Seussical at The Arts Theatre

Whether it is your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or your cousin twice-removed, use them as an excuse to see the fantastical Seussical: a musical menagerie of Dr. Seuss’ best stories intertwined to entertain a young audience. What’s more, like the stories themselves, the production does not exclude the adult members of the audience.

“If you open your mind, all the things you will find!” the mischievous Cat in the Hat declares, as he addresses the child hero of the production, Jojo. He may also be advising the adults and Grinches of the audience who quickly disregard the simple and inexpensive set as strictly for children. The Sell A Door Theatre Company apply such energy to their characters that it is impossible to emerge from the cosy theatre without feeling cheery.

The audience is guided through the performance by the Cat in the Hat, through the brightly coloured world of Horton Hears A Who, meeting characters on the way such as the delightful Gertrude McFuzz, the Sour Kangaroo and the glamorous Mayzie La Bird. Horton the elephant is ridiculed by the other animals in the Jungle of Nool, because he wishes to save a speck of dust, inhabited by the “Who” people, from being destroyed. The other animals refuse to believe in“Whoville” and kind Horton must save the little universe with the help of Gertrude and a mysterious egg.

Throughout the performance, the chatter of excited children buzzes around The Arts Theatre. The stage is a plain proscenium arch in the traditional style, but it is an absolute triumph that this small theatre can be transformed into a jungle, a tree, an ocean and, sometimes simultaneously, a whole Who land upon a speck of dust.

The entire cast exudes playfulness with their characters, without patronising their young audience. With a score developed by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the charming numbers Green Eggs and Ham and A Person’s A Person No Matter How Small are amongst the most memorable.

To escape The Grinches at Christmas, Seussical will whisk you off to the world of the imagination – to Solla Sellew!

Rosie Hillsdon

Seussical is at The Arts Theatre from 4^th December 2012 until 6^th January 2013. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.