OREM — Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat jumps right off of the page and onto the stage at the SCERA Center for the Arts. Based on the beloved book, this play tells the story of two kids with nothing to do on a rainy day. The Cat in the Hat shows up, and trouble ensues! In this script, originally performed at The National Theatre in London, the words are exactly those from the book, with added tom-foolery and hijinks. Directed by Brodee Ripple, this fun and upbeat theatre for young audiences adaptation brings a smile to audience members of all ages.
Perhaps the most outstanding part of this show was the design. With Chase Ramsey (sets), Kelsey Seaver (costumes), Karen Peck, Page Wright, Madi Fontana (props), and Chase Elison (sound), the audience felt truly transported into the storybook. Ramsey created a beautiful “Seuss”-esque, two-dimensional looking set that was like re-opening the book. Peck, Wright, and Fontana added to this with their props that not only fit the theme, but could also be thrown around and used quite roughly without wearing down. Seaver created costumes that helped actors become children again, and Elison, in conjunction with the director and actors, created some beautiful moments with sound. These designers made the story from the book really come to life with silly visuals and sounds.
Cat in the Hat plays at SCERA Center for the Arts through February 14. | Photo Credit: Rachael Gibson
The execution and staging of the sound effects and the actor blocking was a delightful addition to the show. The miming of different objects and hearing them bounce, toot, blow up, splash, all while seeing the actors react, was an amusing and unexpected way to feel like you were in the middle of a Suess story. This was especially fun at the beginning of the story with Zippy Hellewell (Boy) and Rebecca Boberg (Sally) showing all of the different ways they were trying to improve their boring day – throwing a ball that landed with a splat, playing tennis with a wet ball and racket – and when Cam Bronson (the Cat) found new instruments to play and a “ping pong” ball to bounce around the room.
This show runs for roughly one hour, with dialogue filling only about 20 minutes of that. That gave Brodee Ripple (director) the opportunity to play with the rest of that time. There were some very fun moments on stage including a slow motion boxing match, a toilet paper cannon, and even some audience interactions. Because of the amount of time, there were a few moments where the scene seemed to drag or when things seemed repetitive, but the actors kept up their energy the entire time. This is no easy feat when one is running for almost one straight hour. The character moments and small vignettes were very entertaining, though, and brought many giggles from the audience.
Photo Credit: Rachael Gibson
Zippy Hellewell (Boy) and Rebecca Boberg (Sally) both brought so much energy to The Cat in the Hat. They carried each scene and never let their enthusiasm falter. With equal amounts of animation, Carley Porter Lindsay (Fish) played the more serious character in this production. The Cat himself was played by Cam Bronson; he played well to the audience and brought the silliness expected in this role. Opal Tolman (Thing 1/Kitten) and Gwen Carlson (Thing 2/Kitten) were at times difficult to hear and understand, but brought a fun, sassy vibe to their roles. This cast works very well together; they help each other keep the energy up even as they are running back and forth and around and around. It was impressive to see that even at the end, they were still smiling and having “lots of good fun.”
SCERA Center for the Art’s Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat brought in audiences young and old, and I think that is one of things that made it so special. Our audience was filled with those who felt nostalgia towards the story and some who were discovering it for the first time. Some dressed up, and some were able to say the words along with the actors. There were giggles and participation from all, as we shouted out where the Cat and his two friends were hiding. While technically a theatre for young audiences performance, this production is perfect for people of all ages. Running at just under an hour, the staging is exactly what it needs to be: a moment of play with Sally, Boy, Thing 1, Thing 2, and of course the Cat in the Hat.
