As an abbreviated version of the full-length SEUSSICAL musical, SEUSSICAL, JR. retains the high-energy charm of the original – and with 25-plus musical numbers, it still has plenty of music, too.
Director-choreographer Shellee Frazee, who helmed a great production of the full-length show a couple of summers ago at Countryside Community Theatre, brings her lively, engaging style to St. Ambrose University’s current production of JR. There is never a slow moment – or even a pause – in this show, and Frazee’s cast does nice work with this non-stop kid’s musical.
There are many who contribute to SEUSSICAL, JR.’s overall success.
The Wickershams, played by a half-dozen purple-wigged actors (Andrew Benson, Katie Dayman, Kelsey Francis, Michael Kilen, Emily Kurash and Drew Parks) with plenty of energy, were a major hit with the 1,200+ thrilled kids at the show I saw.
And most of the rest of large company handles the choreography pretty well, too. Big numbers like the opening "Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!" and "Egg, Nest and Tree" are real crowd-pleasers, though they are among many numbers that look and sound very good.
Allissa Klatt is wonderful as Gertrude, the one-feather-tailed bird with a shy eye on her neighbor, and her "Notice Me Horton" is one of several great songs she delivers in her very lovely, evocative voice. Sean D. Tweedale is a fine Cat In The Hat, lending the role an elastic cheek that is cute and fun to watch.
Best of all is Ryan Westwood’s fabulous work as Horton the Elephant. His performance and his singing are both velvety-rich, and the genuine warmth he radiates throughout is absolutely perfect here. He delivers on every single song, and his duet near the end with Klatt’s Gertrude is particularly noteworthy.
A few things dim SEUSSICAL, JR.’s wattage a bit – sometimes literally.
Erik Behnke’s lighting design, which is actually quite good overall, lacks the ultra-bright cheeriness that some numbers called for. The result is pretty good when it could be great – and it could showcase the high-wattage numbers better. Sarah Ulloa’ great voice, which is underused in Sour Kangaroo’s few appearances in this version, was also sometimes lost with late mic cues at the performance I saw – with her already several syllables into a phrase before her microphone came on.
On the whole, though, this is a winsome show with plenty for the kids to enjoy, so make sure you take them to see SEUSSICAL, JR.
Director-choreographer Shellee Frazee, who helmed a great production of the full-length show a couple of summers ago at Countryside Community Theatre, brings her lively, engaging style to St. Ambrose University’s current production of JR. There is never a slow moment – or even a pause – in this show, and Frazee’s cast does nice work with this non-stop kid’s musical.
