Seussical the musical delights audiences as promised in three shows

by Dan McClelland

The Tupper Lake Middle/ High School’s Red and Black Players lit up the auditorium stage and generated tons of laughter from the hometown audience March 24, 25 and 26 when they presented Seussical, a musical comedy.

Although we can only base our praise on the Friday evening performance we attended, the Red and Black Players- to a person- outdid themselves. The show was fun, flawless and just what audiences here cooped up all winter needed, a delightful tonic for the blues.

The songs and music of “Seussical” were funny, peppy and whimsical, like the quirky tales of the famous author. All were well sung by the 30 or more local students in the larger than usual cast in a spring musical on Tupper High stage.

What was very clear to us was that everyone on stage took their roles very seriously and did their best to bring great passion to them. Together they were an amazingly gifted group of kids.

And there were some real standout performances by the leads.

Meika Nadeau, the Cat in the Hat, will graduate this June. Seussical was her last show on the hometown stage and she will be deeply missed by the Red and Black troupe.

Her singing was excellent and her dancing was even better. Her tap routine that opened the second act was top shelf.

When she was on stage, Meika controlled it.

Cody Auclair turned in a great performance too as the passionate Horton the elephant...sometimes thoughtful, sometimes worried, all of the time caring for the tiny population of Who-ville.

Cody, a junior, handled all the songs he sang well, projecting clearly into the audience each time. Cody is comfortable on stage. His facial expressions are most telling. He obviously loves the stage...it was easy to tell!

Raegan Fritts, like Cody, is also a junior, so we’ll get to see her again on stage this next school year. Raegan is a wonderful singer, polished and solid. She’s regularly asked to sing the national anthem at public events here, her singing is so good. Her ukulele performance in Seussical was delightful.

Raegan has the gift of poise in movement. She moved effortlessly across the stage, sometimes on one foot, or bending and twisting with ease. It was like watching a seasoned gymnast perform a well-practiced floor exercise.

She handled some of the dramatics of her part very convincingly- and was not afraid to scream loudly when Miss Gertrude McFuzz was infuriated.

We saw a couple of relatively new performers emerge into lead parts this time: Junior Shae Arsenault as the no-nonsense Mayzie LaBird and Sophomore Sophia Staves as the confident Sour Kangaroo. Both sang very well and both have been performing on stage here for years. It certainly showed by their supporting lead roles this weekend.

The Who mayors, Ayden Rabideau and Nevaeh Toohey, also both handled their support leads well. Ayden is blind but that doesn’t let it stop him on the high school stage or on the basketball court. Both Nevaeh and Ayden have been part of productions here since they were in elementary school. Both are sophomores so we’ll see them on stage for two more years, that’s great news!

Lacey Pickering, making her second Red and Black performance in as many years, is only in seventh grade, so we’ve got a lot more to see from her in the years to come. Her acting as JoJo, a Who-ville boy was very believable with very appropriate facial expressions to carry the message of her part. Like all the leads in Seussical, she handled her singing parts very well.

The entire performance was full of dance and song, and action on the stage was kept lively throughout by the very able performances of over 20 young back-up performers in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10. It was witness there’s a lot more to come from these players in the next few years.

Seussical is based on the book by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, based on the many children's stories of Dr.Seuss, with most of its plot being based on Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg while incorporating many other stories. The musical's name is a portmanteau of "Seuss" and the word "musical".

Following its Broadway debut in 2000, the show was widely panned by critics, and closed in 2001 with huge financial losses. It has spawned, however, two US national tours and a West End production, and has become a frequent production for schools and regional theaters.

Much the following narrative comes from publicity we found on the web about the show.

​Plot

​Act I

The show opens on a bare stage, save for an odd red-and-white-striped hat in the center. A small boy wanders into view and notices the hat, wondering to whom it might belong. He finally mentions the Cat in the Hat, who appears before the boy and tells him he has been brought to life by the boy's “Thinks.” The Cat (Meika Nadeau) urges this boy to Think up the "Seussian" world and its characters.

"Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" is the opening number sang well by the Cat in the Hat, Jojo, Horton, Miss Gertrude, Mayzie, Sour Kangaroo, Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, the general, and Whos and the Jungle Creatures.

