AJ Valle in Seussical the Musical (Jenn Ward/Humxn Photography)
When Seussical the Musical first hit Broadway in 2000, it famously got largely negative reviews. I didn’t see that original production but it seems clear that a large, imposing Broadway theater is not the most natural venue for Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s musical. It does much better in smaller spaces where the intimacy can allow the play’s imaginative elements to feel outsized. This is likely why the play has done so well as a community theatre staple in the decades since its debut, and why Theatre in the Park’s current production is so engaging.
Under director Zane Champie, TIP’s staging is intimate and inviting. In front of the regular seating are rows of beanbag chairs, giving the feel of a cozy library story hour and allowing the audience to get up close with these colorful characters. Seussical doesn’t retell any one of Seuss’s stories but weaves together elements from various books to craft a new narrative. Most of the action centers on Horton the Elephant (played by Scott Salem, radiating kindness), whose large ears make him the only one who can hear the calls of the Whos from Whoville, a city that fits on a speck of dust flying through the air. Jojo (Chloe Roth) is the child of the Mayor of Whoville and our gateway to much of the imaginative wonder of the show. A whimsical Cat in the Hat (AJ Valle) serves as a sort of Master of Ceremonies, guiding the story and interacting with the audience.
The musical comedy is packed with a quirky supporting cast of characters with intersecting plotlines. A series of movable set pieces styled after Seuss’s illustrations (by designers Tim Bair and David Powell, with props by Amanda Albert) allow for quick changes of scenery and keep the pace moving quickly. The songs are catchy and the lively choreography (Mandy Dulny and Alex Gumminger) keeps the energy driving forward.
The works of Dr. Seuss are all about plunging the depths of young readers’ imaginations and transporting them to fantastical places via fantastical thinking. His books are wondrous and colorful, often with faintly sinister undertones. Theatre in the Park’s Seussical the Musical manages to capture that spirit in a production that viewers of all ages can enjoy but which will be especially appealing to young audiences.
“Seussical the Musical,” a production of Theatre in the Park, runs through December 23 at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park. For more information, visit www.theatreinthepark.org.
