If I want to have a good cry--or at least get the eyes welling--then I know which books to read to my kids. For some reason, the American Girl series hits me in that sensitive zone. Same with "The First Bear," by Felicity Hansen. My kids routinely steal befuddled glances at me as my voice cracks and I struggle to get through the final stages of those poignant pieces of literature.
By contrast, in my numerous readings of Dr. Seuss books over the past few years, there has been deep enjoyment, amusement and amazement (at author Theodore Dreisel's unpredictable imagination). But never have I come close to something that could be termed an emotional state.
So I was caught somewhat off-guard a few weekends ago when I joined my wife, Bridgett, and our 5-year-old children, Zachary and Maggie Rose, at a performance of SEUSSICAL at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre for Young Audiences.
It was all I could do not to burst into tears as the protagonist, Horton the Elephant, goes to zealous lengths to protect the planet of Who. (After the show, my wife shared a similar sentiment.)
Guess that shows us the power of live performance. I can only imagine how many Kleenex I’d use up if I ever go see an American Girl show.
As for this Drury Lane production, it wonderfully weaves in a variety of Dr. Seuss tales, taking some liberties with the original plot but remaining true to the essence of Dreisel's messages. Echoing the dominant theme of "Horton Hears A Who," Bernie Yvon (pictured below, in a wonderfully warm portrayal of Horton) issued this refrain over and over: "A person's a person, no matter how small."
The Cat in the Hat (the energetic, engaging George Keating, pictured at the top of this post) narrates the story of Horton the Elephant and his friends as they go on a voyage from the Jungle of Nool, through the mountains and across the ocean, to help a young girl named JoJo bring harmony back to the tiny planet of Who.
Along the way, they must contend with harmonizing birds, a cantankerous kangaroo (Melody Betts, with a booming voice and presence), and some trouble-making monkeys (convincingly portrayed by the athletically built Scott Alan Jones and Jason Shuffler).
Rightly billed as a rock musical for all ages, SEUSSICAL imaginatively depicts friendship, compassion and bravery amidst adversity. For particularly sensitive children, some of the plot turns can be jarring--my daughter at times held her hands over her eyes--but in the heart-warming end, all is well.
Capping the 60-minute production was a 15-minute cast introduction and question-and-answer period, emceed by the fun-loving Cat in the Hat. This phase delivered yet more entertainment. Kids ask the darnedest things, and the cast did a wonderful job of fielding them and offering answers that kids, and adults, could grasp and appreciate.
The show draws from more than a dozen Dr. Seuss classics, such as The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Horton Sits on the Egg, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, McElligot's Pool, and Oh, The Places You'll Go!
It plays through May 16th at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
More Notes about SEUSSICAL:
The musical was created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind the acclaimed musical Ragtime. Ahrens and Flaherty conceived the project with the assistance of Monty Python's Eric Idle.
The performance schedule for SEUSSICAL is as follows: select Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10 am; select Saturdays at 11 am (and at 10 am and 1 p.m. on May 16. Call 630.530.0111 for exact schedule, as some show times and dates may vary. Tickets for all shows are $10, excluding tax and handling fees. A
Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets with a major credit card, call the Drury Lane Oakbrook Box Office at 630.530.0111 or visit Ticketmaster.com.
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