Anvilicious: The play doesn't pull any punches when it comes to talking about how homophobia and bullying are bad and how it could eventually lead to suicide.
Cliché Storm: While it doesn't try to be, the play still plays straight several tropes typical of Peanuts parodies featuring the gang as older—Schroeder being gay, Snoopy's death, Linus being a stoner, Lucy mentally snapping, Peppermint Patty and Marcie being lesbians (or in this case assumed to be them), etc. Though, unlike typical parodies, these cliches are played seriously instead of for comedy.
Ensemble Dark Horse: Van's Sister, AKA Lucy. She's just as hilarious as ever, but she also manages to be the most supportive of CB's homosexuality, and is probably his most loyal friend in the show.
Fridge Brilliance: The pen pal, C.S. (Charles Schulz), since the play is set in the Peanuts universe, is God, and the letter CB receives is an answer to his questions about what comes after death and an assurance that Beethoven, CB's dog, and the bird are happy somewhere.
Alternatively, C.S. is Charles Schulz, who CB had been writing to all his life. Schulz used the letters CB sent him as the basis for his comic strip (Schulz at one point said that the Pen Pal may be the person who felt the most sympathy for Charlie Brown in the original comics) and has played a sympathetic ear. Now that Schulz is dead in real life, he writes CB one last letter from heaven, where he sees Beethoven.
Funny Moments: Plenty in the scene with Van's sister.
CB's sister (Sally) putting on her absurd one-woman show in between two big, plot-important scenes. It's a hysterical Big-Lipped Alligator Moment quite reminiscent of Maureen's song in RENT.
This exchange at Marcy's party, after C.B reveals that he invited Beethoven.
Marcy: CB, my parents would kill me if they knew we let a homosexual in the house! CB: Marcy, there are 7 people upstairs on ecstasy fucking in your parents' bed.
Heartwarming Moments: CB's meeting with Van's sister is hilarious, but it's also this as she actually listens and gives support to CB at a time he needs it the most, helps CB to confirm that his feelings for Beethoven are real and not some impulse and congratulates CB for going against the norm and not apologizing for it. Doubly so, since she and CB were dating before she got incarcerated, which means that she's willing to lose their relationship solely for CB to be truly happy. Not only that, but Van's sister is Lucy and Beethoven is Schroeder, and Lucy had a massive crush on Schroeder in the Peanuts comics. Which makes this scene even the more heartwarming.
Van's sister: And next time, when you come, if you could just maybe stick a book of matches up your ass, I'd be your best friend forever.
CB: You already are.
One-Scene Wonder: Van's sister appears only once and she's one of the best parts of the show.
