CHARLIE BROWN IS HOLDING COURT AT THE LEGACY

Happiness is attending Legacy Theatre’s highly entertaining production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” until Saturday, September 3. Happiness means spending two delightful hours with a sextet of friends, even if some of them are wishy-washy, passive-aggressive, co-dependent, prickly- pearish, obsessed with Mozart and fuzzy furry. Come meet the clan/family of one Charlie Brown whose desires to be accepted and loved have occupied the comic strip pages, thanks to Charles Schulz, for decades. Come visit our old friend Charlie front and center for viewing, warts and dimples and all, in Legacy's engagingly charming “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” based on the comic strip “Peanuts” created by Charles Schulz, with book. music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. Gather your kites to help Charlie, your blankets to keep Linus company, your philosophy advice for Sally, some classical sheet music for Schroeder, a few psychiatry problems for Lucy and a filled supper dish for Snoopy and settle in for a fun time with the gang. Chris Lemieux’s wonderful Charlie is still off-balance. Should he or shouldn’t he approach the little red-haired girl he loves? Will he or won’t he get a Valentine this year? Is it possible to pitch a baseball game and actually win? He is joined in his angst by a sweet little sister Sally, spunkily created by Sophie Rapiejko who creates new philosophies for herself every other minute, like a simple “NO” to a more complex “Why are you telling ME?” Next up is the piano serenading Schroeder, played by a dedicated to Beethoven Cory Candelet, who loves to ignore the matrimonial advances professed by a regal Olivia Hoffman as the newly self-elected Queen of Crabbiness. Not to be ignored are the blanket clutching for comfort Linus, Lucy’s little brother, a sensitive Clayton Matthews, and everybody’s special animal friend, the adorable and cuddly Dan Frye as Snoopy, who knows how to dance for his supper. More than a dozen musical numbers like “The Book Report,” “My New Philosophy.” “Suppertime,” and “Happiness” are sure to please. Keely Baisden Knudsen, Artistic Director, directs this warm and fuzzy delight. For tickets ($35-60), call The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at www.LegacyTheatreCT.org. Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Coming in September are concerts by Broadway’s Eric Anthony Lopez on September 4, Back in Time with Natalie Hamilton on September 9-10, The Tales of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh September 10, 17, 24, and October 1, a Play Reading Festival September 11and 18, The Great Gatsby A Live Radio Play September 15 to October 1, a film Born at the Water’s Edge September 17, a Film Festival September 19-21, and a film Poetic September 25. A dance concert Natyamandala is set for October 2. Let the Peanuts gang take you on a tour of their childhood and you might be surprised and happy to recognize some of it as your own.