Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Phoenix

Seussical
Valley Youth Theatre
Review by Gil Benbrook


Jaden Roesch (center) and Cast
Photo by Bob Dolan
The idea to adapt the imaginary worlds of the Dr. Seuss children's books, which feature fantastical creatures, humorous situations, heartfelt life lessons, and clever rhyme schemes, into a Broadway musical seemed like a great plan for a family friendly show. While the initial 2000 Broadway run didn't last long, the musical has become a staple of regional and youth theatres. The current Valley Youth Theatre production has an exceptional cast with direction and creative designs that echo and evoke the meaningful situations, humorous words, and wild images of the Seuss books.

The musical interweaves familiar characters from Theodore Geisel's Seuss books, including the Cat in the Hat who serves as the show's narrator, and Horton the Elephant, and even has a cameo from the Grinch from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." The musical's main plot focuses on Horton the Elephant who hears voices coming from a speck of dust, which he discovers are a group of people called Whos. No one believes Horton, but he decides to protect the Whos as best as he can. One of the Whos, a young boy named JoJo, struggles to find his place amongst the Who society, while Gertrude McFuzz, a bird with only one feather on her tail, tries to get Horton's attention since she is in love with him. These three characters have plenty of mishaps and adventures as they seek to find their place in the world.

The show was conceived by Monty Python's Eric Idle and the songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music), and they do a fairly good job combining the characters and plots from the different books into a cohesive story. However, there are several subsidiary plot points and characters in the show's book by Idle and Ahrens that pad the show and, unfortunately, take the focus at times off of the plight of both Horton and JoJo. Fortunately, Flaherty's music is varied and memorable, and the humorous lyrics by Ahrens play off of Seuss' famous and fun rhyme schemes.

The cast of talented teens and youngsters does a wonderful job bringing the well-known Seuss literary characters to life. With an impish wink in his eye, Jaden Roesch is playfully mischievous as the Cat in the Hat. Roesch exhibits a warm connection with the rest of the cast and delivers some high-flying acrobatic leaps and jumps as well. As Horton the Elephant, William Lovell is warm, lovable, compassionate and caring. Luca Grasso is wonderful as JoJo in one of the most professional portrayals from an actor of his age that I've seen in a youth production. The duet that he has with Lovell, "Alone in the Universe," is beautifully sung and exceptionally moving. With a bright singing voice and a sunny disposition, Olivia Fearey is charming and winning as Gertrude McFuzz.

In smaller roles, Colette Davis is humorous as the self-centered Mayzie LaBird, who tricks Horton into sitting on her egg to keep it warm while she goes on vacation. Harrison Rosenberg and Cammie Roberts are bright and loving, yet also stern, as JoJo's parents. Xander Zeeb is great as General Schmitz, who oversees the military school JoJo's parents send him to, and Rosa Piña is sassy as the Sour Kangaroo, who doesn't believe that Horton hears the Whos. The large ensemble appears to be having a lot of fun creating a wide range of supporting characters.

Director Bobb Cooper makes sure there is a sense of imagination and zany playfulness in the production, which are both major components of the Seuss books, without ever losing sight of the show's main theme–that everyone matters, no matter how small. Nathalie Velasquez's choreography is fun, varied, and well danced by the large cast. Music director Mark Feary derives rich vocals from the cast. While the set is a rental, it, along with the enchanting and creative costumes by Karol Cooper and the rich lighting design from Jeff A. Davis, evokes the colorful, wacky, and crazy characters and world that are well-known from the Seuss book illustrations.

With a winning cast, wonderful direction, and creative elements that are dripping with color and imagination, VYT's production of Seussical is a crowd pleaser, but it's also a show with an enormous heart and an abundance of love.

Seussical runs through August 28, 2022, at Valley Youth Theatre at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix AZ. For tickets and information, please call 602-252-8497 or visit http://www.vyt.com/home.

Director: Bobb Cooper
Musical Director: Mark Fearey
Choreographer: Nathalie Velasquez
Scenery designed by J Branson and provided by Music Theatre Wichita
Costume Designer: Karol Cooper
Lighting Designer: Jeff A. Davis
Sound Designer: Brian Honsberger

Cast:
Cadet: Charlie Budd
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Fish, Circus Member: Kylee Calloway
Grinch: Jorian Chait
Wickersham Brother: Kylan Chait
Jungle Citizen, Who, Circus Member: Wyatt Chamoff
Cadet: Oliver Christie
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Circus Member: Rowan Cross
Mayzie LaBird: Colette Davis
Cadet: Shaun Davis
Gertrude McFuzz: Olivia Fearey
Young Kangaroo: Jacquelyn Fuchs
Bird Girl: Gabriella Grasso
JoJo: Luca Grasso
Jungle Citizen, Who, Circus Member: Jolie Grimwood
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Circus Member: Kathlyn Grimwood
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Circus Member: Kara Holguin
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Fish, Circus Member: Michael Jaramillo
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Circus Member: AJ King
Jungle Citizen, Who, Fish, Circus Member: Hailey Laidig
Horton The Elephant: William Lovell
Cadet: Elliot Lovell
Jungle Citizen, Who, Fish, Circus Member: Vivian Paige Nichols
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Fish, Circus Member: Neeya Nuez
Bird Girl: Gracie Palmer
The Sour Kangaroo: Rosa Piña
Cindy Lou Who: Parker Pitt
Jungle Citizen, Who, Circus Member: William Richardson
Cadet: JR Riddle
Mrs. Mayor: Cammie Roberts
The Cat In The Hat: Jaden Roesch
Mr. Mayor: Harrison Rosenberg
Wickersham Brother: Carter Samuel
Yertle, Jungle Citizen, Who, Fish, Circus Member: Sebastian Stallone
Bird Girl: Autumn Stanley
Cadet: Elliot Noah Thompson
Jungle Citizen, Who, Hunch, Circus Member: Riley Wiggins
Wickersham Brother: Jeremy Wood
General Schmitz: Xander Zeeb