‘Snoopy!!!’ Opens This Weekend At Newtown Middle School

By Tanjua Damon

If you want to know what “life is like an ice cream cone, you have to learn to lick it,” means, you need to attend the Newtown Middle School Drama Club’s performance of Snoopy!!! this weekend in the middle school auditorium.

Susan Lang and Valerie Leone are directing the comic-inspired production. About 40 students have participated in the production, playing particular parts, helping design the set, and helping with the technical needs of the production since late last year.

The students will bring Charles Schultz’s characters to life Friday, March 28, at 7 pm; Saturday, March 29, at 7 pm; and Sunday, March 30, at 2 pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased at the door.

Eighth grader Alex Hennessey will portray Charlie Brown. He has performed in other middle school performances such as Wake Up Secret Theater and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as a Newtown High School Production of The Music Man. Alex enjoys singing and acting and feels this production will be enjoyable for everyone.

“They are funny and cute in an innocent way a kid can relate to, even grownups like them, too,” Alex said. “The hardest part of this show is getting everything memorized –– lines, songs, dance moves. It gets tricky but it’s still a load of fun.”

Although the production does not have an actual plot, but instead resembles a comic strip, Alex thinks this will allow a more in-depth look into the characters.

“There’s no real plot. It goes from one scene to the next like a comic strip,” Alex said. “I think it’s good this way because you get to see all the different aspects from the Peanuts perspective.”

Briana Berg, an eighth grader, will play Snoopy. She has performed in The Wiz, The Happy Sad Show, Wake Up Secret Theater, Into the Woods, Annie, and The Pirates of Penzance. Briana looks forward to portraying a cartoon character.

“I just find it really fun to be another person or in this case a dog,” Briana said. “But also it is really exciting to be on stage and be the center of attention. I’ve seen him a million times on TV and have always wanted to be him.”

Eighth grader Kelsey Cantore will portray Lucy. Kelsey admits she is a bit like Lucy in real life, but wanted to be a part of the production because she enjoys every aspect of the theater.

“My mom says I’m like Lucy. She seems like a fun character,” Kelsey said. “She’s just like the boss of everything. She has this personality that is really cool.”

Patrick Dunseith will play Linus, the young boy with the blanket who may seem like he is not paying attention, but really is smart and quite aware of what is taking place around him. Patrick finds interaction of characters interesting.

“It’s hard because it’s a lot of words and sometimes you just have to say things that have nothing to do with what other characters are saying. It’s kind of weird,” Patrick said. “Linus is a smart know-it-all, but he’s not cocky about it. Even though he knows a lot he has the youngest personality. He’s theological and has lots of strong beliefs.”

Like many of the cast members, Sydney Russell who portrays Sally Brown, enjoys being with friends, which is one of the things that draws her to the drama club.

“The best thing about Snoopy!!! is the sets, music, being with my friends, and the costumes,” Sydney said. “I participate in shows because I enjoy them. I love to sing and I love to act. I also love meeting new people.”

Tiffany Studer will portray Woodstock. Since she is a bird lover, particularly chickens, the part fit perfect.

“The hardest thing is that you have to be huge in a comic view and I can’t talk and have to act out all the emotions and thoughts,” Tiffany said. “I really didn’t know a lot about the comic strip. But I think Woodstock is really innocent and laid back.”

Claire Ober will portray Peppermint Patty. Claire enjoys being on stage and gaining experience from participating in the drama program. She likes her stage character because she is a “tom boy,” even though Claire would not consider herself one.

“The best thing is feeling like you’re part of something and making a commitment,” Claire said. “She’s sarcastic, I can be sarcastic. You kind of have an excuse for it on stage. She’s carefree.”

The production is one for the family to see, according to the cast members.

“It has a lot of moral values,” Claire said.