By Rita Moran, Theater critic, Ojai Valley News
“Seussical” is a musical that embraces the spirit and wit of the memorable children’s stories created by Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel. For the young and the young at heart there’s magic in the mention of Seuss and his stream of tales. Ojai Art Center Theater has embraced the many-faceted musical based on his storybook fantasies, bringing more than 30 actors, young and old, to the local stage. The show by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, co-conceived with Eric Idle, meshes characters and scenes from a variety of Seuss tales with a bit of gleeful abandon.
Many of the musical’s roles are double-cast. On the night of Nov. 23 — the show continues through Dec. 15— it opened with a spritely introduction by Kyra Maal- King, who confidently set the scene with words spoken by the Boy, and Jojo, in the cast. Fans of particular actors who want to see their favorites on stage should check the scheduled casting for any particular performance.
Maal-King got “Seussical” off to a fine start, and there is an abundance of other actors, singers and dancers whose performances stand out. Among them are Marisa Miculian as Gertrude McFuzz and Emily Hall as Mayzie La Bird, both totally engaging as singers and performers. And it’s impossible not to mention the poise and grace of Poeme Howard in the role of Cindy-Lou Who, the tiniest person in the cast and one who didn’t miss a cue.
Michael McCarthy gets bonus points for bringing out the decent core of the sometimes hapless Horton, who with his drooping elephant ears patiently sits on an “egg” through multiple scenes because he wants to help hatch it.
It’s hard to imagine a Seuss musical without a song called “Green Eggs and Ham,” which is sung engagingly by the cadets, Jojo and General Ghengis Kahn Schmitz (Christian McAteer).
The show merges the silly with the sane, with the cast going at it all with gusto. Gai Jones is the show’s director and Herb Hemming is its producer. Musical accompaniment is smoothly offered under the direction of Greg Spaulding, vocal direction is by Julija Zonic and choreography by Debbie Ayers. Sheryl Jo Bedal is costumer for the show that certainly employs plenty of them, many with the amusing quirks that suit the Seussian spirit.