The Cast Photo courtesy of Santa Fe Playhouse

The show follows Charlie Brown and his friends as they go through their day-to-day lives, filled with many ups and downs. This musical is extremely well written, as it holds on to its comic strip feeling by focusing on short, snappy scenes to show the development of character arcs and explore overall themes, rather than focusing heavily on a single throughline plot. This is one of the show's many charms, and it makes watching exciting and enjoyable.

The snappy and funny script is brought to life by the actors at Santa Fe Playhouse. The cohesiveness of the actors makes the story flow very well, and their liveliness keeps the story alive. The lead role of Charlie Brown is played by Dakotah Lopez, who portrays the character very well. Lopez captures the misfortune of Charlie Brown in a way that allows the audience to laugh but also empathize with the character. The role of Linus is played by Jeffry Barba, and his commitment to this role makes the character extremely fun to watch. His exaggerated facial expressions and clear body language give the audience a place to look even when there is no dialogue, thus furthering the story.

The role of Lucy is played by Kate Bergeron who does an excellent job with the character. From her body language to her dramatized singing voice, Bergeron uses every style of expression to paint a clear and very funny character to the audience. Schroeder is played by Malcom Morgan-Petty, whose fantastic voice makes his musical numbers a crucial piece of this excellent production. Rikki Carroll plays Sally, and she embodies the character perfectly through her tone of voice as well as physicality. Finally, Snoopy is played by Rachel Biggs. While the whole show is a comedy, Biggs serves as a sort of comic relief character, with excellent musical numbers and dances, adding another comedic layer to the show.

The set designed by James W. Johnson perfectly suits the mood, being simplistic and cartoony. The main set is nothing more than a small brick wall located up stage. Throughout the different scenes, many more set pieces are brought on. These vary from a mailbox to a dog house to a whole school bus. All these pieces are painted to resemble a cartoon, with bold colors and black outlines, and they help transport the audience into the world of Charlie Brown. This design is carried over to props and costumes as well. Designed by Emily Rankin, the props fit perfectly into the comic strip world. Even something as simple as a paper bag is decorated with a black outline to give it a feeling of belonging in the world around it. The costumes designed by Leah Ellis perfectly capture the characters' likenesses, with black outlines on the fabric and even places where the clothes look like they have been scribbled in. This attention to detail is very apparent, and the audience is drawn into the world of Schulz's comic strip.

Overall, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Santa Fe Playhouse is a beautifully produced production. From the acting to the music to the dances to the beautiful design elements, it is a hilarious show for the whole family to enjoy.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown runs through December 29, 2024, at Santa Fe Playhouse, 142 East De Vargas Street Santa Fe NM. For tickets and information, please visit santafeplayhouse.org .