BWW Reviews: SEUSSICAL Packs Fun and Pep at Connecticut Rep

Seussical
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Directed and Choreographed by Cassie Abate
at the Nafe Katter Theatre
 Connecticut Repertory Theatre through June 26
www.crt.uconn.edu

Sound the brumpets 
and the cacophonous zoon!
A most scrumptious production
filled with colors and tune
Seussical opened in Storrs
to brighten your June!

Flaherty and Ahrens'
Broadway flop based on Seuss
has a new lease on life
(and a cat on the loose).
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
rejuvenates the show,
so point your car to UConn,
and, oh, the places you'll go!

The set by Michael Anania
is the first thing you'll gaze.
It's  a tiered riot of color,
with Al Crawford's lighting ablaze.
Leslie Neillson-Bowman's frocks
are an eye-popping rainbow,
with frizzles and frazzles
covering characters you know.

The charming performances
put this show over the top.
Everyone so energetic,
the fun simply won't stop.
Appearing first on stage is
Noah Zachary as JoJo
He's charming and sings
with mop-topped face aglow.

Rising out of the floor
is the Cat in the Hat,
everyone's favorite feline
and mischievous brat.
A splendid Bradford Scobie
gives this kitty nine lives,
and the joy begins
every time he arrives. 

At the center of the tale
is an elephant named Horton.
A sweet, shy pachyderm,
a grey costume he's sportin'.
Lovingly rendered by
the touching Steve Hayes,
he protects the Who's and an egg,
luminously beaming as he plays.

The surprise of the cast
and a star in the making,
Allysa Schmitt as Gertrude McFuzz
has a future her's for the taking.
With impeccable timing
and a fine comic voice,
this fresh new face
should be everyone's choice.

Not that Schmitt is
the only canary,
Amani Dorn's voice
is so good it's scary!
Her Sour Kangaroo,
preens with hilarity.
She has powerful pipes,
but sometimes lacks clarity.

Rachel Rosado plays
saucy Mayzie LaBird,
and her voice is quite
delightful to be heard.
An avian Sophie Tucker,
perched high atop a tree,
she has zim and zither.
A true delight to hear (and see)!

Lindsay Andretta is found
in this splendooferous land.
And she is a fine Mayor's wife,
by the side of Cory Strand.
They both sing and dance,
criss-crossing the stage,
hitting notes and belting words
straight from Seuss's page.

Rounding out the cast
are two naughty monkeys,
playing the Wickershams,
sporting moves that are funky.
Dancing dances that make one
open one's mouth,
shouting "Yipp, Yopp, Yooray"
for Jamie Goldman and Charles South.

For one brief moment,
the stage is filled with puppet creations.
From UConn's legendary school,
filling the audience with elations.
Paul Spirito's designs are
lifted right from Seuss,
and their too-short appearances
give the show a goose.

But the real star of a show
with nary a moment that's spotty,
is the multi-talented hyphenate
Miss Cassie Abate.
Her direction keeps this mash-up
of Seuss and Carroll afloat,
and her choreographic skill
gives her reason to gloat.

The score is charming,
although not Broadway's best,
and the 80-minute run time
makes it scarcely a test.
It's a perfect treat for the
whole family,
whether you are two years old
or zoo-hundred and three.

Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

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