THEATER REVIEWS : ‘Charlie Brown’ Is Cute Enough but 2-Dimensional : Everything looks right in this fun, spunky production that brings the ‘Peanuts’ gang to life, but the soul is missing.

Charlie Brown is an existential Everykid. A cowardly sad-sack. A nebbish nice guy. A lonely loser. Always praying, against all odds, that his kite will fly, his dog will respect him and someone will send him a valentine.

In full recognition of Charlie’s almost universal appeal, Clark Gesner wrote “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which premiered in New York in 1967 and has enjoyed a successful stage life since.

Like the Charles Schulz “Peanuts” comic strip that inspired it, the musical is deceptively simple. It has a small cast and minimal technical requirements, which is why school and community-theater groups find it irresistible.

The trick is to portray characters, not caricatures; to play the subtlety that makes the whole thing work: the notion that these are not just cute kids.

Their Angst and alliances, friendships and competition, petty bickering and ball-field fiascoes are played out daily in the living rooms and workplaces of adults.

In a spirited co-production by the San Clemente Community Theatre and Calvary Chapel of Capistrano Beach, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” director Glenn Kelman gets the surface sheen but misses the soul within.

*

Everything looks right (bright costumes by Christina Carter; fanciful set by Kathy Kauppoff), but Kelman has either urged or allowed his cast to paint their characters with big, bold, school-kid strokes, devoid of any shading.

That’s not to say that everyone isn’t working hard. But spunk overwhelms sensitivity.

This production’s use of peripheral characters (Marcie, Sally and Pig Pen), sanctioned by Schulz, adds little except extra bodies to the small stage and detracts from our knowledge and understanding of the five principals: the woebegone titular hero (crestfallen Craig Bye); bossy Lucy (Tisha Bellantuoni, less booming and blustery than Bambi Barnett’s Peppermint Patty); blanket-hugging, over-analytical Linus (high-spirited Marc Ravenhill); music-obsessed Schroeder (charming Gregg Wheeler) and that imaginative, indomitable canine of character, Snoopy (adorable but thin-voiced Nanci Fast).

As Marcie, Sally and Pig Pen, Kim A. Goldman, Danette Haddad and John Richard Petersen don’t get to do or say much, but they look good.

All the actors seem to be having a great time; it’s a fun show. But it should be more touching than precious.

*

The score requires much more vocal prowess than this cast provides to carry the sprightly accompanied songs, not to mention the contrapuntal, a cappella “Book Report.” Solos are overpowered by the offstage piano and percussion (which are, nevertheless, nicely played by Emma Sharier and Josh Gordon).

There’s some inventive stage business, particularly “The Baseball Game” and Snoopy’s moves, but choreographer Bob Murphy needs to have contributed more, especially to the title-song opener, Linus’ “My Blanket and Me” and Snoopy’s should-be showstopper, “Suppertime.”

Director Kelman went for the gusto instead of the guts, but with “Happiness,” the sweet final number, he sends us away with the wistfulness we long for in the rest of this show.

* “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7 p.m.; Sundays, 6 p.m. Ends Aug. 1. $5-$10. (714) 492-0465. Opens Aug. 6 at Calvary Chapel, 25975 Domingo Ave., Capistrano Beach. Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m. Through Aug. 15. (714) 493-2006.

Craig Bye: Charlie Brown

Tisha Bellantuoni: Lucy

Marc Ravenhill: Linus

Nanci Fast: Snoopy

Gregg Wheeler: Schroeder

Bambi Barnett: Peppermint Patty

Kim A. Goldman: Marcie

Danette Haddad: Sally

John Richard Petersen: Pig Pen

A co-production of San Clemente Community Theatre and Calvary Chapel of Capistrano Beach. Book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. Directed by Glenn Kelman. Choreography: Bob Murphy. Music director: Emma Sharier. Sets: Kathy Kauppoff. Costumes: Christina Carter. Lighting: Ed Howie. Sound: Randy Taylor. Musical accompaniment: Emma Sharier and Josh Gordon. Stage manager: Terri Gilbert.