Review: Mime and Music Enchant Audiences at First Stage's A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

In the 50th anniversary year of the award winning, animated television special, the live production A Charlie Brown Christmas captured the imagination of Milwaukee audiences this past weekend. First Stage presents a theatrical interpretation of the beloved holiday classic, adapted by Eric Schaeffer and overflowing with young voices, which continues to light up the hearts and laughter in Peanuts' fans since 1965.

Fast forward 50 years, and in the 21st century world connected to I Pads, I Phones, and X-Boxes, Charles M. Schulz created an enduring story filled with philosophical charm and Everyman characters that embody elegant understatement. With a script sparse of dialogue, Artistic and Production Director Jeff Frank uses these silences to imagine nuances in the Peanuts gang's personalities and lives, often similar to the audiences.

Piano music, beautifully and superbly played by Music Director Jack Forbes Wilson, stirs the senses throughout the performance and anchors the production. The music adds a rich vibrancy that only Vince Guaraldi's innovative score could---a touch of Wilson's improvisation, jazz and timeless songs---giving the audience moments for reflection or wide smiles, depending on the mood of the scene. The Peanuts gang goes about their days in the winter wonderland, a snow-covered village designed by Martin McClendon and hung with a shining crescent moon and stars by Lighting Designer Noele Stollmack.

In the role of Charlie Brown's faithful pet Snoopy, Matt Daniels thrills the audience with his mime-like antics, including a rendition of Snoopy as the Red Baron---or when he accompanies Wilson at the piano with his ukulele. Speaking only in several animal sounds, Daniels' Snoopy cavorts, dances, falls, flies and becomes the delightful divertissement similar to a canine Marcel Marceau, that master of sophisticated mime, part clown and part Charlie Chaplin. Daniels often mesmerizes the audience with his quiet comic mayhem, a delight when audiences might be overpowered by sound.

Two Young Performer casts inhabit the Peanuts gang, a Sparky and Schulz cast. For this weekend performance, the Schulz cast consisted of 14 talented youths who lived these iconic characters. Ben Kindler remained ever frustrated playing Charlie Brown, his discouraged look apparent when he felt Charlie failed. Claire Zempel's Lucy spoke through her character's bold confidence, especially playing the psychiatrist diagnosing Charlie's holiday blues. Andrew Kindler became an affectionate cloud of dust in the role of Pig Pen while Holden Glass in the role of Linus gave a heartfelt rendition to the meaning of Christmas in the final scenes, the hopeful essence of this production. Schroeder played the piano through the hands of Ben Kramer, together with professional performances by all these budding actors.

Dressed in Jason Orlenko's colorful, playful costumes, the Peanuts gang transformed into living humans who struggle with everyday challenges and disappointments, from choosing a Christmas tree, to questioning the meaning of the year end holiday cheer. These everyday happenings could apply to anyone older than 5, 10 or 20, or even over 50, and rekindles childlike wonder in the season.

Good Grief! Schulz's modernist philosophies spoken from the mouths of "babes" ring more relevant than when introduced 50 years ago. When the Peanuts gang dances in the Todd Wehr Theater aisles, the performance becomes a joyous event to celebrate the true meaning to the season. A time and space where childlike, unbound merriment seen in happy children challenges the audience to remember what the familiar lyrics to "Christmas Time is Here" believes: "Oh, that we could always see such spirit through the year."

A spirit believing that someday, perhaps in another 50 years, Schulz's dream of peace and goodwill towards all men [each human being and of course, dog or pet] will be a present reality. Be sure to completely experience First Stage's utterly enchanting A Charlie Brown Christmas. Go hand in hand with family and friends to the theater, and then envision when Charlie, Sally, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy, their gang along with the entire audience, can fully embrace "love and dreams to share."

First Stage presents A Charlie Brown Christmas in the Todd Wehr Theatre at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts through January 3. For special events, performance schedule or tickets, please call: 414.273.7206 or www.firststage.org.