Musical Invites Theater To Enter Seuss's World

Matthew Reckeweg as Mayor and Lindsey DeLoache as Mrs. Mayor, during the dress rehearsal for "Seussical" at the Port Tobacco Players Theater. (Photos By Rafael Crisostomo For The Washington Post)

Some of your favorite childhood books come alive onstage in the Port Tobacco Players' production of "Seussical." An imaginative show with nearly nonstop music, it is sure to entertain the youngest audience members while keeping the interest of those still young at heart.

Directed by Joe Stine and produced by Cheryl Reckeweg, the show is based primarily on the Dr. Seuss books "Horton Hears a Who" and "Horton Hatches an Egg."

There is very little dialogue in the story of Horton the elephant, who rescues the whole town of Whoville as it floats by him on a dust speck. Horton befriends JoJo, a young Who known for getting in trouble for his "thinks." Through many misadventures, Horton remains steadfastly loyal to his tiny friends (a person's a person, no matter how small) and finally finds his worth in the world. Narrated by the Cat in the Hat, the show is sprinkled with familiar characters including the Grinch, Gertrude McFuzz and Yertle the Turtle.

Derek T. Pickens is a delight as the Cat in the Hat. It's impossible not to be swayed by his enthusiasm and the impish twinkle in his eye. You know he's up to no good, but you just can't wait to see what trouble he'll inspire next. Pickens's voice is nicely suited to his part, and he clearly relishes making mischief.

As Horton, Billy Thiedeman is up to the role vocally, although his true strength lies in his earnestness. Thiedeman is not as polished as some of the other cast members, but that is likely due to age and not ability.

As JoJo, Katie Sheldon brings a nice energy to the part and has several pleasant vocal duets.

Catie Taylor plays Gertrude McFuzz, the one-tail-feathered bird who experiences unrequited love for Horton. Taylor's sweet voice isn't the strongest in the bunch but is adequate for the role. She has a perky sparkle on stage, and you can't help but hope that Horton will finally take notice of her, his seemingly invisible next-door neighbor.

The standouts in the cast are two of the more seasoned performers. Maureen J.C. King as Sour Kangaroo has a powerful voice that makes you sit up and take notice, and she ably carries her character through a transition from a doubting Thomas to a firm friend of Horton's. Meagan Renee Ragland as Mayzie La Bird stops the show cold with her song, "Amazing Mayzie." She plays the vamp to a T and is a pleasure to watch.

Several smaller roles should also be acknowledged. Rob Leeper plays several roles in this production but is strongest as General Schmitz. As the Mayor, Matthew Reckeweg lends the perfect amount of quirkiness to the part. Tiara A.M. Brown is a hoot as Young Kangaroo, and Bobby Balint shows strong dancing ability in his turn as the evil eagle, Vlad Vladikoff. The six young actors playing the Wickersham Brothers are thoroughly enjoyable.

The music in this production is quite challenging. Therese Thiedeman, the show's music director, has assembled a pleasing blend of voices that work well together. More mature voices might have added a depth that is missing, but the young performers should be proud. The orchestra provides the right mix of sound and never overpowers the performers onstage.

Choreographer Randy Tusing manages to squeeze quite a bit of dancing into the show despite a large cast that frequently fills the stage. Moves were matched to the ability of the dancers and were varied according to the style of the music, which changes frequently.

Ellen Carlsen deserves a large amount of credit for her vibrant and creative costumes. Many of the actors play multiple roles in this show, and her imaginative use of fabrics and patterns for each of them is impressive. Sheila Hyman's makeup and hair design is fantastical and fun.

The set by John Merritt could be straight out of a Seuss book, with vivid colors, levels galore and entrances aplenty. It doesn't appear at first to be as complex as the sets he has created for previous shows, but as you watch the actors jump and dance on all of the levels without anything shifting, the difficulty of its design and engineering becomes more apparent.

This is a production into which the actors and crew clearly have poured their heart and soul. The young cast could benefit from the maturity that a few more years onstage could provide, but it is good family fare nonetheless. Even if it's been a few years since you cracked a Dr. Seuss book, you'll find yourself enjoying the performance.

"Seussical" runs through July 30. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Performances are at the Port Tobacco Playhouse, 508 E. Charles St., La Plata. General admission, $15; students and seniors, $12. For more information or reservations, visit www.ptplayers.com/Seating/Tickets.htm or call 301-932-6819.