DR. SEUSS WOULD BE PROUD OF WOODROFFE HIGH’S PRODUCTION
Show #7: Seussical the Musical Where: Woodroffe High School Director: student Jacqueline Meldrum
Seuss! A name that brings joy, colour, happiness and nostalgia to the inner child in every Who. Welcome to the land of Seuss, where normal is weird and nothing is impossible. In Woodroffe High School’s production of Seussical the Musical, this whimsical realm was brought to life in all its colourful glory. Cast members proudly demonstrated all the thinks you can think when you think about Seuss.
Based on many beloved abstract tales created by Dr. Seuss, this musical comedy follows the story of Horton the elephant as he comes across a speck of dust, which he discovers to be the minuscule town of Whoville. Horton quickly bonds with a Whoville resident named JoJo, both of whom are regarded as outcasts in their own worlds for thinking differently. As Horton yearns to protect the clover on which the speck of dust settles, he battles against an unimaginative society in the Jungle of Nool that discourages him from having such abstract thoughts. When the clover is lost and Horton is sold to the circus, Horton must go on a journey of self-discovery, as he tries to convince the others that he is not delusional, and that a person’s a person, no matter how small.
With their contagious energy and undeniable creativity, the cast of Woodroffe High School flawlessly executed the large variety of songs that this musical comedy had to offer.
The production team seamlessly created a parallel between the Land of Nool and Whoville with the use of creative costumes and outrageous hair and makeup. Also of note was the exceptional use of the stage space in order to create a divide between the two worlds.
Playing Horton the Elephant, Connor McGlynn flawlessly portrayed his character’s various deep and all-over-the-place emotions using impeccable inflection while singing, and realistic facial expressions. His harmonies, most notably with Markus Stevens as JoJo during Alone in the Universe, were beautiful and emotional. McGlynn was able to naturally portray Horton’s connection to the small town of Whoville, as well as his persistence that this tiny community had purpose.
In the role of the beloved Cat in the Hat, Aliyah Sutherland was able to naturally portray her character’s comic and goofy nature throughout the entire performance. Even when she was not the focal point, Sutherland was still enhancing the scene with her silly dancing and prancing in the background.
Her delivery and enunciation were astounding; an impressive feat considering the famous tongue-twisting language of
Dr. Seuss. Josephine Crone in the role of Gertrude McFuzz portrayed her character’s journey of self-acceptance realistically. Her outstanding vocals and honest facial expressions drove home the important message of self-worth, especially during her moving performance of All For You.
Jacqueline Meldrum truly immersed herself in the land of Seuss, taking on the roles of student stage director, head of costumes, and member of the chorus. She put a great emphasis on the contrast between the two worlds by creating costumes that were unique to each character and universe. Every one of her numerous handmade costumes and modifications looked professional. As stage director, her inventive use of blocking created an obvious split between the two realms. When both universes were on stage at the same time, her talented use of the stage space and costumes created a stark visual contrast.
The power of being unique was the focal message of Woodroffe High School’s performance of Seussical the Musical. The outstanding effort of the cast and production team in bringing together the details of this magical story would have made Dr. Seuss proud.