If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good. These simple words of wisdom penned by Dr Seuss, the beloved American writer-cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel, found fresh perspective in the dark of the theatre as the American School of Doha’s (ASD) High School Fine Arts seemed to have fun giving it their all and then some more in the first show of the utterly impressive “Seussical” on Tuesday evening.
Based on the works of Dr Seuss, “Seussical” is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty that has turned into a big favourite across schools, communities, and regional theatres across the US and beyond. ASD is presenting three shows, the other two are on Thursday (today) and Saturday evenings, through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
According to the MTI, “Seussical” is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza. “Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have lovingly brought to life all of our favourite Dr Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colourful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Seussical is fun for the whole family!”
And that, it sure was. Based on the books of Dr Seuss such as Horton Hears a Who!, Horton Hatches the Egg and Miss Gertrude McFuzz, “Seussical”, which debuted on Broadway 16 years ago, got the cheery, high-energy treatment that this delightful mishmash of a play of Seuss’ most famous books deserves. The entire production and creative team, music band, and crew, did a cool job of setting up an expansive, fantastical atmosphere that could rival the production quality and heft of a seasoned theatre company.
Leah Bramley, the director of the play, told Community, “This was a challenging play to direct as it was so musically driven but we had a great cast and crew who put in many, many hours. Also, we have such an amazing team of people here at ASD that they all made it much easier. Dr Seuss’s work is timeless because his message is so important – especially after recent international events. We must all remember ‘A person’s a person no matter how small’.”
For a school play, the cast was as phenomenal as the rest of the departments. From measured acting to pitch-perfect singing, from mouthing their lines loud and clear to clockwork co-ordination, the kids showed just how much of hard work and talent had gone into realising this musical. Perhaps the most important thing of all was that each of them seemed to have fun while up there. The music band, with a soaring score that faithfully relayed much of the narrative, complemented the young verve of the cast.
Omar Mardini, who is delightful as Horton, was greeted with hugs, chocolates, and flower bouquets, when he stepped out into the hallway after the show. Catching his breath swollen with a rush of appreciation and love, he told Community, “It was really hard for me. I’m a very open, excited, not afraid to be myself kind of a person, and Horton is the complete opposite of that. He is very shy and keeps things to himself, and wants to put everyone before himself – not that I don’t! – but it’s a different momentum altogether.”
Within his 12 years at ASD, Mardini has performed in every musical play, most music festivals and was a double-medallist in Forensics’ interpretation events. “I have been doing theatre ever since I was in elementary school, in fourth grade, and now I am in eleventh grade. I have done every play and musical. I’ve been to choir festivals and I’m in honour society,” he said.
Ever since the show was announced in May, a lot of students began working towards preparing for auditions. “The auditions were right after we came back from summer vacation. Ever since then, after they casted the show, we have been working two to three hours a day, five days a week. And we have done that every week until today,” Mardini said. “It’s so amazing. It’s been a blast. It’s so great to see all of us because we, the cast, are such a close, tight family, and we know we have been working so hard on this. It’s so overwhelming to see everything finally come together and to perform.”
Choosing a show for the hard-working students and discerning audience is always a daunting challenge, says Stephanie Gravelle, Musical Director of “Seussical”, about the whole process of it. “The show must be of quality, entertaining, different from last year, and hopefully life-changing. Living with ‘Seussical’ for the last six months has been an honour and a pleasure. I believe in this show and the extraordinary cast bringing it to life,” Gravelle says, in a note accompanying the musical.
Like most Dr Seuss fans, Gravelle seeks comfort in the words of Dr Seuss, JoJo, Horton, and the Cat in the Hat. “Instead of building walls and strengthening borders, Horton chooses to believe that a ‘person’s a person no matter how small.’ He gives all he has to protect the Whos in Whoville, and when he finds his friend Mayzie in a sticky situation, Horton chooses integrity over ease,” says Gravelle. “His actions inspire the entire Jungle of Nool to be more open to those who might ‘think different than us.’”
Of all the moments, Mardini finds the song Solla Sollew in the second act of the show to be the most special one for how the whole cast and crew bonds over it. Mardini said, “This is the song each one of us have been connected to – from the orchestra to the crew. Because Solla Sollew is like heaven. We have considered all the conflicts that have been happening in the world, and we pray and we acknowledge those kids who dream of a heaven like Solla Sollew.”
Gravelle feels the same. “As a cast, we talked at length of the many people in the world - large and small – who are searching for a beautiful land that may never be seen,” Gravelle says. “We as artists and humans refuse to give up on this heavenly place where we all can find ourselves home. It is our solemn hope and mission that we as a civilisation will get there. ‘If it takes us miles. If it takes us years.’”