'Seussical, Jr' by Great Oak Middle School Drama Club - My Review

Madalyn Sheehy, who serves as the drama coach/director for Great Oak Middle School in Oxford, invited me to attend the final dress rehearsal of Seussical, Jr. The GOS Drama Club is doing their first musical in five years and the middle school students worked long and hard at preparing the production. Their hard work definitely showed.

Ms. Sheehy both directed and choreographed the show and did a fine job of making sure that each of her young actors gave their best performance. Some members of the cast made their first entrances from the back the lovely OHS auditorium and through the audience; it was a great way to begin. The choreography throughout was simple but effective and the curtain call was just so much fun.

The musical director, Amy Cote, was an excellent conductor to her singers as they sang with the taped accompaniment. The students sang in some fine harmony. I always love "Solla Sollew" and here was no exception.

Oxford High School has a new class on stage design and the high school students in this class, along with their teacher Pam Aldrich, designed a simple but effective set. With this set they are warming up for the high school's spring musical Pippin.

As the mischievous Cat in the Hat, Brittany Blakeman was a good actress with lots to do.  Maya Ribeiro was a very strong JoJo with a fanciful costume and great glasses. Horton the Elephant was played by Sean Hussey.  He carried off the large elephant ears he wore, as well as the character of Horton.

Bonnie Trelease as the important Gertrude McFuzz was simply perfect. She has the strong voice and acting talent needed for the role. Tiffany Brum played the lazy Mayzie la Bird well, and her bird girl back up singers played by Molly Conner, Cassidy Gawitt, Alexandra Croce, and Claudia Snyder sported similar and very clever bird outfits.

Bella Serke was an outstanding Sour Kangaroo that worked her puppet and even changed her voice when it sang. The Wickersham Brothers were played by Stephanie McNamara, Catherine Wilson, Julia Sharron, Shannon Barre, and Analisa Carloni.

Surprisingly strong in their smallish roles of Mr. and Mrs. Mayor of Whoville were Ryan Herold and Morgan Hines. They both were fine actors with good voices and Ms. Hines' outfit was both Seuss-like and flattering.

The ensemble includes the Whos, the Grinch, Things 1 and 2, assorted Jungle Creatures, Yertle the Turtle and Vlad Vladikoff. All did a great job. Don't miss the very young guy who plays the creature that hatches out of the egg upon which Horton sits.

Overall the costumes were wonderful and without a program I can't give credit to those who worked on them. Kudos to this entire cast and the adults who have worked with them to get this show onstage. The show runs literally 70 minutes and although I have said it before, it truly is the perfect show for young children. They love seeing the characters that they know, the music is highly singable, and it is just long enough.