Last Thursday, I went to see Seussical on its opening night with curiosity about what the Broadway Intensive Program could produce in a short two weeks of time. I was thoroughly impressed!
Seussical is a musical story that takes the audience into the world of Dr. Seuss after a young ‘thinker’ summons the comedic and energetic Cat in the Hat. As our primary connection to the world of Dr. Seuss, the Cat in the Hat throws the ‘thinker’ into Whoville to fill the role of the mayor’s son. The son has a little trouble keeping his eccentric ideas and imagination from overflowing.
Thrown into these jolly storybooks, the audience follows the primary story of Horton the Elephant and the Whos of Whoville as they battle bullying, natural disaster, unrequited love, and so much more.
Watching Seussical really opens the mind to what may be missed from a Dr. Seuss book when you read it as a kid. And that idea is the center of what Seussical encourages; thinking outside of the center story, imagining what could be and what is, and simply thinking.
As the audience, we are thinkers like the boy who the Cat in the Hat transported into the story. And he wants us to imagine, investigate, and think about the stories around us, the many lives around us that have divulging stories that collide together affecting not just one small person but groups of people.
With beautiful costumes, fantastic vocals, and a mix of both comedic and thrilling moments, Seussical is a must-see success created by The Plaza, The Arts Barn, and the hardworking cast. Out of a 10, in my opinion, Seussical is a nine out of 10.