[NEohioPAL] Berko review: DR. DOOLITTLE @ Mercury Summerstock

[Roy Berko]

DR. DOOLITTLE, long on special effects at Mercury Summerstock

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times

COOLCLEVELAND.COM

What happens to a man, a doctor, in fact, who can’t relate to people?  What 
happens to a person who doesn’t know how to communicate with people—only 
animals?  Of course, he becomes best friends with Polynesia (a parrot), Gub-Gub 
(a pig), Jip (a dog), Dab-Dab (a duck), Chee-Chee (a monkey), Too-Too (an owl), 
and the Pushmi-pullyu.  Make sense?  Well, it’s really not supposed to make 
sense in the traditional sense, but it does make for a smile-inducing story.  

DOCTOR DOOLITTLE, now in production at Mercury SummerStock, tells the tale of a 
doctor, who lives in the small town of Puddleby, England.  He finds himself on 
trial for murder for supposedly throwing a woman over a cliff.  As it turns out, 
the woman is really a seal, who told Doolittle that she wants to be set free 
from the circus where she is performing, and meet up with her seal husband in 
the North Pole.  Dolittle obliges by dressing her up as a woman,  sneaks her out 
of the circus, and thrusts her into the sea.  Insisting that he can actually 
talk to the animals, the doctor defends himself in court by telling the tale 
with the help of his talking parrot (the finest animal linguist in the world), a 
devoted friend, Matthew Mugg, a young boy, Tommy, a menagerie of animals, and 
the judge’s niece.   (Of course there has to be a love interest thrown into the 
mix.)  Eventually the entire assemblage goes off in search of the Pink Snail, 
with delightful results.

Doctor John Doolittle is the central character in a series of beloved children's 
books by Hugh Lofting, whose first efforts were illustrated letters to children 
during World War I.   Eventually they were published as a series of books, all 
set in Victorian England.  
The stories found stage life in a British stage production with music and lyrics 
by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde; Stop the World — I Want to Get Off; The Roar 
of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd and Victor/Victoria).  It was also 
transformed into a film staring Rex Harrison and Anthony Newley.  A production 
of the stage version toured Cleveland several years ago with the good doctor 
being played by Tommy Tune.

Mercury Summerstock, now in its 13th season, presents three shows a summer.  
There is a naïve Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney, “let’s put on a play” attitude 
about their productions.

The company is the brainchild of Pierre-Jacques Brault and Brian Marshall who 
met while students at Baldwin-Wallace College.  They thought there was a need 
for a summer theatre that gave an outlet to the talents of both local 
professionals and amateurs, with an emphasis on the latter.  The theatre is like 
the wandering minstrels, finding performance spaces where they may.  Presently, 
they are in the Brooks Theatre of the Cleveland Playhouse.  What’s next?  Who 
knows, but this tenacious group, will find a way, find a place, and present 
plays to their loyal audiences.

Mercury’s production is delightful on many fronts, wanting on others.   
Director/choreographer Brault, doesn’t let simple things like a postage-stamp 
sized stage, a limited budget and moderately experienced performers get in his 
way.   He just goes on presenting mini-extravaganzas.  (This season ends with 
SHOW BOAT.)  The present production is no exception.  There are grand costumes, 
more gorgeous puppets than a major theatre would put on stage, big dance numbers 
and lots of scenery being dropped form the fly space and shoved around the 
stage.  

On many levels DR. DOOLLITLE is a delight.  Brault, not only directs and 
choreographs, but he plays the lead role.  And performs it well.  He’s been off 
the stage for many years and, based on this performance, he deserves to be back 
where he belongs.  He sings, dances and smiles with glee.

His life-partner and stage buddy, Brian Marshall, after a slow start, glows in 
the second act as Matthew Mugg, an Irish imp.  Kelvette Beacham delights as 
Straight Arrow.  Her “Save the Animals” is a fine appeal for animal 
protectionism.  Jennifer Myor has a nice singing voice and makes for a 
convincing Emma, who finally makes Dolittle realize that people may be as 
acceptable as animals.  Lynette Turner is fun as Polynesia, the smart-mouthed 
parrot.  

All is not perfect with the production.  There is some weak acting and character 
development, some of the dancers aren’t up to Brault’s movements, and the vocal 
blends don’t always work.  The single piano sounds of Ryan Neal, though well 
played, sound thin as the single musical accompaniment.  The first act pacing is 
slow and performers often cut off applause and laughs by making physical and 
verbal entrances too early.

Though the show may appear to be ideal for children, some little ones will 
probably get restless, while adults will be more prone to appreciate the staging 
devices.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  DR. DOOLITTLE gets a pleasing, but not spectacular 
production, at Mercury Summerstock.  The puppets, hummable music and 
Pierre-Jacques Brault’s staging and performance all are positive aspects of the 
production.
The show runs through July 2  in the Brooks Theatre at the Cleveland Play 
House.  For tickets call 216-771-5682 or go to mercury summerstock.com

Mercury Summerstock will present on in the Brooks Theatre of the Cleveland Play 
House.  
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com 
and www.NeOHIOpal