'Seussical the Musical' an extravaganza

“Adults are obsolete children and the hell with them.” – Dr. Seuss

“Seussical the Musical,” a whimsical, fantastical stage production based on the works of Dr. Seuss, is the most performed show in America. The local production at the Lincoln Theatre by NITE does not disappoint.

It is an ambitious show to create but cast, crew and producers delivered. If it is NITE’s mission to give children a sense of confidence, they achieved their goal.

The writers, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, transformed Dr. Seuss’s rhymes, his playful use of words and wild characters into a rollicking musical transfixing children and adults alike.

Beside me a 3-year-old boy, star-struck, twisted and turned in his seat, stood on his mother’s lap and followed the cast as they collided and cavorted across the stage and into the audience. He was awestruck.

“Seussical” is a blend of several rhyming tales from Dr. Seuss with characters The Cat in the Hat (Martha Porteous), Horton Hears a Who (Marley Lagares), The One-Feathered Tail of Gertrude McFuzz (Sophia Rice), Mayzie LaBird (Hannah Cafarella), JoJo (Rhona Porteous), The Grinch (Jackson Sjogren), mayors, birds, turtles, kangaroos, fish – if it wasn’t so well done, it would have just been chaos. Almost all of the cast of 40 were teens and children.

Directed by Susie Pollino and Assistant Director Zoe Bates, choreographed by Madelyn Hamblem, it is instead energetic and engaging. The 36 musical numbers, ranging from solos and duets to whole-cast numbers, give it an operatic vibe.

Pollino had performed in this show twenty years earlier during the birth of META Performing Arts. “Seussical” was her choice to bring back theatre art post COVID-19. Thank you!

While art is NITE’s focus, Pollino wrote they wanted to provide opportunities for young actors to grow as individuals, leaving them “confident, capable and with a sense of belonging” and committed to “serving and uplifting our community.”

Porteous, The Cat in the Hat, played to the audience through facial expressions that could be seen from the back of the theatre and through grand gestures – even stealing the baton from the conductor, Johnathon Lyons, and leading the 12-piece orchestra.

Lyons’s orchestra challenged and uplifted the strong vocals. Percussionist Lucas Webster’s conga rhythms led dancers in rumbas, mambos and cha-chas. The audience participated with “oohs” and “aahs” when queued.

“Seussical” centers around Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz.

Horton sees himself as the protector of the Whos, including Jojo (Rhona Porteous), who “thinks too many thinks” and is sent off to military school. Horton found the Whos while inspecting a speck of dust but is caught up sitting on an egg abandoned by Mayzie LaBird who has run off to Palm Beach.

Gertrude is smitten with the pachyderm but is unsure of herself because of her one-feather tail.

After Horton is sold to a circus and ends up in Palm Beach he runs into Mazie again who demands the egg, now hatched into a half elephant/half bird. But Horton ends up keeping the bird while Mazie is punished.

Horton faces danger, kidnapping and a trial. The goofy Gertrude endures unrequited love but never abandons Horton. He is loyal; he knows he is different and is steadfast in his choices. His refrain throughout: “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

McFuzz (Sophia Rice) is charming. And, what a voice! She rings out strong, singing to Horton: “I was hooked from the start/when I noticed your kind/And your powerful heart.”

The Lincoln was not as full as it was for last month’s “The Wizard of Oz,” but it should have been. I hope y’all buy tickets for yourselves and your kids. Make it an early Christmas gift – it runs through Dec. 16.

Kudos to the lighting and set designers, Abraham Nurkiewicz and Nicole Hulst and assistants. Anyone with photosensitivies beware as sequences include flashing lights – adding more drama to the already wild cast.

Thank you Hunter Brown, sound designer.

And more kudos to the costume designer Cally Holden and assistants for the outstanding costumes.

Heather DeGroot: great job on those pigtails and Emily Hall on makeup.

And to the producers: Taylor Bannister, Erin Nielson, Katherine Olson, Susie Pollino, Kenzie Sharpe, Mathew Wend, Associate Producers Diana Becerra-Ayala, Jada Jenkins, Kayalyn Hurtado-Stewart, thank you.

Times and tickets information: lincolntheatre.org.