Coterie Theatre’s ‘Seussical’ still charms
Talented local cast brings back beloved Dr. Seuss musical with flair.
It’s possible to get tired of some shows after only one viewing. But then there are others that never get old.
And that’s the case with “Seussical,” which proves to be as charming as ever in the Coterie Theatre’s third production of the piece since 2004.
The backstory on this version is worth repeating. It began when Jeff Church, the Coterie’s artistic director, approached the team of composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist/book writer Lynn Ahrens with a proposal.
“Seussical” works quite well as a small show, but in its 2000 Broadway version the inflated production values overwhelmed the nuanced work Flaherty and Ahrens had executed in bringing the Dr. Seuss books to the stage. Church hit them with a “what if” suggestion: Shrink the show to a one-act format tailored for young audiences.
That’s essentially what happened, and in 2004 the Coterie presented the world premiere of a simplified version of the show that has gone on to be widely produced in regional theaters.
The new production, directed and choreographed by David Ollington, showcases a cast that happens to include some of the best musical-theater actors in town. It also benefits greatly from Jennifer Myers Ecton’s audacious and whimsical original costumes, which have been adjusted a bit for this production by Georgiana Buchanan. This production also retains Gary Wichansky’s clever scenic and prop designs.
Seth Golay returns as Horton the Elephant, the gentle-giant protagonist who discovers the tiny residents of Whoville on a speck of dust and seeks to protect them from harm because, after all, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Horton remains oblivious to the attentions of Gertrude McFuzz (a delightful Jennie Greenberry), a plumage-challenged bird who is ostracized by the richly feathered Bird Girls, until late in the proceedings. Ruling over the Bird Girls is Mayzie La Bird (Jennifer Mays in a fine comic performance), a diva who cons Horton into sitting on her egg while she goes on permanent vacation.
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