Now you can also see this story without animation, performed by real children right in front of you. San Diego Junior Theatre has started putting on the stage version, which this year was held at their theatre space in La Jolla.

Jennifer Winspear directs a production that retains a lot of the simple charm of the original, beginning with an eager snowball fight among the Peanuts gang, with Wendy Huang and Garred Kluth providing the familiar jazzy background music.

The cast is led by Jordan Woods as the lovable loser Charlie Brown, and Jordan has a great humbleness about him that matches the character who keeps trying despite the setbacks. Marissa Newlee is the decidedly un-humble Lucy. Elliot Rappaport plays the wise-beyond-his-years, blanket-loving Linus. He is pursued by Charlie Brown’s little sister, with Sierra Ottilie-Kovelman sparkling in the role of Sally. Other good performances come from Marisa Acosta as nerdy Marcie, Jack Conrad as Schroeder, and Gillian Kelly as Pig Pen who is covered in “historical” dust. Peppermint Patty (Tracy Warren), Frieda (Ursula Granirer), and Patty (Taryn O’Connor) kick it off with an amusing “turn off your cell phones” announcement with help from their heard but unseen teacher (Mana Shimamura).

And then, of course, there’s Snoopy and Woodstock. Brennen Winspear is a fun and confident Snoopy who skates around on his skate sneakers. Casey Purlia Johnson is a hit with her dancing and naturally dynamic stage presence. Together they fill up the scene changes with dancing everything from ballet to the tango.

Performs through December 17, 2006.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

Charlie Brown: