Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Last Thursday evening had me thinking ‘this had better be worth it’ as my driver drove helplessly around Saar, not listening to instructions and getting more and more confused as we tried to find Rivers Hall within the recently-relocated Inspire Arts Centre.
If there is any conciliation to be had, it is that we were not the only ones who could not find the place. The show had to start late to wait for the audience to turn up.
Was it worth all the palaver? A resounding yes! My grandson, who at eight years old is probably the worst critic any show could be blessed with, loved it.
The company put together an excellent show based on the original Broadway production, with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. It told the tale of Charlie Brown’s trials and tribulations, from attempting to fly his kite to relationships with his sister and friends, with pizazz and flair.
Unlike so many shows put together in Bahrain, much time and effort had gone in to the costumes and the stage props, so that the entire production was vibrant and sassy.
Each character was delightfully thought out and created to mirror the travails of life, as described in the Peanuts comic strip.
There was something for all ages.
It is always unfair to pick out members of an ensemble cast - especially as some of the roles had different players for different performances - but I am going to anyway.
Everyone entertained us and left us wanting to see more of them. However, John Grummitt was great fun and a totally believable angst-ridden Charlie Brown. Shruti Ramash as Snoopy was perfection, plus Olga Garland, as Woodstock (the bird, not the festival). Top marks to musical director Lydia Martin and all the production team too.
– Christine Hasan.