The Cat then reveals to the boy that he is about to tell a story about someone as imaginative as the boy is.

To begin the story, the Cat encourages the boy to think up the Jungle of Nool, where Horton the elephant (Cody Auclair) is bathing. Horton hears a strange noise coming from a nearby speck of dust. He reasons that someone must be on it, calling out for help. He carefully places the speck on a soft clover and decides to guard it.

Horton (Cody) sings about his dilemma with "Horton Hears a Who,” accompanied by the Bird Girls (Hannah Barber, Aubrey Nadeau and Aubrey Sparks) and the Jungle Creatures (Lily Wilber, Ghost Switzer, Yana Kucipak and Rain Skiff). But Horton is mocked mercilessly by the Sour Kangaroo (Sophia Staves) and the other animals of the jungle, who do not believe him. "Biggest Blame Fool" is how most of the characters on stage felt, as they joined in song to vividly make their point. The only exceptions are Horton's bird neighbors, Gertrude McFuzz (Raegan Fritts), who admires his compassion, and Mayzie LaBird (Shae Arsenault), a self-centered colorful bird who seemed more concerned about herself.

Horton soon discovers that the speck is actually a microscopic planet populated by creatures called Whos. The citizens of Who-ville introduce themselves and their yearly Christmas pageant directed by their friend, the Grinch (Noah Switzer). They also reveal that in addition to being unable to control where the speck flies, they are on the brink of war and their entire population of Truffula Trees has been cut down ("Here on Who"). The Whos thank Horton and ask for his protection, and he agrees to guard their planet.

The Who mayor, Mrs. Mayor, the Grinch, the Whos join Horton in the song “Here on Who,” to describe life on the tiny speck.

At this point, the Cat pushes the boy into the story; he becomes Jojo (Lacey Pickering), the son of the Mayor of Who-ville and his wife, Mrs. Mayor (Ayden Rabideau and Nevaeh Toohey).

The opening song “The Thinks You Can Think” is sang again for the enjoyment of the audience by the Cat and his new friend.

Jojo has been getting into trouble at school for having Thinks, so his parents order him to "take a bath and go to bed, and think some normal Thinks, instead. Jojo blames the Cat for getting him into trouble and tries to send him away. The Cat refuses and persuades Jojo to imagine the tub is McElligot’s Pool. Several two-dimensional fish began floating about the pool.

Jojo (Lacey) and The Cat (Meika) sing that "It's Possible". The two students sang very well together. Jojo inadvertently floods the house, leading the Who-ville mayor and his wife to contemplate what to do with their son when they sing: "How to Raise a Child". When the Cat hands them a brochure, they decide to send Jojo to a military school run by General Genghis Khan Schmitz (Ava Facteau), who is preparing to go to war with those who eat their bread with the butter side down. The general and his cadets (Ash Barber, Jeevika Branchaud, John Fallon, Gabby Frenette and Bryce Richer) belt out a song, "The Military". While there, Jojo meets Horton, and finds a mutual friend in him. Together they do a nice job singing all about "Alone in the Universe".

Gertrude, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Horton, but is afraid he does not notice her because of her own tail, which consists of only “one droppy-droop feather. Raegan, who has a strong singing voice tells the audience about it with the song, "The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz". At the advice of Mayzie (Shae), whose tail is enormous and dazzling, she consumes pills which make her tail grow new feathers. Gertrude is so excited that she overdoses, causing her tail to grow long and unwieldy.

"Amayzing Mayzie," is sung and explained by Miss Gertrude (Raegan) and Mayzie (Shae) with back-group vocals help from the Bird Girls.

Another song, “Amazing Gertrude,” is Miss Gertrude’s response, with vocal help by the Bird Girls again.

Horton is ambushed by the Wickershams (Emily Roberts, Haylee Callaghan, Joelle Bedore and Dean LaVigne), a gang of delinquent monkeys, who steal the clover and make off with it, bragging loudly as they sing "Monkey Around".

