Charlie Brown and the gang are coming to town
By Deneb R. Batucan
WANT to make your post-Valentine days meaningful? The adorable characters from the Peanuts comics are coming to life in a musical play that brings viewers back to their simple and exciting childhood days. And you can watch the entire gang here in Cebu City.
Bossy Lucy, piano prodigy Schroeder, perfectionist Sally, blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy on top of his dog house and “blockhead” himself, Charlie Brown, bring you to the world of Peanuts in the musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” presented by the Vaudeville Theatre Company.
Penelop Ong, the director and a Cebuana theater teacher for 15 years, decided to bring the 1967 Broadway musical comedy to Cebu because it is something that she grew up with and wanted to share with her fellow Cebuanos.
“It’s very nostalgic to me,” Penny said. “But the children nowadays, they don’t know about Snoopy or the Peanuts family. Not until about two years ago wherein they showed a Peanuts movie. That’s when I said, okay, this is the right time then.”
After five months of preparation, the musical play is finally ready for the public to see, with characters played by talented Cebuano theater artists. Penny hopes to impart to the spectators one piece of advice that the Peanuts gang has upheld in the many decades that it has brought joy to the young and old.
“Wherever you are, and whoever you are, you should never lose track of humanity. This is what we learn from children. Be like children — simple and very profound in their own ways,” she said.
“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” is choreographed by Vincent Paul Diez Gaton with musical direction by two-time Awit Award-winning songwriter Jude Gitamondoc and will show at the SM City Cebu Cinema 1. Gala shows are on Feb. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. while matinee shows are on Feb. 18 and 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the following Shakey’s branches: SM, Ayala, IT Park and Robinson’s Cybergate.
