Maria Sanchez Cisneros, as Thing 2, held up by Ethan Burton as Thing 1, reaches for Horton’s pink clover flower from Elliott Sutherland, as Vlad Vladikoff, during a rehearsal of the Mill Race Theatre Company’s production of “Seussical”.
Carla Clark | For The Republic
Mill Race Theatre Company members, never flimsy with their whimsy, believe audiences will love their latest summer musical the way people love cherished childhood memories.
Performers’ unmistakable thought on the comedic “Seussical”: Attendees will love it from their seat. They will love it in a tweet. They will love it amid the tunes. They will love it amid the loons.
They will love it with a hat. They will love it with their cat.
And speaking of cats, you know that one of the funniest felines around any Theodore Geisel terrific tale is the Cat in the Hat, he of the stovepipe stripes and the occasional yipes. Actor Stephen Planalp plays the role, one of four leads and one of 20 principals, in the show to be presented four times from July 14-16 at Judson Erne Auditorium in Columbus.
“In ‘Seussical’, even the nondance movements are so very big and cartoonish,” Planalp said. “And that’s part of the reason that I love this.”
Besides, doesn’t even the most obtuse adore Seuss?
“Oh my gosh,” said Sharon Andrews, playing Gertrude McFuzz. “Kids and kids-at-heart still connect to Dr. Seuss. And while the show itself is not exactly like every book you’ve read, there are a lot of characters you will immediately remember and recognize.”
That includes Horton (David Maurey), the lovable elephant cast as perhaps a savior of the invisible Whos in “Seussical,” which includes what can only be referred to as a gargantuan Geisel all-star squad of characters, from The Grinch (Michael Black) to Yertle the Turtle (Kate Connor). The production features more than 50 different references to Seuss books.
“The characters are all so crazy and fun,” Andrews said.
In this story spotlighting friendship, loyalty, and love, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool.
Nearly the entire show progresses in song — jazz, pop, Latin, and even hip-hop — with even spoken lines carried by an undercurrent of music. First-time director Mikki Maurey has chosen a heavily black-and-white set to better feature some of the show’s multi-colored costumes.
The 55-member cast, in true Mill Race inclusive tradition, ranges from ages 8 to 75 and includes children’s roles double cast to involve more youngsters. The show also includes some serious life lessons amid the lightheartedness.
“With the Seuss whimsy and the fun in his books, a lot of time you don’t even fully realize that you’re getting themes that are all about community, all about rooting for the underdog, and it’s all about how we’re all better together,” the director said. “And I think that’s what we need right now.
“I knew I wanted to do something very family friendly. And I knew I wanted something fun for the cast to do — but with still a bit of a real message.
“And I wanted something where the audience could have fun, and maybe even learn a life lesson without fully realizing it, or even while knowing that’s not originally what you came to see.”
Planalp sees the underlying seriousness as well.
“I feel like hope is a really strong core in all of this, and in every number,” he said. “And I feel like that is a very necessary message in this day and age because so many folks may not have a lot of hope. They may just see the drudgery or the mundane.”
About the show
What: Mill Race Theatre Company presenting “Seussical,” aimed at adults and children alike.
When: 7 p.m. July 14, 2 and 7 p.m. July 15 and 2 p.m. July 16.
Where: Judson Erne Auditorium, ,1400 25th St. in Columbus.
Tickets: At the door and at millracetheatre.org
