Charlie Brown Dishes on Christmas in Beijing

Charlie Brown, the wishy-washy cartoon boy who turns everything into a disaster, has entertained children and adults for generations. We were pleased to learn that he and his crew will be appearing at The Bookworm this weekend for a reading of the beloved Christmas TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Charlie is a downer at times. His open honesty gets him a lot of flak from the other Peanuts cartoon kids. But that's what makes the character so beloved. the Beijinger caught up with him recently (well, Renzo Brun del Re, the guy playing him ) to ask him a few questions about Christmas in Beijing.

Christmas is coming. Do you feel what you are supposed to feel in Beijing?
I feel like I’m getting bronchitis. Is that what Christmas is all about?

Have any Christmas cards got through to you this year?
Yes, lots of cards. Lots of beautiful Christmas cards from lots of people who like me a lot. Do you happen to know what sarcasm is?

What month's snowflakes are good to eat in Beijing, Charlie?
I tend to avoid Beijing snowflakes. They test positive for clenbuterol.

Is it sanitary for Linus to keep sucking his thumb here? We're worried he didn't bring enough hand sanitizer.
Since arriving in Beijing, he’s temporarily exchanged his blanket for a giant blue handi-wipe. He seems to like that his thumb tastes like lemon.

Seen any good jazz you would recommend here?
I saw a few cats getting down at ... wait, they were just cats.

We heard you lost Pig-Pen on Line 13. Do you think he'll be OK?
I tried to take him sightseeing, but everything I do turns into a disaster! I’d
thought as long as we avoided Line 1, we’d be OK ...

Why are you so hopeless, Charlie Brown? Has life in Beijing given you any clues?
I fear I may have an incurable, degenerative disease sometimes referred to as “loser-itis.” I was looking for hope here in Beijing, but every time I thought I’d found it, there was a “y” in it instead of an “o.”

What school do you go to here?
Beijing Domestic International Primary Elementary Technical, Engineering and Social Momentum School #250.555

How is that prima donna Frieda's "naturally curly hair" reacting to the dusty air here?
I’m sure the dust of 5,000 years of civilization will be good for her hair. Besides, China doesn’t just have air, it has air with Chinese characteristics, which is the same thing as saying that it’s not really air at all.

How do you feel about having cafes in this city named after you?
They’re probably named after one of the less Charlie Brown-y Charlie Browns.

Did you get a say in the menu?
Is it a good menu? Then they probably didn’t ask me.

What kind of trouble is Snoopy getting into? We heard about an excited dog doing the rounds at the KTVs. Unfortunately, we can’t find him anywhere. Last I heard he rolled into Suzie
Wong’s with approximately five Russian women.

Rumors are going around that Lucy tried take Linus's security blanket to a tailor at Yashow. Are you concerned about this?
Uh oh – maybe she’s just having it made into a sport coat for Linus? You may not want to ask her about it, since I think her last name –van Pelt – makes her Lucy “of the repeated hurling attack.”

Have you developed any phobias while in Beijing?
I don’t know what Beijing is all about, and Lucy says that ignorance breeds fear. I am afraid of Beijing.

Are you planning on leaving China, Charlie Brown? If so, why?
I can’t get my visa renewed. I guess nobody likes me HERE either ...

Meet Charlie Brown and his pals at The Bookworm this weekend.

Photos: Collider.com, imdb.com, Phoenixnewtimes.com