Sussing out Seuss
‘‘If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good’’ is a quote from the inimitable Dr Seuss.
A fun Dr Seuss-inspired project to get more kids performing onstage, as well as doing tech stuff behind the scenes, is taking shape in Palmerston North.
Based in the city’s Globe Theatre, members of MYTH – the Manawatu¯ Youth Theatre – are preparing a production of Seuss Jr, a pared-down version of the 2000 Broadway show Seussical the Musical.
Youth theatres have been established in centres around the country with great success and the show’s musical director Graham Johnston said, given the numbers of young performers around the region, there was no reason for Manawatu¯ to miss out.
Putting the production company together was a matter of timing, as well as gaining support from grants body Creative Communities, he said.
‘‘This will be the first local independent youth theatre-based production company that is not attached to an existing drama class,’’ Johnston said.
‘‘We wanted to make it wider than just Palmerston North because there are so many talented kids out there.’’
More than 70 young hopefuls from Palmerston North, Feilding and Pahiatua auditioned for the show, directed by Kane Parsons and choreographed by Taryn Baxter.
‘‘We were really blown away by the kids who auditioned,’’ Johnston said, after considering dozens of young talents.
‘‘Effectively, [Seuss Jr ] is Horton Hears a Who with some other characters included for good measure.’’
The production package included backing tracks, non-returnable scripts, ‘‘so the kids can write all over them’’, and design logos.
‘‘There’s a whole Broadway ‘Jr’ concept, where big shows are altered for a younger cast, with certain elements removed. Seuss Jr is about one-hour 15-minutes long.’’
The cast of 34 ranged in age from 6 to 16, and rehearsed three nights a week.
The principal roles included Horton, the ‘‘faithful 100 per cent’’ elephant, young Gertrude, who is having self-image problems, the vain Mayzie La Bird, the interfering Sour Kangaroo, the famous Cat in the Hat, and Jojo Mcdodd.
The chorus is divided into jungle creatures and the Whovians of Who-ville, with other characters still to be cast.
Young members of the cast have adopted their roles enthusiastically and are looking forward to the performance in the Globe Theatre in July.
‘‘We were really blown away by the kids who auditioned.’’ Graham Johnston