3.5 stars
You don’t have to be a kid to laugh, tear-up, applaud and walk out grinning from Marriott Theatre’s latest musical supposedly geared to young audiences.
Certainly there is Marriott’s terrifically designed costumes and choreography that show goers are used to for the regular subscription season.
And there are such fun Dr. Seuss characters as the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, the “Whos” and jungle denizens – all mixing together in lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty’s creative “Seussical.”
But what’s special for adults and youngsters is that the players are all featured actors in Chicago area musicals.
Evan Tyrone Martin who was Jesus in Paramount Theatre’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” is Horton and Kelly Felthouse who was Roxie Hart in Drury Lane’s “Chicago” plays Gertrude Mcfuzz, the bird who learns to be okay with how she looks.
Jonathan Butler Duplessis who was Jim Conley in Writers Theatre’s “Parade” is the Cat in the Hat and Michelle Lauto who snagged a Jeff Award for Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Spamilton” plays “Lazy” Mayzie La Bird whose egg Horton agrees to nest-sit.
Good as they and the other actors are, the person who “steals” the show is 10-year-old Patrick Scott McDermott with a long list of credits that includes Michael in Music Theater Works “Peter Pan.” He becomes Jojo whose “thinks” get him in trouble as the son of the mayor of Whoville.
Part of show’s interesting action is how the three Wickersham Brothers (Ron King, Alejandro Fonseca and Brandon Springman) cause mayhem and monkeyshines.
The other reason to go is to see a really good musical in one hour. Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is always one hour but it is really good theater.
DETAILS: “Seussical” is at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, through March 31, 2019. For tickets and other information visit Marriott Theatre.
Jodie Jacobs
For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago