Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 9

nn Santa Maria IIMES FRIDAYS- SEPT. 12, 1997 Entertainment INSIDE THE VIDEOGAMES 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' will be a great start to a fantastic season at the Chip and Jonathan Carter i Vji-: I'-; -V" 't if i The six-character play opens this evening at the Santa Maria Civic Theater. It's a play for all ages that has a youthful perspective. M5l vitTh SFrsFft iniid Playstation offers fantasy amlfunforall GAME OF THE WEEK: FINAL FANTASY VII, 007: GOLDENEYE FOR: PLAYSTATION, N64 You lookin' for a fantasy? Hey, we got one for you. And N64 fans, stick around we've got something pretty fantastic for you, as well: FINAL FANTASY VII, FOR PLAYSTATION The release of this game might not be the most important event since the invention of the wheel but you'd have a heckuva time convincing PlayStation RPG fans of that fact.

Was this one worth the wait? Was it worth all the buildup Could it possibly be as good as you'd hoped it was gonna be? Are you guys gonna be disappointed? Yep. Sorry to say, FF VII stinks. HA! Gotcha! No, FF VII doesn't stink. Not at all. In fact, it is.

hands down, ithout a doubt, the greatest RPG to ever come down the pike. It's huge, it's exciting, there are tons of weapons and characters and magical spells, unbelievable graphics, incredible action sequences it's every-thing you dreamed, of and more. A lew months back, there ere rumors that Squaresol't was in trouble, since its relationship with Nintendo had ended. What no one knew was that Squaresol't were the ones to break the chain not the Big N. And the reason they broke that chain was their belief now proven that the PlayStation could do more with RPGs than the N64.

If you have ever for one second enjoyed RPG gaming, you'll go bughouse nuts over Final Fantasy VII. A short lead time prevents us from going into too much detail here, but we promise we'll be back in coming weeks with tons and tons of info on what just may be the deepest, most complex game ever certainly the deepest and most complex RPG. As 1 1 -year-old Jonathan put it. "If the first few Final Fantasies were legendary, then this one is holy" Just go ahead and buy this thing. It gets our absolute strongest and most-wholehearted recommendation.

AGES 8 007: GOLDENEYE, FOR N64 OK, you got the Doom thing going on here (again), but this one believe it or not takes the genre to a wholly new and very cool level. hether you're a Bond fan or not. you'll dig this fast-paced shooter. Just as you would expect in a spy game, the air of intrigue is the coolest thing. Or wait, maybe the way things explode and bend and dent and break when you interact with 'em is the coolest thing like the way your shots leave bullet holes behind in the walls so you know if you've been down a certain path before.

And you'll recognie some of those paths. The team which designed the game, replicated the 3 1) environ menl from actual moie set Mucprmls As (Xi7. vou'll blast your was through Is missions spread through lour levels Vu ret I' weapons and II gadgets to i.ols voi activate vu Ihe wruiw.ikh to help you Like out ttk" kid fiis 1 IV graphic ii-ffc Bond l.e is ihjt itv Bond iHKtiU five I'hih tin in M.il f-rtlet uier tf k' in vidio i' i In "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," Snoopy is always comfortable on top of the dog house has the title role; Catherine Brow who recently performed off-Broadway in New York, play rr. vy, 6-year-old Lucy. Brow is a grow n-up, hut "is totally believable, Stogner promised with her usual vehemence.

"I have a wonderful mix in the cast. It's truly a labor of love for everyone who's working here. In community theater, you'll find people from all alks of life. icV They may not have degrees and initials alter their names, but they have love and dedication." The Civic Theater has space for any body who wants to help shows go on. Stogner said.

"You show up. we'll put you to and Susan Stogner has pestered the powers that be. She's been cajoling and huffing and puffing and pleading, since the day she moved to Santa Maria three years ago. "They caved." she reported proudly, before excusing herself ith a rapid "Hang on! I have to push a button!" Stogner is a disc jockey and music director at KSNI-FM and a gusher when the topic of musical theater comes up. Being on or near a stage is -'how I recharge my batteries.

Some peo-. pie go to the ocean or to the mountains; I go to the theater. It's like the air I breathe." Stogner attended her first musical hen she was 4 years old: "Oklahoma!" which resonated big and bold on her horizon since it's set in the place where she grew up. Since that night 38 years ago. Stogner transplanted herself to San Francisco to get a degree in theater and acted in shows from Redding to Boise to New Mexico.

All along she's fantasized about directing a production of her own. The moment is here: Stogner's musical opens tonight at the Santa Maria Civ ic Theater. A widely held misconception dogs "You're Good Man. Charlie Brown." however So Stogner kicks into an even higher "dispel the-mvths" gear "ilus is not a itiildren's show It's a show about life through the eyes ol a child, wuh their iniun.ence. their ov It gives you that wide-eyed Iresh perspective Children aren't pl.twue children, the director lid Uh'Civii I In aui.k is adults Iroin all over iiie oviiip.iiion.il map.

and the cast ol "Good Man'" ides an example 1 Co Cirte. ontre.k t.x'id ii iioj and a pi tv wnghl turns It, 'This is not a children's show. It's a show about life through the eyes of a child, with their innocence, their joy. It gives you that wide-eyed fresh perspective' 'I have a wonderful mix in the cast. It's truly a labor of love for everyone who's working here.

In community theater, you'll find people from all walks of life. They may not have degrees and initials after their names, but they have love and dedication' Susan Togner. director of 'You re a Good Man, Charlie Brown' Santa Maria Civic Theater At top, Lucy, left, Charlie Brown and Linus play patty-cake. Above, Schroeder, left, plays his piano while Lucy vies for his attention. whether you're running the lights, acting on stage, or taking tickets, you share in the sense of accomplishment when people stand up to clap their hands.

There's no sensation like hearing that audience." Clare Terrill. an actor. Civic Theater Kurd president, and medical transcnptionist. adds. "We have a good tune and that comes across in our productions.

The people who come backstage afterward to meet the cast are very appreciative And a lot ol them are amaed that we're even here We have longtime residents ot S.inia Man.i who had no idea we exist," s.nd lerrili I or her. the sweet moment comes low aid of the show s- hen you see people stmle. when you know vou ve done vinething lo nuke someone i. a'! h.ippv tlui' stu a neat leehne hclvd ch.s'se the lour comed'cs ih.ii See THEATER backpay Story by Diane D. Urbani Photos by Jeffrey May.