Horton gives chase until the Wickershams hand the clover to an eagle named Vlad Vladikoff (Dean LaVigne), who drops it into a large patch of identical clovers, detailing the mischief in a song called "Chasing the Whos". Many of the lively characters joined in on that song, including Sour Kangaroo, the Bird Girls, the Wickershams, the Cat in the Hat, Horton, all the Whos (Gabby Frenette, Jeevika Branchaud, Ash Barber, Brittany Curry, John Fallon Aubrey Bissonette, who played Cindy Lou Who, Eliza Bujold, Oliver Roberts, Noah Switzer, Ava Facteau and Bryce Richer), the Jungle Creatures (Lily Wilber, Ghost Switzer, Yana Kucipak and Rain Skiff), as well as General Vlad (Dean).

At this point in Act I, the Cat in the Hat cuts briefly into the action to remind the audience how lucky they are to not be Horton, performing a strong vocal solo, "How Lucky You Are"). Undeterred, Horton (Cody) begins to look for the clover, hoping the Whos are still alive, when Gertrude catches up with him and tries to get him to notice her new tail. Horton is too busy, so she leaves to take more pills, singing a nice duet with Horton (Cody) about feeling sorry for themselves- a song called "Notice Me, Horton".

Horton is about to search his three millionth clover when he loses hope. Mayzie (Shea Arsenault), sitting in a nearby tree, offers to help him forget about the Whos by hatching an egg that she is too lazy to care for. Horton and Mayzie do a nice job with the song "How Lucky You Are,” a reprise sung earlier by the talented cat (Meika).

Horton reluctantly agrees, and Mayzie leaves for a vacation. Horton sits through months of harsh weather as he tries to decide between the egg and the Whos. Horton sits on the egg and sings about it before he is captured by hunters (Bryce Richer and John Fallon), who take him away along with the entire tree. Gertrude (Raegan) tries to stop the hunters, but cannot fly due to her heavy tail.

Almost the entire cast returns for the finale of the act- the Cat in the Hat, Horton, Gertrude, Jojo, the Whos, the Bird Girls, Wickershams and the Jungle Creatures.

​Act II

The act opens with an amazing dance routine by the hatless cat (Meika Nadeau). It featured some very proficient solo tap dancing by the local senior, at times lifting her self between steps into the air, in close step with the polished and well played pieces performed by the all-adult pit band. The musicians were Conductor Liz Cordes on keyboard, Laura Davison, woodwinds and pit band coordinator, David Fortino, woodwinds, James Bamonte, trumpet, Jonathan Dallas, trombone, Wayne Davison, bass guitar, Alanna Kogut, auxiliary percussion and Jeffrey LeFebvre, drums.

The act begins with Horton (Cody), still hatching the egg, is auctioned off to the traveling Circus McGurkus. The song "Egg, Nest, and Tree," well explained in song by Sour Kangaroo (Sophia Staves), and accompanied by the Bird Girls, Wickershams and the Jungle Creature.

“Circus McGurkus" was described in song by the Cat in the Hat (Meika) and Meika teamed up with the very troubled Horton (Cody) in another reprise of “How Lucky You Are!” and “The Circus on Tour.”

At one show in Palm Beach, Horton (Cody) meets up with Mayzie (Shae) who insists that he keep the egg for himself before leaving. The junior tells the audience just how amazing Horton is when she sings alone this time another rendition of "Amayzing Horton".

There’s a comical scene too with Mayzie, relaxed on Palm Beach, getting her nails done by The Cat, and the pair sing well about it.

The very distraught elephant (Cody) delivers a very moving version of "Alone in the Universe.

Horton also sings in soft and emotion-packed lullaby fashion with Jojo (Lacey) about a magical place called Solla Sollew in a song by the same name. At the same time, the Who Mayor (Ayden) and Mrs. Mayor (Nevaeh Toohey begin to miss Horton and Jojo, and join them in song about the special place, with vocal help from the 11 Whos and the Jungle Creatures (Lily, Ghost, and and Rain)

Jojo (Lacey) General Schmitz (Ava) and his platoon as the Butter Battle commences. Jojo deserts Schmitz, but sprints into a minefield and vanishes in an explosion. Schmitz assumes the worst and heads to Who-ville to tell Jojo's parents that their son has died. The Cat returns to perform a re-enactment of the dramatic scene. But in reality, Jojo has survived, but is lost with no idea of where to turn. The Cat appears to him with a band of Hunches (completely clothed creatures in flag-style colorful garb), encouraging him to use his Thinks to find his way home. "Havin' a Hunch" is sung by The Cat, Jojo and the Hunches.

