Seussical the Musical
book by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens
music by Stephen Flaherty/lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
based on the works of Dr. Seuss
directed & choreographed by David Engel
3-D Theatricals/at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
final weekend: March 6 - 8
Remember when you were a child and hated to think? Or were you like JoJo with excessively brilliant thinks? No matter! Put yourself into a Dr. Seuss...ical mode and get on down to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8 only for the final weekend of performances of 3-D Theatricals' exhilarating Seussical the Musical. David Engel, an original member of the Broadway cast, directs with panache and Cathy Rigby leads a delightful cast in a show for youngsters young and old.
Narrator Rigby is sheer delight as the Cat in the Hat. Her glorious improv skills and uber showmanship add so much color to this lovely production. It seems that she does more somersaults on a wire than in Peter Pan, but her most fun moments come when she is in the audience trying to walk across an aisle of people on the backs of the seats. It reminded me of the clowns of Cirque du Soleil. Rigby goes all the way to gain her audience's attention and affection.
Also starring are Matthew Downs as Horton the Elephant, a difficult role to carry off since it is so stationary and rather static; Downs brings it full circle with a blase sincerity. Melanie Mockobey is so adorable as Gertrude McFuzz, the girl who wants a bigger tail. Her ultimate union with Horton is precious and winning. Victoria Matlock makes a stunning Mayzie LaBird and little 8-year old Grant Westcott is the amazingly insightful JoJo. Although they are never onstage very long, James Campbell and Tracy Rowe Mutz make a fun Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, and Amber J. Snead does some serious scene stealing as Sour Kangaroo with a delicious costume designed by George Bacon. The set design by J Branson is simple but practical, brightly colorful and truly noticeable against a black curtain.
I love this score especially the gorgeous "Solla Sollew" in Act II. Like an exotic lullaby, it reminds me a tad of Once On This Island, another score from the brilliant team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The opening and closing number "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think" is also a nifty delight and a song you will not stop humming as you leave the theatre.
I was exceedingly impressed with David Engel's superb staging and snappy choreography. Having danced the show on Broadway, he truly knows the rhythms of the piece and pulls out all the stops. This imaginative rendering of the show, by the way, is an exact replica of the original Broadway production. Seussical the Musical has the Grinch and all the Whos of Whoville that audiences love and with this great cast, you do not want to miss out on all the fun! Remember, one more chance this weekend March 6-8 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Ticket info below!
5 out of 5 stars.
Read my interview with Cathy Rigby:
http://grigwaretalkstheatre.blogspot.com/2015/02/2015-interview-with-cathy-rigby.html
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