Could I write this at my house? I could click my little mouse. I could keep you in suspense, although I’m sure you’d find me dense.
Theatre Harrisburg brings Whoville to Harrisburg with their wubulous rendition of “Seussical” the Tony-nominated musical, directed and choreographed by Matt Spencer. If you’re a fan of Seuss’s many books, you’ll spot spotted Easter eggs throughout “Seussical,” along with enough outrageous silliness to fill all your refrigerators with green eggs and ham. This play is pure joy, whether you’ve read a stack of Seuss’s books in several nooks, or whether you haven’t read his works since sitting on someone else’s lap.
The Cat in the Hat (Andrew Vinton) shines as our unreliable narrator and overall troublemaker for his co-stars. Throughout the scenes, Vinton seamlessly quick-changes into several other characters throughout the play, weaving us through nonsensical, yet still recognizable bedtime story plots.
We discover the world’s smallest community perched on a clover, painted with the most vibrant, buttery yellow, inspiring a buttery battle with butter knives. Then there’s an elephant named Horton who sits on a bird’s egg for so long that someone sold him to the Circus McGurkus.
Does any of this absurdity ring true? Its truth matters not one whit to me, and I hope not a whole awful lot to you.
But here I’ve gone down a bathtub drain. Call me insane or call me a pain. Back to Vinton. High-energy. Great sense of pacing. Timing: spot-on. Keeps the zany action moving. Super-zooper-flooper-do.
Vinton makes trouble for his young lead Jojo, (Tess Tucker), who is chastised by his parents for having thinks that were too big for his tiny world. Tucker’s voice carries through confidently in both speaking and singing in her TH debut, with the especially vulnerable delivery of my plus-one’s favorite ballad, “Alone in the Universe,” a duet with Horton (Eric Pope). Pope’s performance is both heartfelt and unguarded in its sincerity.
Our characters encounter even more serenading troublemakers in the Jungle of Nool, Whoville, and Solla Sollew, all with amazing voices. To credit the entire talented cast of others onstage and backstage who worked together to spring this story from its pages onto the three-dimensional stage would fill more books than Seuss, himself. All the ink I would have used to type your names went down that long drain. But I say to you, there’s no one more brainy or footsy or you-er than you.
Just the ones with the pipes: Sofiyah Ibidunni makes her TH debut as Sour Kangaroo. With a voice that’s a mix of raspy and soulful, Ibidunni nails every song she sings. Also debuting with TH are Josh Glacken and Sara Burke, as the Mayor and Mayor’s Wife, respectively, with over-the-top performances that are both wacky and wackier. As Mayzie, the irresponsible bird, Alison Whipple delivers songs that are both throaty and seasoned. My favorite troublemakers, the hilarious Wickersham Brothers (Joel Colvin, Kyle Hallam, Francis Dy) give off a funky ‘70’s vibe. This is, incidentally, when I began studying Seuss’s works, diapered scholar that I was.) Colvin double-duties as the General, standing out with his lilting voice.
Not a troublemaker, but an intentionally warbley soprano songbird, Gertrude (Becky Mease) plays the equivalent of an aviary underdog in love with Horton. She is identifiably awkward, yet graceful when the more primped “mean girl” birds pick on her. When Gertrude grows her tail down to there, Mease hits the high notes with flare.
Just one note from my critiquer’s box, where I wear sloppy socks and sit with my fox… Although the costumes and set were beautifully feathered and brightly colored, some of the costumes and props were more representative than literal, so a few animals (figuratively) flew over my head when I tried to identify what was what and who was who in Seuss’s zoo. But even when we couldn’t pinpoint thing one or thing two, we still thought this play was brilliant. How about you?
To everyone in the audience, this play brings positive messages designed to uplift, especially the younger Whos. Anything is possible. A person is a person, no matter how small. My personal favorite is “Tell yourself how lucky you are,” even after your life turns to hot glunker stew on your way to Solla Sollew.
No one is safe from audience participation in the theater, with antics surrounding you, and zany surprises from all around. I won’t spoil the surprises, but it will be amazing all the thinks the cast can think
Oh, the places you’ll go! … Actually, you don’t have to go very far. You could go by foot, or go by car to:
Whitaker Center for Science and Arts, 222 Market Street, Harrisburg. “Seussical” runs through May 12. For more information on show times and tickets, https://theatreharrisburg.com.
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. I enjoyed this play, 100 percent.
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