‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ opens May 8
Jeffrey Meudt does not have a perfectly round head. His height is more than three feet tall, and he has (to be delicate) not been age eight in a number of years.
Nonetheless, the Budd Lake resident finds himself identifying a great deal with Charlie Brown, the pint-sized protagonist of the “Peanuts” comic strip by the late Charles M. Schulz.
“I am the kind of person who will attempt something and have it go wrong,” Meudt says with a laugh. He also empathizes with a character who believes that he will kick a football, even though his nemesis will certainly snatch it away at the last minute.
Meudt is tapping into those feelings as he takes on the title role in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The musical will be presented at Brundage Park Playhouse starting tonight.
On the one hand, the character of Charlie Brown (who is never referred to only as “Charlie”) is easy to recognize, according to Meudt.
“Everyone knows Charlie Brown,” he says. “Everyone has seen the cartoons or read the comic strip. He and the others are part of popular culture.”
However, knowing a character and being able to play that character are two different things, Meudt adds. “You have to remember that you’re playing a child,” he says. “You have to play an innocent child honestly.”
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” was initially presented in 1967, in the wake of the first wildly popular TV specials, such as “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The musical featured book and songs by Clark Gesner.
In 1999, the show was revived on Broadway with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and two new songs by Andrew Lippa. The (frankly blah) character of Patty was replaced by Charlie Brown’s feisty little sister, Sally.
The musical actually consists of small vignettes that define the characters: Charlie Brown, crabby Lucy, Linus the blanket-toting philosopher, Schroeder the Beethoven worshipper, and irrepressible Snoopy.
The songs are full of energy, according to Kristina Plate of Sparta, who plays Lucy. “It’s impossible to be bored,” she says. “The pace never dies down.”
At the same time, the everyday nature of the show gives it universal appeal. “It’s about how happiness can be drawn from the smallest things in life,” Plate says. “That’s something that everyone can relate to, whether they’re (age) 3 or 103.”
The cast also includes Kelly Miller of Dover as Sally and Matthew Luminello of Parsippany as Linus. Johnny Citarelli of Hamburg is doing double-duty as Schroeder and as the show’s musical director.
The show also features a number of distinctive touches, according to Mark Carovale of Wharton, who plays Snoopy and who is also serving as assistant to director Larry Turner. “We’ve added a chorus to give the songs a fuller sound,” says Carovale.
In addition, a nonspeaking character has been added: Woodstock, Snoopy’s bird friend, who is being played by Christopher Lange of Succasunna.
Carovale adds that the production design by Nola Young is meant to echo the comic strip. “We’re going with bright colors for the set,” he says. “The costumes are all the colors you expect them to be.”
That familiarity is one of the charms of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” Carovale says. “Half of the stuff in this show comes right from the cartoons or the collections (of strips),” he says. “Adults relate to it. ‘Ah, to be a kid again.’ ”
“This is a show for all generations,” agrees Jeffrey Meudt. “For older people, it’s nostalgic. For younger people, it’s a chance to see what ‘Peanuts’ is all about.”
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
WHAT: The revised version of the 1967 musical features the familiar characters from Charles M. Schulz’ “Peanuts” comic strip, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally, and Snoopy.
WHEN: Tonight through May 24, 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
WHERE: Brundage Park Playhouse, 2 Bungalow Lane (off Carrell Road), Randolph.
TICKETS: $15 ($12 for children under age 12 and seniors over 62).
INFORMATION: 973-989-7092 or www.brundageparkplay house.org.