GOOD grief, I nearly missed this cos it's in the kids' section. What's that all about? The Peanuts newspaper strip isn't just for children, it's for all ages. And the wit and wisdom of creator Charles M Schulz is perhaps best appreciated by those
of us who understand what it's like to always have that football pulled away, that kite eaten by a tree.
The children at the show I saw loved it to bits. Just seeing Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder and, of course, Snoopy live on stage made them smile. There were a few double takes at first by kiddies looking for a 'real' cartoon dog, but Harriet Birchall soon had everyone seeing her as the doggy dreamer.
In fact, everyone in this cast has a lovely voice, not least Fiona Cox, directing as well as playing the supremely logical Sally. The script is basically a bunch of classic strips woven together into sketches and songs and it's a delight from start to finish. Richard Ash makes a delightful Charlie Brown, his ever-mobile eyebrows conveying all kinds of incredulity amid his basic optimism. Anna Cook is perfect as Lucy, especially when forced to convey her consummate crabbiness. Rob Kelly is adorable as her security-blanket-dependent brother Linus. Stuart Brooks could light the national grid with Schroeder's smile. And Ruairi Edwards deserves an extra bowl of dog food for perfect piano-playing.
If you've ever smiled at the antics of Good Ol' Charlie Brown, then don't miss this superb production.
Until 10 August. Today 1pm
The full article contains 277 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
