Charlie Brown review: Players and Singers try something new at Tailem Bend
A production of a Peanuts musical by Murray Bridge’s amateur theatre company has opened, and Glenn Power has the good word on it.
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Murray Bridge Players and Singers’ community outreach experiment has been a resounding success, with good crowds attending weekend performances.
On Saturday at Tailem Bend Town Hall, the entertaining musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown delivered compelling messages, some powerful choruses, and magnificent individual performances.
As was to be expected in a foreign theatre, a few audio and lighting technicalities hindered some performances – something I’m sure can be ironed out before the remaining shows.
Technical teething issues aside, the deep and meaningful narrative of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was affectionately told by the cast.
On stage at Tailem Bend are Owen McCullough, Jack Humphrys and Daytona Luke; Chloe Chigwidden; and Sophie Meers and Amelia Rooney with Chigwidden. Photos: Glenn Power.
Given the performance was the first time the company had performed a musical outside of Murray Bridge and, for some production members, it was their first time in major roles, the show was well received.
Following the final production of the Tailem Bend community’s annual Music Hall in 2023, and being devoted to supporting live theatre throughout the Murraylands, it was an easy decision for MBPS to bring one of their musicals into the same space that once held a 46-year-old iconic community tradition.
Embracing and honouring Tailem Bend’s theatrical tradition of strong musical shows, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was directed by Andrew Broadbent, with the support of assistant director and production manager Rebecca Byrnes and vocal directors Serenity Taylor and Sophie Meers.
Behind the scenes are Andrew Broadbent, Rebecca Byrnes, Louise McCullough with Owen, Olivia Grinter, Jason McCullough and Neil Nason. Photos: Glenn Power
The show is based on the celebrated comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, which is centred on children navigating the ups and downs of childhood.
Peanuts was syndicated in American newspapers for half a century, from 1950 to 2000.
The comic strip was turned into a musical by Clark Gesner and produced in New York in 1967 and London the following year.
Travelling through a series of vignettes, written from comic strips, depicting an average day in the lives of Charlie Brown and his gang, audiences experienced hidden life lessons, all beautifully presented through the characters of Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, and Snoopy.
Cast members perform at Tailem Bend. Photos: Glenn Power.
Murray Bridge Players and Singers should be thrilled with the outcome of their first community outreach performance, an exceptional and pivotal accomplishment.
The amusing and engaging show was of an extremely high standard and was enjoyed by good crowds at every performance.
As noted above, unfamiliar surroundings presented a few routine technical challenges that shouldn’t be too difficult to rectify, but overall the show was a wonderful achievement by all the first-timers, whose performances were outstanding.
Tailem Bend will look forward to seeing more local performances in the future.
- Remaining performances: 7.30pm Friday, May 17 and 2pm Saturday, May 18.
- Tickets: $25 at mbplayersandsingers.com.au/book-tickets.
- Purchase a high-resolution photo: $2 at murraybridgenews.square.site.
Clarification: Sophie Meers’ name was added as a vocal director after this review was originally published.