Jojo gets the idea and happily reunites with his parents, who forgive him for his Thinks.

Miss Gertrude (Raegan) sneaks into the circus to free Horton, explaining she plucked out all but one of her tail feathers to fly there, and confesses her love for him. She also reveals she has found his clover, delighting and relieving Horton to find the Whos alive and well. "All For You" is the solo Miss Gertrude sings, explaining her infatuation with the elephant. However, the Sour Kangaroo (Sophia Staves) and the Wickershas arrive to take Horton back to the jungle.

In the jungle, Horton is put on trial for such heinous crimes of "talking to a speck, disturbing the peace, and loitering... on an egg.

"The People Versus Horton the Elephant" is jointly performed in song by most of the cast.

Aided by Miss Gertrude, Horton makes his best case, but Judge Yertle the Turtle (Antwon Gachowski) finds him guilty. He orders Horton remanded to the "Nool Asylum for the Criminally Insane" and the clover destroyed in a kettle of hot "Beezle-Nut" oil.

Desperate, Horton encourages the Whos to make as much noise as possible to prove their existence, but the animals do not hear them. Jojo finally uses his Thinks to conjure a new word, "Yopp", which he shouts loudly enough to reach the animals' ears. Convinced at last, the animals repent and promise to help protect the Whos, and Horton is acquitted.

Horton (Cody) and Miss Gertrude (Raegan) pair up to sing the song “Yopp,” and reprise “Alone in the Universe.”

Jojo (Lacey) is accepted by his parents and the rest of Who-ville as "Thinker Non-Stop" for saving their planet. Horton's egg hatches into a tiny flying "Elephant-Bird", amazing everyone, but dismaying Horton, who panics at the thought of flying progeny. Gertrude reassures him that they can raise the child together, and they agree to do so.

With the story finished, the Cat returns to close the show with the entire cast, belting out the finale,”Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" The Cat then vanishes along with the scenery, leaving only his hat and Jojo, who is now the boy again. The boy picks the hat up, dons it, and says, "Seuss!"

The show finishes with bows from the cast with a rousing version of “Green Eggs and Ham”- one of Dr. Seuss’ best tales.

The artistic personnel of the show were Stage Director George Cordes, Music Director Liz Cordes, who together have directed the Red and Black Players here for many years, Assistant Director Danielle LaMere, Choreographer Kendall Davison and Technical Director David Naone.

Making up the stage crew was the stage manager, Genna Carmichael, Jack LaQuay, assistant stage manager, Liza Crouse, crew chief and Hannah Callaghan, Rylee Kennedy, Morgan Lohr and Alison Richer.

The lighting crew comprised of spot operators, Rebecca Becker and Jack Dukette, with help from Kaileigh Dukette and Jackson Rice.

The props crew was Vivian Allen, Heather Bujold, Lucy Frenette, Molly Hales and Raegan Hudak. The costume crew was Claire Snye and Mariah Young.

Making up the painting crew which produced some vivid, colorful back-drops, were Vivian Allen, Heather Bujold, Hannah Callaghan, Jack Dukette, Kaileigh Dukette, Lucy Frenette, Molly Hales, Raegan Hudak, Rylee Kennedy, Jack LaQuay, Morgan Lohr, Alison Richer and Claire Snye.

The performance program at the show praised a number of local residents for helping to make Seussical the success it was this weekend. Jamie Gachowski, Meagan Sparks and Stephanie Hachey helped feed the hungry group of actors and the behind the scenes workers this pat week. Also applauded were Stephanie Bissonette and everyone who contributed to the Seussical bake sale, to the parent volunteers who sold refreshments and souvenirs in the high school lobby, to Bryce Davison and Patrick Clark for the strong backs, the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts for the loan of microphones, to Curtis Switzer for his hours spent as Ayden’s aide and for the assistance offered by the school’s faculty and staff.

Seussical was presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International.