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General News: Seussical Storms the Stage
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| The Cat in the Hat tells Jojo a story, while Thing 1 and Thing 2 listen in. |
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| Horton Hears a Who. |
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| You're the Biggest Blame Fool is sung so sweetly. |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Mayor take time for a song and dance. |
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| Gertrude and Mayzie, two birds, compare their finery. |
March 31, 2011
It is probably safe to bet that there is not one person in Cornwall who has not read at least one Dr. Seuss book. There is The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Yertle the Turtle, all populated with colorful characters who dress extravagantly and speak in odd-sounding rhythms.
Many of these characters are taking over the stage in the newly renovated Cornwall Central Middle School auditorium for the drama club production of Suessical, the musical this weekend. The award-winning show weaves together stories and characters from several of Seuss’s books, with perhaps his most famous, the Cat in the Hat, serving as narrator to guide the audience through the complex story line.
Central to Seussical is Horton, from the book Horton Hears a Who. Horton is an elephant living in the jungle and, as the sounds of drums rise up, Horton says he hears a Who, riding on a speck of dust and speaking. Horton expresses his feelings about the tiny Who in a song that he repeats throughout the show, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
There is nothing small about this production directed by teacher Marietta Moulton with musical director Valerie Ransbottom, who also serves as one of the school's music teachers. Each character and each new story line provides an opportunity for dozens – scores – of colorfully dressed performers to take to the stage to sing and dance and transport the audience to a higher level of enjoyment.
There are so many talented students willing to perform that the show has divided the leads between two nights. On Thursday and Saturday the Green Eggs cast will perform; on Wednesday and Friday, is the Ham cast. (The photos at right are divided among the two casts.)
The music in Seussical runs from introspective solos to the large boogie woogie sounds of “The Biggest Blame Fools.”
From the jungle, the scene shifts to the circus backdrop where we find Mr. and Mrs. Mayor singing and worrying about the bad behavior of their son, Jojo. They decide to send him off to military school to get some discipline in his life and he feels lonely there, until he is brought into a musical encounter with Horton as they sing “Alone in the Universe” first as solos, then a duet.
Meanwhile, pretty little bluebird Gertrude discovers she has deep feelings for Horton as well as concern about the small size of her tail. It can’t compare with the flashy red tail of Mayzie, who flaunts around the stage, flirting, and who is not shy to ask Horton to sit on her egg so that she can split town.
Soon the Grinch shows up briefly to moan about how much he doesn’t like Christmas and the Lorax appear to lament the destruction of trees by industrial development.
As Act One winds up, Horton is kidnapped by a group of mischievous monkeys who steal Horton’s flower and give it to an eagle, Vlad Vladikoff.
You will have to attend one of three remaining performances to find out what adventures befall Horton, Jojo and Gertrude as they land in New York City. Each episode brings with it a wonderful song-and-dance and an opportunity to enjoy the talents of the young actors and actresses of the middle school.
Limited tickets may still be available at the door for the 7 pm performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the middle school.
Click here to see more photos from the show.
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