REVIEW: Imaginations Soar in Aldersgate’s ‘Seussical Jr.’

The fantastical imaginings of Dr. Seuss burst to life in Aldersgate Church Community Theatre’s production of Seussical Jr. With a cast of 44 talented kids between ages 8 and 18, this gorgeous production sparkles with youthful exuberance.

The story of Seussical weaves together threads of some of the Dr. Seuss’s best known books, including Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, and Miss Gertrude McFuzz. Presiding over the mischief and mayhem is the Cat in the Hat (Brett Medley), who is part narrator, part ringmaster. This 8th grade actor harnesses just the right mix of wit and wisdom as he ably guides the cast and the audience through an imaginative tale about trusting yourself, standing up for your beliefs, and using your imagination.

As the gentle giant Horton the Elephant, Charlie Ruppe projects kindness and simplicity. When he finds a dust speck that is home to the tiny, nearly invisible people known as Whos, he recognizes his mission: To protect the Whos and to prove to everyone around him that they really do exist. He befriends the Who boy JoJo, who gets in trouble with his imagination – the ‘thinks’ he can think. JoJo is played by an absolutely delightful Jack St. Pierre, whose sweet yet powerful voice evokes the human need to belong and to be recognized as worthy of love.

Meanwhile, Horton has another challenge. An unhatched egg is left in his care by the fun-loving bird girl, Maizey LaBird (superb vocalist Zoey Vaghin-Carlos), as she traipses off in search of adventure. Horton’s so busy juggling all his responsibilities – to the Whos and the egg – that he hardly notices the sweet-natured bird girl, Gertrude McFuzz (Taegan Chirinos), who desperately wants to befriend him. Chirinos sweeps up the audience with her all-in performance as Gertrude transforms from an anxious attention-seeker to a confident friend who cares for Horton and protects the baby “elephant bird.”

Seussical depends on great ensemble players, and this production had them in abundance. The sassy Sour Kangaroo (the accomplished Sarah King) and her chipper Young Kangaroo (Kaylea Struck) provide jazz-inflected commentary on Horton’s predicament. The Wickershams monkey troop brings an extra dollop of mischief to the proceedings, with Tonks Teitel energetically setting the pace for the acrobatic foursome. The Bird Girls, a quintet of accomplished dancers and singers, handle difficult vocals superbly as the flamboyant backup group to the Amazing Mayzie. Yertle the Turtle (Ellee St. Pierre) has a hilarious turn as the judge in a courtroom sequence. Mr. and Mrs. Mayor (Joel Simpson and Fiona Roberts) are strong performers and duet singers in their role as the loving but befuddled parents of JoJo, and Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Katie Clement and Hartley Hayden) keep the action moving ahead.

And then there are the Whos, who care first and foremost about keeping their planet safe. The 20 adorable children who were assembled for these roles mesh beautifully as a chorus, but also show lots of personality in their quirky costumes and hairstyles. These kids were a joy to see and hear, and they represent a promising future for our region’s youth performers.

Aldersgate’s theater is located in a multi-purpose room with movable seating. The theater company has upgraded its reservation system in recent years to provide assigned seats and has invested in better quality folding chairs. Snacks and drinks are available before the show and during intermission.

Director Sheila Roberts brought out the best in a large cast of children, who were clearly having the times of their lives. Special praise goes to the set design and construction team, who put together a bright, cheerful, uncluttered stage with cleverly designed props. The risers on the stage, painted to look like Dr. Seuss books, were a clever touch. A few glitches interfered with the sound system, but to their credit, the performers were undeterred.

My 12-year-old companion and I loved this production, and we think you will too. You’ll have to hurry, since only a few performances remain.

Aldersgate Church Community Theater (ACCT) is staging "Seussical Jr.," based on the works of Dr. Seuss, through January 21. Tickets are $12. Remaining show times are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The venue is located at 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. Visit the website at http://acctonline.org.