Waxahachie Journal

Family Music Theatre, run by Dr. Sam Germany, has captured the essence of Dr. Seuss – whimsical, funny and heart-warming all at the same time.

There are over 50 people in the production, so making a comment on each person’s performance is not possible.  But here are a few highlights that I noticed when we saw the Saturday matinee.

As soon as the play starts, you enter a different world – of sight, sound, music and laughter.  The plot interweaves between different Dr. Seuss stories, but is mostly based on “Horton Hears a Who.”  Horton is a happy-go-lucky elephant quietly living his life in the Jungle of Newell, when one day he hears a tiny voice crying, “Help!  Help!”  Horton cannot stop from protecting the voice (who happens to be on a speck of dust), but suffers the ridicule of his jungle neighbors because of that one decision.

Cody Martin plays Horton with just the right touch, using whimsical facial expressions and a heartfelt singing voice to portray a kind but determined elephant.  His battle cry is “A person is a person, no matter how small.”  The irony of course is that an elephant (one of the largest creatures in the jungle) should take up the fight for someone so small they cannot be seen.

Whoville is the town of Whos, living on the speck of dust.  Their world is threatened from within and without, and Horton is the unlikely hero.  Mr. and Mrs. Mayor (played expertly by Bob Flach and Darla Bicknell) have to lead the town and calm their fears as one calamity after another happens.

Derek Barnes plays Jo Jo, the human boy who suddenly enters the Land of Seuss with the help of The Cat in the Hat (played by Samuel Germany, III). The interplay between Jo Jo and The Cat creates the emotional tension in the show, and both actors play their parts to perfection.  

The various characters in the Jungle of Newell provide a vast array of color to the story.  Mayzie La Bird (played by the amazing Kathryn Boswell) is quite the contrast to Getrude McFuzz (a very funny Stephanie Felton).  The Sour Kangaroo (played and sang by Angela Mas) and Young Kangaroo (an adorable Emily Barnes, Derek’s younger sister) is the leader of the pack against Horton and his foolishness.  

The music, choreography, acting, costume and stage design blend perfectly to create the magical world of Dr. Seuss.  Waxahachie Journal congratulates the cast, crew and director for such marvelous family entertainment!

The show runs for one more weekend.  There is a 7:30 p.m. show on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25.  The Saturday afternoon matinee starts at 1:30 p.m.  Tickets are on sale outside the theatre (Adults $10.00; children $5.00).   Please visit http://www.cedarvalleycollege.edu/ProspectiveStudents/DegreesandCertificatePrograms/AcademicDisciplines/Drama/upcomingproduction.html for more details.