Outstanding 'Seussical' gets resounding cheers at Six Flags

JOHN PERKINS

NEW ORLEANS - Brant Blocker Productions has given theatre audiences a reason to cheer with "Seussical The Musical" which had a very rewarding run at Six Flags New Orleans the past two weekends. Audiences both young and old were given to standing ovations and cheers for the splendid work of the cast under the direction of Brandt Blocker, a production that rivaled anything Broadway could send our way.

"Seussical the Musical" conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle with book and lyrics by the team of Ahrens and Flaherty is a musical tale that brings some of the stories of Dr. Seuss to the stage. The rhyming nature of Seuss' stories that have helped to entertain children for years are kept pretty well intact as you meet The Cat In the Hat, so ably played by Bryan Wagar and the other characters who have inhabited the Seuss works.

Opening with the song "Oh The Things You Can Think", the story really begins to take shape when Horton, the Elephant hears a small voice from the town of Who coming from the clover he has picked up from the ground. No one else hears the sound and Horton finds himself being called "The Biggest Blame Fool in the Jungle of Noo" which has the viewer beginning to sympathize with the pachyderm something that will continue through the end of the evening when, as expected, everything turns out just fine.

There are messages coming through the songs and there is comedy as well especially in the form of Gertrude McFuzz, a bird who complains about her one feather tail until she gets one so large that she cannot fly anymore. She is also fond of Horton but he seems oblivious to her as he is taken by the more vivacious Mayzie LaBird but in the end, Horton does see just how sweet and loving Gertrude is.

JoJo, son of the Mayor of Whoville is also at the center of the tale. Played by the young dynamo David Bologna, much of the tale is told through his mind as he tries to get back to Whoville and his family.

While Wagar as the Cat In The Hat was seen throughout either flying over the stage or mingling with the members of the audience, and doing so in splendid fashion, he was surrounded by a most energetic and talented cast of players many of them not much older than the young members of the audience. Many have already distinguished themselves on local stages and they combine to make it happen for the audience.

Horton, the Elephant, was played so well by Michael Larche who provided the character with a genuineness that made him immediately lovable by his audience.

In the role of the vivacious Mayzie LaBird was Sasha Masakowski who delivered a splendid interpretation of the bird who persuades Horton to sit on her egg while she goes cavorting to the warmer climes of Palm Beach.

Her counterpart, the lovable Gertrude McFuzz was played and sung in great fashion by Michelle Marcotte.

The gospel sounds of The Sour Kangaroo were delivered in fantastic style by Gabrielle Porter.

The Mayor of Whoville and his wife were played by randy Juneau and Laura D'Arcangelo respectively and the role of General Genghis Kahn Schmidt was splendidly delivered by Jimmy Murphy.

Other Seuss characters who made appearances in this musical tale were The Grinch (Keith Claverie), Judge Yertle the Turtle (Jeremy Reese) and Vlad Vladikoff (John Haas) who all add their talents to the tale.

The Bird Girls, Dianna Duffy, Ashleigh Hoppe, and Kallie Miller enlivened the action greatly with their singing and dancing. So, too, did the Wickersham Brothers, Matt Grau, Ade Herbert and Kenneth Thompson.

Completing the cast as the Circus McGurkus Tumblers were Michael King and Justin Ganguly.

The ensemble who played roles of Whoville citizens, circus performers and everyone else and who added greatly to the music and dancing included: Brooke Arata, Alexis Bruza, Daniel Bruza, Skyler Cibulski, Keith Claverie, Shannon Corrigan, David Dobe, Molly France, Alec Gilchrist, John Haas, Erica Langhoff, David Lizana, Andrea Pizza, Jeremy Reese, Daniel Rigamer, Kelsey Vogt and Ericka Volpe.

Blocker's direction was crisp and kept the action moving at a brisk pace. The splendid choreography was designed by Jaunne Buisson with costumes being designed by Charlotte Lang. The great sound was by Cliff Stromeyer. The Production Design was by Jonathan Faucheaux.

This was a terrific production by a talented cast of singers, dancer and actors who were so well coached by Brandt Blocker. Presented in association with Six Flags new Orleans we hope there will be more productions that will find their way to the stages of the amusement park in New Orleans East.