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Children delight to Lyric's 'The Cat in the Hat'
“The Cat in the Hat” Lyric Theatre Based on the book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) Directed and Choreographed by Adam Immerwahr
By Franci Hart Theatre Critic
Children were delighted with the magic of “The Cat in the Hat.” They were overjoyed to see their favorite story come to life on stage.
A true test of the children’s acceptance of any production is audience sound. The children laughed when appropriate, cheered when needed and were still and silent so they would not miss anything. The production was a visual delight with exceptional comic actions.
Hats off to the talented ensemble: Eli Bradley, Kaleb Michael Bruza, Katelyn Curtin, Kalyn Glover, Ari Shapiro, Lexi Windsor, and especially to Josiah Brooks, the cat.
Puppets manipulated with the puppeteers in sight portrayed all the characters and fantasy elements, except the cat. The simple, yet effective use of puppets created a fantasy world that the children loved. They howled with delight as the cat continued to balance more and more items, then finally fell.
They loved Thing One and Thing Two flying their kites and creating mayhem though out the house. And they especially loved the cleanup machine.
Brooks was energy personified with his never stop motion. His naïve, con man, was played to perfection especially his disappointment with the children not accepting his fun, then his delight in being able to put everything back together again.
Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” was first published in 1957 when Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) was challenged to write a more entertaining primer for young readers. Geisel liked to tell about how he was frustrated with the word list he had to choose from for his book. So, he scanned the list until he found two that rhymed. Thus, the title, “The Cat in the Hat.”
Geisel said, “ It is the book I’m proudest of because it had something to do with the death of Dick and Jane Primers.”
“The Cat in the Hat” will play at Lyric’s plaza theater through Feb. 3. Young children will love its fantasy, energy and fun.
