Oh, the Thinks you can Think! – Seussical

I had really mixed expectations for this show. On the one hand, I had *loved* what I’d seen of it in the reading. But on the other hand, all I’d heard coming out of Boston was all this negative stuff about the problems it was having, and so on. So I really didn’t know what I was going to see!

What I certainly did *not* expect was to burst into tears as soon as the overture started. But that’s what I did. 🙂 It was just amazing to me that this music, that I’d heard a year and a half ago was finally being heard by Broadway audiences. I can’t imagine how I’d react if I was ever actually involved in the creation of a show. 🙂

“Oh, the Thinks You Can Think” was really fun and colorful. The dancing was great, and I liked the contrast of the jungle animals in their bright colours with the pale Whos. I didn’t mind that none of the animals really looked like what they were supposed to be – I don’t think that’s the point.

“Horton Hears a Who” and “Biggest Blame Fool” were both pretty much what I was expecting. Sharon Wilkins is so amazing! I really liked how the Cat in the Hat put a magnifying glass up to the clover to reveal Whoville.

The kid who played JoJo was really good, but I have to admit I missed Jason. I also thought it was funny that JoJo was quite a bit taller than his mom, even though he’s supposed to be the smallest Who. 🙂

The Cat in the Hat scene was kind of fun, but it went on a little too long for me. However, the kids in the audience seemed to like it! “It’s Possible”, on the other hand, was brilliant. It was really just magical – exactly the kind of thing I hoped this show would do.

“The Military” was very funny, and Erick Devine cracked me up constantly. “Alone in the Universe” was very sweet, but it seemed to be missing something…I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

Both Janine and Michele are amazing, so the whole bit with “Amazing Mayzie” and “Amazing Gertrude”, etc., was excellent.

I have to admit to never having been a huge fan of “How Lucky You Are”, and though I appreciate the attempt to lighten the mood, I also just found it distracting in a story that gets confusing quickly enough on its own.

“Notice Me, Horton” was fabulous – anyone who sees this show and doesn’t find Janine LaManna charming would have to be blind and deaf.

I *loved* the song about the Lorax, which is no longer in the show. I almost wish they would have left it in and taken “The Circus McGurkus” out. While it’s a chance to show off some fun costumes, I don’t think it got the audience reaction they were looking for. I suppose you do need it in there, but maybe it could have cut it down a bit.

A major plot change from the reading (probably because of cutting “The Song of the Lorax”) is that JoJo is almost killed while off at war. I don’t think I really liked that … the scene where the mayor and his wife were told was really quite sad, and I don’t know if that’s the mood the show needed to be going for.

However, the whole ending was wonderful! From “All For You”, to the trial, and the finale, everyone really shone, and I got teary-eyed again at the end.

I guess overall that I would have to say I enjoyed myself, but couldn’t shake a slight feeling of disappointment. It’s a fun show, and I think most people would really enjoy it. I *don’t* agree with most of the things the critics said, and I would suggest seeing it for yourself! But I also don’t think it’s quite the show it could have been.