CENTERVILLE—It’s tough being the kid who eats alone at school, gets the football kicked out from under him and has a crush on the little redhead girl who doesn’t even notice him. That’s the life of Charlie Brown, the beloved character that Charles M. Shultz created along with all of the other kids that make up the Peanuts cartoon.

The CenterPoint Theatre production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” brings to life Charlie, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder, Linus and of course everyone’s favorite dog – Snoopy. The heartwarming show captures the essence of five friends who tease each other constantly but behind all of that, they stick together through good times and bad.

The musical is in the smaller, more intimate Leishman Performance Hall where the audience can sit close enough to feel like they’re part of the show, making it easy to be even more invested in these lovable characters. 

As the show begins, Charlie, his little sister Sally, Linus, and Lucy sing the opening number “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” followed by Lucy singing “Schroeder,” while sitting on the piano as an oblivious Schroeder concentrates on playing Beethoven.

A forlorn Charlie Brown sings “The Kite” as he tries to fly a kite and looks to the sky hopefully as it takes flight. But then his hopes are quickly dashed as it falls to the ground. As he walks away sadly, he spots Lucy’s “The Doctor is In” stand and sits down to tell her all of his problems. After listening intently she offers him some advice then asks for 5 cents for her services. Charlie thinks he just can’t catch a break.

Then sitting alone on a bench at school eating his lunch, Charlie sees the little redheaded girl that he has a crush on and hopes she looks his way. But then, he worries that she might look his way and puts a sack over his head just in case. 

In the meantime, the rest of the kids have troubles of their own as they navigate growing up. 

The cast is great and the singing is wonderful as usual for CenterPoint productions. Devin Davis as Charlie captures that melancholy personality that everyone has come to know and love. Lucy, (Kellie Chapman) is as crabby and bossy as ever and Schroeder (Dylan Brady) is clueless that she’s in love with him. 

Linus (Kurt Thornton) is just a sweet kid with his thumb and blanket glued to his side in spite of Lucy constantly trying to steal it away from him. Sally (Anissa Roberts) is over the top bubbly but gets angry in a flash at her jump rope when it tangles into an impossible ball.  

Scot D. Struble as Snoopy steals the show. He bounds around the stage with a food bowl in his mouth reminding Charlie that it’s time for dinner. The best scene is when Snoopy becomes the Red Baron sitting on top of his dog house pretending to shoot down the enemy. 

“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” is a delightful, sweet show filled with friendship and love and brings a little bit of nostalgia of what it’s like to be a child.

The show runs through Aug. 17, Monday and Thursday – Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $16 and available at 801-298-1302 or CPTUtah.org. The Leishman Performance Hall at CenterPoint Theatre is located at 525 N. 400 West in Centerville.