Oh, the things you can think!
The cast of “Seussical the Musical” lit up the stage at the Quick Center this past Sunday, reminding audience members both young and old of the power of imagination.
TheatreworksUSA’s production of “Seussical,” adapted from the Broadway version and shortened for younger audiences, is a combination of all of Dr. Suess’s best-loved characters and stories.
The musical starts with JoJo, a young Who in Whoville, sitting in his room and thinking of wondrous things — an act discouraged by his strict parents. He thinks up the Cat in the Hat, who serves as the mischief maker and host into JoJo’s imaginary world. From the planet of Who, JoJo imagines the Jungle of Nool, where creatures such as Horton the Elephant, Mayzie La Bird, Gertrude McFuzz, Sour Kangaroo, and the playful Wickersham Brothers reside.
Trouble ensues when Horton discovers the planet of Who on a speck of dust and vows to protect his new tiny friends from the chaos of floating aimlessly through the universe. All but Gertrude McFuzz, Horton’s lovestruck but awkward and shy neighbor, think Horton is crazy. They attempt to destroy the dust speck and lock Horton away in an insane asylum. Horton remains dedicated to saving the Whos, because, as he reminds us, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
The 12-person cast did Dr. Seuss justice. From the costumes to the choreography, one truly felt as though they were a kid again, entranced by one of Seuss’s books.
The Wickersham Brothers, played by Michael T. Howell, Khalid Riviera and Clark Ausloos, moved and even laughed like mischievous monkeys. Horton, played by Nick Settimi, didn’t need a fake trunk to portray an elephant; he merely used his arm. And the one-feather tail of Ms. Gertrude Mcfuzz, played by Shaina Taub, was really an ugly sweater tied messily around her waist. All one had to do was use his imagination to see these actors transform into whimsical Whos and jungle creatures.
“Seussical” has many themes, including friendship, loyalty, love, imagination and dignity. Just as in Dr. Seuss’s books, the depth of the subject matter allows the musical to transcend the young age group towards which it is aimed. It was refreshing to break from studying and see this show, and be reminded of the things that really matter. Now, if I could only get those catchy Dr. Seuss rhymes out of my head.
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