What better way to spend a warm, sunny, late spring afternoon than perched on terraced seats in the middle of the forest watching silly, colorfully costumed characters sing and dance? I couldn’t think of one as I watched the Mountaineers Players present their spring production, Seussical the Musical, at the Kitsap Forest Theater. The venue is unique: it is located on a 360-acre rhododendron preserve near Bremerton on Seabeck Highway. The stage is surrounded by giant old-growth fir with verdant fern “footlights,” while cedar bark and living moss cover the “wing walls.” Seating is carved out of the side of a natural amphitheatre. The stage and seating areas are reached via a one-quarter mile trail from the parking area. Productions have been staged at this venue for an astonishing 86 years.
Seussical premiered on Broadway in 2000 and is an amalgam of Dr. Seuss stories, using many of his well-known characters: The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, and the Whos, among others. The overarching story is from Horton Hears a Who, chronicling Horton’s quest to save the citizens of Who-Ville, tiny creatures who live on a dust speck located inside a clover blossom. The Cat in the Hat acts as narrator and Greek chorus of sorts, jumping into the action periodically to comment. The dialogue and songs are, not surprisingly, delivered in rhyme. Music was provided by a synthesizer and drums, which proved to be remarkably versatile and effective for creating the mood, at times mischievous and at times ominous.
The outstanding performers in this production were Nathaniel Jones as Horton, Peter Nolte as the Cat in the Hat, Bryan Hanner as Jo Jo, Ashleigh Emmons as Gertrude McFuzz, Lily Davis as Mayzie La Bird, Dany Savy as Sour Kangaroo, and Grace Tapia as Baby Kangaroo. Seven-year-old Grace was in fact quite impressive for such a young actress, especially in her mastery of the choreography. She seems right at home on the stage. And Dany Savy, Lily Davis, Ashleigh Emmons, and Nathaniel Jones are excellent vocalists.
This show is funny! There were almost nonstop laughs, and the humor can be appreciated by young and old alike—don’t let the children’s focus fool you. As director Craig Schieber puts it, “Seussical throws in references for the whole family. You’ll see classic slapstick humor that will make your 6-year-old giggle with delight, while grandma and grandpa chuckle at the Cat’s homage to Louis Armstrong.” I was interested but not surprised to learn that Eric Idle of Monty Python fame is one of the musical’s contributors.
If you are looking for show stopping production numbers, this is not the show for you. I was hoping for one and didn’t get it. The group dances were a little awkward, which I attributed to the fact that they were performed on uneven dirt by ensemble performers whose strengths lie in areas other than dance. That said, the solo dancers were very skilled, in particular Lily Davis and Dany Savy. There were some issues with the sound system that will hopefully be ironed out for future shows; at times the sound cut out and it was difficult to hear, although the actors did an excellent job of projecting without mikes. Nevertheless, the show overall was pleasantly entertaining and a wonderful way to relax away a holiday weekend afternoon.
A note: The informal venue is very family friendly, although the trail may be a bit of a challenge for those older, disabled (it is wheelchair accessible) or out of shape (it is all uphill on the way out). Much of the audience was comprised of families with young children, who brought along bags of snacks and beverages—snacks and bottled water are sold, but there is no prohibition on bringing your own food into the theater. One recommendation—bring a pad or blanket or stadium chair to sit on. The terraced seating area is hard dirt, and there are some small rocks that can get uncomfortable. Pads are available to rent at the entrance.
Performances: May 24-25, 30-31; June 6-7, 13-14; 2 PM (rain or shine)
Info: (206) 542-7815
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