[NEohioPAL] "Seussical" is Fun for Everyone by Herb Hammer, Chagrin Valley Times - 12/9/04

Thu Dec 9 11:17:30 PST 2004

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"Seussical" is Fun for Everyone
by Herb Hammer, Chagrin Valley Times - 12/9/04

=20

Everyone grew up with the characters and stories of Theodor Geisel, =
better known to all as Dr. Seuss.  What better idea than to turn his =
well-known stories into a musical comedy. And who can do the songs as =
well as Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime"). They call their =
show "Seussical: The Musical."

=20

As far as the songs go, they couldn't be better.  But trying to cram =
nearly every Dr. Seuss character and story into one show presents some =
problems.  Ahrens and Flaherty should have stuck to the songs and left =
the script to someone more capable.

=20

With all of the show's problems, the Chagrin Valley little Theatre has =
brought this elaborate musical to the River Street stage and created an =
entertainment extravaganza.  Warts and all, here's a show that's fun for =
everyone, audience, cast and crew alike.

=20

It's been some time since CVLT has crammed over 30 singing, dancing =
children and adults on stage at one time, but here they are turning a =
muddled script and a string of terrific songs into a holiday-season =
spectacle to remember.=20

=20

The unusual array of various characters and stories begins with Horton =
the Elephant sung wonderfully by Pat Mazzarino.  Horton has discovered a =
whole society of folks in a town called Whoville on just a speck of =
dust.  The Whos come alive but are seen and heard only by the =
sympathetic Horton.=20

=20

The story shifts gears many times, for the authors are apparently afraid =
to leave any of Dr. Seuss' characters out.  The Cat in the Hat, in this =
case, is more or less a narrator.  The Grinch makes a token appearance , =
and then, nearly neglecting Whoville folks, the authors put in another =
story about Horton hatching an egg, left to him by a sexy, neglectful =
bird.

=20

If you don't pay close attention, you can get lost in all this, =
especially when JoJo, the son of the Whoville mayor, is sent to join the =
military.

=20

It's best, though, not to try to make sense of the convoluted script and =
just enjoy the music, songs and dances.

=20

The talent and joyful expression are bountiful.  Besides the amazing Mr. =
Mazzarino, Angela Lynard, as the Sour Kangaroo, brings down the house =
with her jazzy, soulful songs.  Casey Braun is a bright JoJo, and Tracy =
Carnes is sensual as the runaway bird.

=20

Another bird worth mention is the multi-talented Greta Rothman, as =
Gertrude McFuzz, a bird with an unsatisfying tail.

=20

Phil Goldberg is comical and entertaining as the Cat in the Hat, and Bob =
Fortlage, as the General, and Sy Leving, as a lowly turtle, are fun to =
watch.

=20

The parts of the show with a strong anti-war theme strike a resounding =
chord. =20

=20

Best of all are the kids who brighten up the stage in Chery Suchan's =
colorful costumes.

=20

Rachel Galambos, Hallie Noble and Melissa Shoupe add a little =
chorus-girl sex appeal as the Bird Girls.

=20

Ed Wolff's set makes much of the show work with his platforms and =
spacious areas.

=20

The joyful silliness couldn't have been pulled off without director =
Jackie Cassara, choreographer Pam LaForce and musical director Heidi =
Herczeg. They pull this mixed-up mix together and make it a fun-filled =
family affair. =20

=20

# # #

Chris White
Corporate Controller
M. Davis Management Services, Inc.
32100 Solon Road  Suite 204
Solon, OH  44139
440-542-1724-Phone
440-542-1726-Fax
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<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
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color=3D#000000>=93Seussical=94 is Fun for Everyone<?xml:namespace =
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<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>by Herb Hammer, Chagrin Valley Times =96=20
12/9/04<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000 =

size=3D3>Everyone grew up with the characters and stories of Theodor =
Geisel,=20
better known to all as Dr. Seuss. =20
What better idea than to turn his well-known stories into a =
musical=20
comedy. And who can do the songs as well as Lynn Ahrens and Stephen =
Flaherty=20
(=93Ragtime=94). They call their show =93Seussical: The =
Musical.=94
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
As far=20
as the songs go, they couldn=92t be better. =20
But trying to cram nearly every Dr. Seuss character and story =
into one=20
show presents some problems.  =
Ahrens=20
and Flaherty should have stuck to the songs and left the script to =
someone more=20
capable.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
With=20
all of the show=92s problems, the Chagrin Valley little Theatre has =
brought this=20
elaborate musical to the River Street stage and created an entertainment =

extravaganza.  Warts and =
all, here=92s=20
a show that=92s fun for everyone, audience, cast and crew =
alike.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
It=92s=20
been some time since CVLT has crammed over 30 singing, dancing children =
and=20
adults on stage at one time, but here they are turning a muddled script =
and a=20
string of terrific songs into a holiday-season spectacle to remember.=20

<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
The=20
unusual array of various characters and stories begins with Horton the =
Elephant=20
sung wonderfully by Pat Mazzarino. =20
Horton has discovered a whole society of folks in a town called =
Whoville=20
on just a speck of dust.  =
The Whos=20
come alive but are seen and heard only by the sympathetic Horton. =

<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
The=20
story shifts gears many times, for the authors are apparently afraid to =
leave=20
any of Dr. Seuss=92 characters out. =20
The Cat in the Hat, in this case, is more or less a =
narrator.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The Grinch makes a token =
appearance ,=20
and then, nearly neglecting Whoville folks, the authors put in another =
story=20
about Horton hatching an egg, left to him by a sexy, neglectful =
bird.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
If you=20
don=92t pay close attention, you can get lost in all this, especially =
when JoJo,=20
the son of the Whoville mayor, is sent to join the military.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
It=92s=20
best, though, not to try to make sense of the convoluted script and just =
enjoy=20
the music, songs and dances.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
The=20
talent and joyful expression are bountiful.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Besides the amazing Mr. =
Mazzarino,=20
Angela Lynard, as the Sour Kangaroo, brings down the house with her =
jazzy,=20
soulful songs.  Casey =
Braun is a=20
bright JoJo, and Tracy Carnes is sensual as the runaway bird.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
<FONT color=3D#000000 =

size=3D3>Another bird worth mention is the multi-talented Greta Rothman, =
as=20
Gertrude McFuzz, a bird with an unsatisfying tail.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
Phil=20
Goldberg is comical and entertaining as the Cat in the Hat, and Bob =
Fortlage, as=20
the General, and Sy Leving, as a lowly turtle, are fun to =
watch.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000>The parts of the show with a strong anti-war theme =
strike a=20
resounding chord. =20

<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
Best=20
of all are the kids who brighten up the stage in Chery Suchan=92s =
colorful=20
costumes.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
Rachel=20
Galambos, Hallie Noble and Melissa Shoupe add a little chorus-girl sex =
appeal as=20
the Bird Girls.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
Ed=20
Wolff=92s set makes much of the show work with his platforms and =
spacious=20
areas.
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
color=3D#000000>The joyful silliness couldn=92t have been pulled off =
without=20
director Jackie Cassara, choreographer Pam LaForce and musical director =
Heidi=20
Herczeg. They pull this mixed-up mix together and make it a fun-filled =
family=20
affair.  =

<FONT=20
color=3D#000000> <o:p></o:p>
# # #
 </DIV>
<DIV>Chris =
White Corporate=20
Controller M. Davis Management Services, Inc. 32100 Solon =
Road  Suite=20
204 Solon, OH =20
44139 440-542-1724-Phone 440-542-1726-Fax</DIV></BODY><=
/HTML>

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