By Lori Geisler
Memories of childhood washed over me as I watched Utah Festival’s Seussical in Logan at the Utah Theater where I used to see movies. Back in the day, sporting vivid green walls and sticky floors, the theater showed both current and older movies. Unusual for a movie theater, there was even a balcony that allowed a unique view of the screen. It was a treat, therefore, to attend Utah Festival’s production of Seussical in the recently-remodeled theater and see the renovations that have transformed the former tacky sticky-shoe movie theater into a beautiful theatre for stage productions. There is a casual and fun-loving feeling in the quaint theatre; audience members are encouraged to bring their concessions into the theatre with them, including hot dogs, popcorn, and famous Aggie ice cream. Once inside, my 10-year-old son and I immediately felt at home. Friendly ushers greeted us with a smile and offered my son a booster for his seat. We arrived an hour before show time for the Informance that is offered for every main stage production. Utah Festival Founding General Director Michael Ballam gives interesting background and details about the show and the theatre company. I highly recommend attending an Informance to gain insight into the production in an up close, personal and fun setting.
Seussical brings to life several of Dr. Seuss’ famous and beloved characters, incorporating many of his books, such as Horton Hears a Who!, The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Horton Hatches the Egg, McElligot’s Pool, I Had Trouble Getting to Solla Sollew, If I Ran the Circus, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! and Green Eggs and Ham. The Cat in the Hat (Stefan Espinosa) acts as narrator and guide, also leaping in and out of the stories to play various characters and to tie the stories together.
Lynn Ahrens, a former writer and performer for the memorable Saturday morning ABC TV’s Schoolhouse Rock, collaborated with composer Stephen Flaherty on many musicals including Seussical, which opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 30, 2000. The show had a modest run, closing on May 20, 2001. The script underwent extensive rewriting, including the removal and reworking of several songs for a US National tour in 2002-2003 and a subsequent tour in 2003-2004. This is the version that is used today, and is considered a favorite of schools, as well as community and regional theatre.
Being a show that involves the audience and allows each member to feel they are a part of the action, Seussical’s host, The Cat in the Hat frequently breaks the fourth wall, speaking to and interacting with the audience, drawing them into the plot. His hilarious antics and comedic alter egos kept me giggling. Utilizing the aisles, other cast members also help the audience to feel they are an integral part of the show. Phillip R. Lowe’s bright and dazzling costumes with matching wigs and make up by Yancey J. Quick and Anne M. Benson’s spectacular sets made me feel that I had truly been transported into a Dr. Seuss book. With ingenious use of color and true-to-Seuss design, the combination of costumes, backdrops and props are mesmerizing and enrich the enjoyment of the high-energy dialogue and musical numbers.
Horton the Elephant (W. Lee Daily) is heartwarming in his role as the misunderstood hero. Holding true to his principles and refusing to break under pressure, Horton is an underdog that I rooted for again and again. Daily’s comedic timing is perfect for the role, as is his voice when he sings the touching, “Alone in the Universe”. Gertrude McFuzz (Olivia Yokers) is an earnest, albeit somewhat angry love interest for Horton. I must admit that I missed the sweet awkwardness of other portrayals of Gertrude I have seen. Although acting as antagonists, the Sour Kangaroo (Jazmine Olwalia) and Wickersham Brothers (Jake Nusbaum, Morgan Blanchard, and Michael Colman) are thoroughly entertaining, and I just couldn’t help but love them. The songs, “Biggest Blame Fool” and “Monkey Around” showcased these delightful characters. Jojo (Chloe Rose Allen) is a perfect blend of sweetness, spunk, and youthful enthusiasm with a voice that proved able to stand alongside the adults’, exhibited in her duet with Espinosa in “It’s Possible” and with Daily in “Alone in the Universe.” With strong voices and graceful dance moves, the Bird Girls (Emily Kramm, Mia Mekjian, and Aiden Ankli) enriched the show every time they were onstage, most notably in “Amazing Mayzie” and “Egg, Nest, and Tree.” Mayzie La Bird (Jessica Gruver) provided an ideal opposition to Horton’s faithfulness. A memorable moment is her reprise of “How Lucky You Are” with Espinosa doing his Louie Armstrong impression at the piano.
Each scene is full of fun and the action flows quickly; I was enraptured throughout the entire performance. Watching my son, I could see the delight on his face as his attention flitted from character to character and scene to scene. Each musical number is performed with zest, and the dialogue is at times poignant, at other time hysterical, and always entertaining. Vanessa Ballam’s direction has created an experience that lifts the soul and dazzles the senses. Lauren Camp’s choreography matches perfectly the high energy of the lively musical numbers and maximizes the available space.
While on the surface Seussical appears as a fanciful piece of light-hearted fluff, deeper messages abound throughout. Just as Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wove profound messages through his youthful stories, Seussical contains thought provoking, empowering and inspiring messages including the importance of loyalty and dependability, the value of imagination, believing in yourself, being true to yourself, and that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
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It probably doesn’t need to be said, but this is a kids’ show. Pack ‘em in the minivan and bring them all to see Utah Festival’s Seussical.
Utah Festival Presents Seussical By Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Utah Theatre 18 W Center St, Logan, UT 84321
July 17, 25, 7:30 PM, July 19, 26, & August 2, 7, 1:00 PM
Tickets $29-72
Contact: 435-750-0300
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