‘Snoopy’ Sparkles as Teens Teach Old Dog New Tricks

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The Charles M. Schulz “Peanuts”-based musical “Snoopy” may be long in the tooth, but Broadway on Tour’s vibrant, mostly teenage cast gives it a youthful sparkle at an unlikely venue: the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip.

The show, trimmed down to a quick hour, inaugurates the Roxy’s new, family-friendly matinee children’s theater series and gives the talented company a chance to shine in a professional setting.

Some dialogue is rattled off too fast for clarity and a few male vocals get lost in the lower registers but, overall, the group of performers featured in Saturday’s afternoon show (there are two casts) had stage presence, maturity and musical chops to spare, doing justice to the crisp choreography by Jeff Teague and to Daniel Halkyard’s tight direction.

At that show, the cast included Alexander Rodriguez as Charlie Brown, Stevie Zimmerman as Lucy, Crystal Dancer as Sally, Keith Collins as Linus, Suzanne Watchman as Marcie, Beth Ginnett as Peppermint Patty, Paul Detrick as Pig Pen, Luis Avila as Schroeder, Justin Origel as Snoopy and Julie Holden as Woodstock.

There’s little depth in this series of comic-strip vignettes, in which the characters examine the vicissitudes of life and love, but group numbers are exceptionally well done and Rodriguez, a truly gifted singer, brings poignancy and shading to his tender rendition of the title song.

Origel, while not as strong in the vocal department, nevertheless strikes an assured attitude as a handsome Snoopy, nicely complemented by the youngest cast member, 10-year-old Holden, an adorable Woodstock with dead-on comic timing.

Cheers, too, to vocal director Laurie Hancock, costume designer Terry Dancer and to Linda Davison for her eye-pleasing set paint job.

* “Snoopy,” Broadway on Tour at the Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., $8 (for ages under 12) and $10. (310) 550-8651. Running time: 1 hour.

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Art With Heart: An exhibition of multimedia works from “Caring Strokes,” a program that enables children with AIDS and HIV to explore their emotions through art, will have a special opening Thursday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at Le Centre Culturel Francais Gallery in Culver City.

The 3-year-old program was established for teenagers and children, who are encouraged to deal with their feelings by creating artwork while receiving treatment at the County USC Medical Center.

A fund-raising raffle will be held at Thursday’s opening, with prizes that include Air France tickets, lunch at La Luna Restaurant, membership in the Museum of Tolerance, gift certificates and prints by well-known artists.

The exhibition, presented by the French Consulate in collaboration with the gallery, will run through June 30; gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Information: (310) 473-7260.

Theater Alert: Glorious Players’ thoughtful frolic “Cirque du L.A.: Working Without Annette,” a play about a girl who can’t read, runs away to the circus and magically discovers reading’s joys, returns for one performance only at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

For ages 5 to 12. Tickets: $6.50. Information: (310) 477-2055.