Who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss? The works of Theodor Geisel (under his medical nom-de-plume) have been entertaining children (and their parents) for decades be they books (The Cat in the Hat), television specials (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas), or film (The Lorax). 

Geisel, with a few notable exceptions, was reluctant to allow his books to be adapted to other media, but his widow signed off on a Broadway musical adaptation. Seussical the Musical debuted on the Great White Way back in 2000 and has become a favorite for theaters looking to mount family-friendly shows. Rohnert Park’s Spreckels Theatre Company joins that group with a production running in their Codding Theater through May 17.

Frequent collaborators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) have taken material from about 20 Seuss stories, added about two dozen Seuss-like songs, and come up with a two-hour stage spectacular that’s a feast to look at and listen to but a jumbled mess to those familiar with the stories. 

The main throughline is a combination of Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches the Egg with Gertrude McFuzz as Horton the Elephant (Malik Charles D. Wade I) tries to save the microscopic Who world from destruction while hatching the egg of irresponsible parent Mayzie LaBird (Nicole Stanley) with help from the ever-pining Gertrude McFuzz (Molly Larsen-Shine). The story is narrated by The Cat in the Hat (Nelson Brown) with an assist from the imagination of little JoJo Who (Tina Traboulsi).

Along the line you meet just about every other Dr. Seuss character from the Sour Kangaroo (Monica Burrowes) and the residents of the Jungle of Nool to Yertle the Turtle (Peter Rogers).

This “spot the star” approach really doesn’t work as the characters are injected into the story haphazardly. It’s apt to create some confusion in the minds of some young’uns, who will already be asking what pills Gertrude’s been popping and why Mayzie is slurring her words.

Despite the sloppy book, this show has several things going for it. There’s some outstanding character and vocal work being done (particularly by Shine, Burrowes, and Stanley), the 12-piece orchestra under the direction of Lucas Sherman sounds great, and the costumes (Donnie Frank) and set (courtesy Napa Valley College) are eye-popping. The show’s messages of coming together, accepting differences, and having faith in one’s self are good for all ages. 

Dr. Seuss purists may be aghast, but the target audience should have a good time at Seussical.

‘Seussical’ runs through May 17 in the Codding Theater at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $16 – $44. 707.588.3400. spreckelsonline.com

Photos by Jeff Thomas

This review originally ran in an edited version in the North Bay Bohemian.