One of the highlights of going to “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Lamplighter’s Theatre in Smyrna was meeting the production’s director, Wilhelm Peters. Very gracious, amicable and warm, I had seen him perform in several of Saltshaker Production Company’s shows in the past, and had congratulated him on jobs well done, but being able to talk to him one-on-one was a first, and won’t be the last. The young man lives in Franklin, works in Nashville, and goes to church, show rehearsals, and directs theater in Smyrna. A native of New Orleans, this lover of?God and theater still must not realize gas is $4 a gallon.
His show was fun to see. The stage was simple, yet colorful and cartoonish, as it should have been. The lighting was a little off this particular night: spotlights were?slow and?more than once had problems centering on the actors. Chris Basso’s portrayal of Charlie Brown was weak, and although his voice was strong, Basso seemed to not quite have the character down. Playing an 8-year-old boy who is unsure of himself, and regarded as a loser, and yet being a commanding presence on the stage is hard to do.
Schroeder, played by Johnny Benton, was the intelligent, laid-back, piano playing boy he should have been and Benton did a good job. Crabby Lucy VanPelt, played by the always-good Stephanie Meek, was funny, egotistical and obnoxious?just the way I like Lucy. Justin Bell’s portrayal of Linus was also funny: his ever-present blanket sometimes, however, doing a better job onstage than Bell. But it takes a good actor to let your prop steal your scene.
Nathan Owen’s Snoopy almost hogged the stage. Everyone loves Snoopy, though, and Mr. Owen worked as hard as a dog to make himself believable. I winced at his?costuming. I thought it missed something?Charles Schultz would have drawn up something?more?convincing.
The show stealer was Stephanie Jones. Her wonderful portrayal of Sally Brown was engaging, loving and funny. She made the show work and kept it glued?together. Good work gang. And kudos to the end of a great season at Lamplighter’s. They begin again this fall with “The Music Man,” starting Sept. 25.
Meriwether brings comedy
I simply cannot wait to see “You Can’t Take it With You” at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts. Playing for two full weekends (through June 22), director Joel I. Meriwether has put together a comedic team of actors intended to fill the house with laughter and craziness. The one-and-a-half hour preview kept me hysterical watching the antics?in the Sycamore and Kirby families.
This play won the?Pulitzer Prize in 1936 (George Kaufman) and the Academy Award for best film in 1938?(Frank Capra). On the best looking stage the Center has presented since “The Foreigner,” and after all the recent relentless musicals and kids shows at the Center, this could be the show of the season for this venue.
The cast of 16, including John Mack Green, Bryan M. Booth, Candilyn Ford, Todd Seage, Elyce Helford and Lauren Atkins, makes this a must see, and with Sherry Sunday producing and Kat Hanrahan stage managing, this is going to be one well done production.
“Fantasticks” fun for sure
We go across town to Murfreesboro Little Theatre, where June 13 the curtains open to another zany, crazy comedy with “The Fantasticks!” directed by Wayman Price, who acts in the show as well.
This Harvey Schmidt production began off-Broadway on May 3, 1960, and ran until January 13, 2002,?becoming the world’s longest-running musical with 17,162 performances. It includes well-known songs like “Try to Remember” and has an all-star cast along with Price, including Philip Storvik, Emily Lowery, Luke Quarto, David Cummings, Gary Davis, E.Roy Lee and Chris Todd. The show is produced by Off Book Productions, in memory of MLT veteran, Ralph Smith.
Another “do-not-miss” theatrical production, the patrons of MLT are going to get several pleasant surprises, including the singing debut of Mr. Storvik. Charlie Parker is the musical director for the show.
Live theater the way to go?
With Tucker’s and Lamplighter’s seasons coming to a close until September, and Patterson Park’s theater season yet to begin, Center for the Arts and Murfreesboro Little Theatre are the only stage games in town. Both being inexpensive, a close drive for everyone in the ’Boro, and live onstage, I encourage you to drop in and see some awesome productions. A little gas, no $5 popcorn and $4 cokes, a 15-minute break between acts, air-conditioning . . . you can’t go wrong. It’s fun for the whole family and you can interact with wonderful actors after the show. You can’t do that at the movies!
See ya at the theater.
