You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

by Clark Gesner

Play script of a musical entertainment based in the comic strip Peanuts,

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Comics, Musicals, Childrens, Graphic Novels, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1968

About the author

Clark Gesner was an American composer, songwriter, author, and actor. He is best known for composing the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts.

Reviews

[Shawn Deal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This original play has its whimsy and was good. This play was a workshop piece and you get that feel. The creators of this play went in with a subject but no real script and just put some scenes together. Where most scenes work the overall play does not tell a cohesive story and you come out of it feeling that it was fragmented in a way. The broadway musical that is based on this play it’s much better, in fact it goes up at least a full star for me. There are additions to the script, in scenes, in characters, in songs all bringing a much fuller experience to this play, which needed it.

[Meltha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, my experience with this is prior to the 1995 re-write that added Sally to the script (and I think subtracted Patty?), but it's Charlie Brown, for pity's sake. If Snoopy doesn't make you grin, you've got serious problems.

[Kathy Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you go wrong with the Peanuts gang? I do recommend the revised Broadway performance where Sally is added beautifully as a wonderfully entertaining character. It’s definitely one of my favorite musicals of all time.

[Sarah]

this was great to read

i read it only when i was home alone so i could loudly sing the songs

it's weird the differences because this is the old version

AND THERE IS NO SALLY WHY IS IT PATTY I BARELY KNEW SHE EXISTED WHY IS SHE A MAIN CHARACTER

i miss the musical

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the script not the vocal score, but the script isn't on good reads so....

It's cute.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun!

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

[Eric Willeforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting, like everything Peanuts.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, but in small ways dated musical based on the comic strip PEANUTS still works on me 45 years after seeing the first production. The version staged now is somewhat revised and a bit tainted by modern musical clichés, but this paperback preserves the original script. Reading this through the same night I saw the show, I find there are a number of excellent jokes that are gone and replaced by some that are not as funny or as true to the characters. You can’t tell me that Snoopy saying, “I feel so neglected. Charlie Brown never brings me coffee in the morning,” does not work today. It probably has more resonance in our Starbucks’s world than it did it 1967.

Though there are a few dated bits, this script is charming, delightful, and does what ought to be impossible: put a four panel a day comic strip on the musical stage and make it work. The script is very much worth reading.

[Dan Crist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK. This book is great for anyone who wants to read about the legendary Charlie Brown. I have a personal connection to this book because I played the part of “Charlie” in the school musical last year. Gesner does a wonderful job making the connection from the old “Peanuts” comic strips to this amazing book about Charlie Brown. My favorite part is when Charlie sings about his kite always getting caught in the tree. This book is a great read for all ages. This book is by far the best book I have read in awhile.

[Nicolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun show. It captures the Peanuts so well.

For more on our favorite musicals tune in to this special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Todd Jones]

A comic strip about young children living real life.

Okay, the book I wanted was "Good Ole' Snoopy" but I couldn't find it on Goodreads. I read this book in first grade. Fourteen times. To win a reading contest. I loved the book, and have never stopped loving to read since.

[Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love charlie brown my sister introuded me to all his books and movies i love the comics and oh and most of all snoopy!!!!

[Owen Geronimo]

My first book when I was a kid.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much heart and love in this Libretto.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in it once, directed it once and produced it once. It is a fun musical and I would work on it again.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really choppy script, but lots of fun characters and dialogue.

[Caleb H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read the book but I read the play and did a monologue on this in drama class am did really bad

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Peanuts

[Alli Lubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really looking forward to putting this musical up next spring! Delightful humor, heartwarming characters, timeless philosophy!

[Lauren ❤︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm snoopy in this play rn lol :)

[Toad Soup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to read this every day for 7 days and damnit I’m counting it

[Toad Soup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do y’all think Joe Cool is hot….

[Flintinterpreter]

ok