“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” could be the best theater production in Boca Raton that practically nobody has seen.
Vicki Halmos’ new production company, Entr’Acte Theatrix, is presenting the Tony Award-winning musical at the Black Box Theater in Boca Raton’s new Cultural Arts Center in Mizner Park.
There were four performances last weekend, and four are planned for this coming weekend (March 25-27).
Dale M. King
My wife and I saw it Friday night and we howled. I rarely see my wife laugh out loud, but she did. She really got a kick out of Courtney Poston and her perfecto performance as Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally.
But the audience was scant Friday. And my sister-in-law and a friend went Saturday night, loved the show, but again, the audience was minimal.
That seems so strange because there were so many people in Mizner Park on Friday and Saturday night.
Maybe people don’t know what the Cultural Arts Center is. Well, if you’ve been around Boca Raton for 10 years or more, you may remember it as the International Museum of Cartoon Art. That venue closed back in 2002, and the city spent years trying to find a new use for the facility. It’s taken a long time to put it together.
But enough of history. Let me tell you about Entr’Acte Theatrix. This is a brand new offshoot of the Palm Beach Principal Players, which started 10 years ago and targeted high school and college students interested in musical theater but who had limited opportunities to perform. Over the last decade, Principal Players presented 16 different shows featuring more than 200 young people, many of whom have gone on to professional careers or top educational programs.
Because these young but “seasoned” performers still need opportunities to work with top professionals and begin their professional careers with impressive resumes and a network of industry contacts, Entr’Acte Theatrix was formed. The company’s goal is to produce shows aimed at a younger, hipper audience and present them at some of the finest professional houses in Palm Beach County, exposing the young performers to both sophisticated audiences and the staff and management of these venues. Entr’Acte Theatrix is a subsidiary of the Peter and Vicki Halmos Family Foundation.
They picked a winner in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and the cast is excellent. Each performer seems to capture the true nature of Charles Schultz’s immortal cartoon strip kids.
Evan Ferrar is great as Charlie Brown. Mia Estadella is a loud and lofty Lucy. Frank Vomero plays thumb-sucking, blanked-dependent Linus, Patrick LoRicco is the keyboard mini-maestro Schroeder and Greg Halmos is Snoopy. Also in the cast are Matthew Tarantino (Pig Pen), Sarah Shadle (Woodstock), Sarah Dreben (Marcie) and Emily Miraglia (Peppermint Patty).
What’s particularly good about this show is that it examines some of the problems these kids suffer. Charlie Brown’s clumsiness and lack of self-esteem, Lucy’s aggressive nature, Pig Pen’s lack of hygiene and Linus’ dependency, for example. The matinee show Saturday allowed the audience to mingle with the cast to discuss these topics.
Earlier this season, Entr’Acte Theatrix performed “Hair” and “Caberet” at the Caldwell Theatre. This time, they are at the “Black Box Theater” on the second floor of the Cultural Arts Center.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students and children under the age of 13. Group rates are $20 each with a 15-ticket minimum.
Call 1.877.877.7677 or visit www.completeticketsolutions.com.
I must admit I’m a little disappointed at the paltry crowds. Come on, Boca, let’s support the arts. Give these kids a chance.
It’s well worth the money. And that, as Sally might say, is my philosophy.