Good grief! Quincy Valley Allied Arts presents ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

QUINCY — The trials, tribulations and triumphs of one of the most beloved comic strip characters were the subject of the summer production of Quincy Valley Allied Arts.

The final performance of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd.

Tickets are $5 at the door for people 5 and older. Children 4 and younger are admitted free.

Like the play, director Steve Asay said the QVAA production went through some trials and tribulations of its own. Originally, there were two days of auditions, and – well, there wasn’t exactly a crowd waiting to try out.

“Two people total,” Asay said.

QVAA board president Marie Jamison, introducing last Saturday night’s performance, said the company had been trying to produce the show since February.

“It was just kind of in limbo for a little bit,” Asay said.

Eventually, there was enough interest to cast the six parts, he said. But a couple of people dropped out and had to be replaced.

“We cobbled together a cast,” he said.

Traditionally, QVAA does a musical during the winter and an outdoor show in the summer.

“This is one Quincy Valley Allied Arts had wanted to do for a while,” Asay said.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is based on the “Peanuts” comic strip written by the late Charles Schultz. It premiered on Broadway in 1967.

Charlie Brown (Galen Golay in the QVCC production) just can’t seem to get anywhere. He really, really wishes he could just go up and talk to the Little Red-Haired Girl, but he can’t. He wants to get a hit during a baseball game – or even be the winning pitcher, just once – but that’s not happening. He’s left out on Valentine’s Day.

Of course, it’s not easy for his friends, either. Linus (Warren Lybbert) can’t seem to let go of his security blanket, even when his sister Lucy (Larissa Hebdon) steals it. Lucy would really, really like Schroeder (Kory Hebdon) to pay attention to her, but he’s only interested in his piano. And Lucy really doesn’t see why she can’t be a queen.

Nobody wants to do that book report on “Peter Rabbit,” and singing along at the Glee Club doesn’t help Lucy and Linus get along any better.

Even Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy (Marie Jamison) doesn’t have it easy, despite a rich fantasy life. The Red Baron slips through the fingers of the World War I flying ace. Nor is Snoopy all that good at being a ferocious wild beast, as there’s a little more to pouncing than meets the eye.

This is Asay’s first directing job, he said. He’s been interested in directing, and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is an interesting show, he said.

“One of the shows I said, ‘Oh, I’d like to do that someday,’” he said. “I love the songs in it.”

“Charlie Brown” has always had an appeal for him.

“I grew up reading the comics and watching the cartoons,” he said.

The show is a reflection of a more innocent time, he said.

“Just a light, very fun show,” he said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.