Schools
Review: Herndon High's 'Seussical' is Charming, Whimsical and Spot-On
See what this student reviewer had to say about Herndon High's fall musical production.
By Laura MacDonald of Oakton High School for The Cappies program
Imagine a whimsical world filled with color and joy, where journeys begin and dreams can come true.
This is the world of Dr. Seuss, the brilliant place that encompasses some of the most familiar, heartwarming stories known today. Seuss’ creations burst to life on the stage in Herndon High School’s Seussical, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, allowing the audience to take a trip back to their early years where, as the cast so proudly sang, anything is possible.
Seussical, which premiered on Broadway in 2000 and later hit high-school stages in 2004, mainly focuses on Horton in the Jungle of Nool and his encounter with the microscopic world of the Whos.
The other jungle creatures mock Horton’s belief in the small civilization, thus kick-starting Horton’s whirlwind adventure through the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss. The story also includes stories revolving around the Cat in the Hat, acting as the host of the show, and Gertrude McFuzz, among other beloved Seuss characters who all interact with Horton, blending all of Seuss’ stories together in one extravagant musical.
The Cat in the Hat (Drew Lytle) was truly a pleasure to watch. His spectacular stage presence and unimpeded energy was not only consistent throughout the whole show, but his facial expressions and comedic timing were spot-on. Lytle’s charming demeanor and whimsical voice brought each song joy and humor. Lytle commanded the audience’s attention and was a powerful and hilarious addition to the cast.
Horton (Hunter Robinson) similarly shone throughout the performance. Robinson was true to his character in an endearing, convincing way that really brought the story to life. His dedication in conveying Horton’s struggle was both evident and effective; the audience rooted for Horton as he overcame seemingly impossible obstacles.
Another excellent addition to the story was JoJo (Henry Metcalf), a young boy thrown into the world of Dr. Seuss by the Cat in the Hat. Metcalf—remarkably only in the sixth grade—performed beyond his years. His voice was strong and appealing, and his ability to capture the audience’s attention was extraordinary. Metcalf especially excelled when paired with the Cat in the Hat, as their chemistry was believable and solid.
The performance was especially aided by Herndon High School’s orchestra, which set the tone of Seuss’ fantastical world with fast, fun melodies. The orchestra was flawless, never outshining any of the vocalists, while still carrying a perfect tune.
The lighting also helped to set the mood for Seussical, entrancing audiences with fanciful spotlights that made one feel as if they were in an actual Dr. Seuss story.
Herndon’s colorful, intricate set was composed of platforms, a slide, and a swing, all which created an amazing view of Seuss’ world. Not only was the set impressive, but well utilized as well. The slide and swing were incorporated seamlessly into the performance, enhancing the actors’ movements throughout the stage. Another excellent addition to the set was the scrim, which created an interesting story-book-like image of the characters when lit from behind.
The actors’ energy built throughout the performance, finally exploding zealously in the finale with the casts’ rendition of “Oh The Thinks You Can Think.” Despite some problems with the microphones during the performance, the ensemble sang harmoniously and each actor continually stayed in character.
Herndon’s Seussical was fun and lively, captivating the audience while transporting them to another world entirely in a way that would surely make Dr. Seuss proud.
Editor's Note: The Cappies program is the critics and awards program for high school theater. In this program, high school students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools and write reviews for local news publications. At the end of the year, student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala.
TELL US - Did you see Herndon High's production of Seussical? What did you think of it? Tell us in the comments below.
Imagine a whimsical world filled with color and joy, where journeys begin and dreams can come true.
This is the world of Dr. Seuss, the brilliant place that encompasses some of the most familiar, heartwarming stories known today. Seuss’ creations burst to life on the stage in Herndon High School’s Seussical, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, allowing the audience to take a trip back to their early years where, as the cast so proudly sang, anything is possible.
Seussical, which premiered on Broadway in 2000 and later hit high-school stages in 2004, mainly focuses on Horton in the Jungle of Nool and his encounter with the microscopic world of the Whos.
The other jungle creatures mock Horton’s belief in the small civilization, thus kick-starting Horton’s whirlwind adventure through the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss. The story also includes stories revolving around the Cat in the Hat, acting as the host of the show, and Gertrude McFuzz, among other beloved Seuss characters who all interact with Horton, blending all of Seuss’ stories together in one extravagant musical.
The Cat in the Hat (Drew Lytle) was truly a pleasure to watch. His spectacular stage presence and unimpeded energy was not only consistent throughout the whole show, but his facial expressions and comedic timing were spot-on. Lytle’s charming demeanor and whimsical voice brought each song joy and humor. Lytle commanded the audience’s attention and was a powerful and hilarious addition to the cast.
Horton (Hunter Robinson) similarly shone throughout the performance. Robinson was true to his character in an endearing, convincing way that really brought the story to life. His dedication in conveying Horton’s struggle was both evident and effective; the audience rooted for Horton as he overcame seemingly impossible obstacles.
Another excellent addition to the story was JoJo (Henry Metcalf), a young boy thrown into the world of Dr. Seuss by the Cat in the Hat. Metcalf—remarkably only in the sixth grade—performed beyond his years. His voice was strong and appealing, and his ability to capture the audience’s attention was extraordinary. Metcalf especially excelled when paired with the Cat in the Hat, as their chemistry was believable and solid.
The performance was especially aided by Herndon High School’s orchestra, which set the tone of Seuss’ fantastical world with fast, fun melodies. The orchestra was flawless, never outshining any of the vocalists, while still carrying a perfect tune.
The lighting also helped to set the mood for Seussical, entrancing audiences with fanciful spotlights that made one feel as if they were in an actual Dr. Seuss story.
Herndon’s colorful, intricate set was composed of platforms, a slide, and a swing, all which created an amazing view of Seuss’ world. Not only was the set impressive, but well utilized as well. The slide and swing were incorporated seamlessly into the performance, enhancing the actors’ movements throughout the stage. Another excellent addition to the set was the scrim, which created an interesting story-book-like image of the characters when lit from behind.
The actors’ energy built throughout the performance, finally exploding zealously in the finale with the casts’ rendition of “Oh The Thinks You Can Think.” Despite some problems with the microphones during the performance, the ensemble sang harmoniously and each actor continually stayed in character.
Herndon’s Seussical was fun and lively, captivating the audience while transporting them to another world entirely in a way that would surely make Dr. Seuss proud.
Editor's Note: The Cappies program is the critics and awards program for high school theater. In this program, high school students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools and write reviews for local news publications. At the end of the year, student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala.
TELL US - Did you see Herndon High's production of Seussical? What did you think of it? Tell us in the comments below.
FOLLOW HERNDON PATCH FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS!
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.