful and humorous in the face of utter defeat — whether it’s a baseball game or a pretty girl he’s trying to get up the courage to talk to — Charlie Brown epitomizes our clumsy heartbreaks and uneasy triumphs. Immortalized by the Charles Schulz comic strip, “Peanuts,” Charlie Brown has been a constant source of laughter and empathy for generations. He and his friends, though they are just a bunch of children, have been able to articulate many of the problems both children and adults face in the everyday struggles of their lives. Since Schulz’s death, his beloved comic strip has been immortalized in countless tributes including books, annual TV specials and theater productions. This weekend, the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City honors one of the classic cartoons of all time when it opens its musical, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The show runs for two weekends — May 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 7:30 and two Sunday matinees May 19 and 24 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for everyone. Teresa Maynard directs the show and has put together a solid cast of strictly adults for a play the whole family can enjoy. When it came to casting parts for the children-oriented show, Maynard decided not to use children as actors. “We wanted all adults,” she said. “We thought it would be a different take on it.” The magic of Charlie Brown is that both children and adults can see themselves in the stories that arise from the cartoon world Schulz created. And it never seems too unbelievable how well adults can play the parts of little kids. “Charlie Brown, bless his little heart, never does anything right,” Maynard said. He can’t seem to fly a kite or even deliver the right Valentine, but he has the best intentions and adults can certainly relate to that, Maynard said. This particular production also offers what may be an unexpected twist for some. The parts of Charlie Brown and Snoopy are played by women. Debbie Mills is the befuddled Charlie Brown who never seems to get things right but keeps on trying, and Kay Sharpe is the imaginative Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s loyal dog and part-time World War I flying ace. Jessica Cline is Lucy, who loves to boss around everybody, lend advice and win the attention of Schroeder (played by Steve Crider). The cast also includes Lucy’s younger brother, the blanket-toting Linus (David Russell) and Peppermint Patty (Kristy Parton). If you’re looking for a fun show with just the right mix of wonder, playfulness and mayhem, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” is a smart bet for weekend entertainment the whole family can enjoy. The Smoky Mountain Community Theatre is located on Main Street in downtown Bryson City. For more information about Smoky Mountain Community Theatre or any of its upcoming shows, call 828.488.3030, ext. 28.