– By Cate Marquis –
With Christmas just passed and its relaxing afterglow lingering, (and with Hanukkah still being celebrated), it is the perfect time for one more holiday treat: The Grinch. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is now on stage at the Fabulous Fox Theater, for a too-brief, weekend only run. Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved classic children’s book, this stage musical version is a surprising delight, that has abundant comic energy and plenty of heart, and includes that wonderful jazzy song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” plus whole lot of fun to please anyone of any age.
While I didn’t expect much going into this show, I was delightfully surprised by this high-quality production with a great cast that amused and entertained, while paying homage to both Dr. Seuss’ beloved Christmas fantasy and the wonderful 1966 cartoon version narrated by Boris Karloff.
The show is short, a mere 85 minutes, approximately, with no intermission, making it a perfect length and a treat for grown-ups and kids alike. But the show’s run for this show is short, too, as it runs just Dec. 27 – 29, with both matinee and evening shows. On opening night, Friday, Dec. 27, there were plenty of young fans in the audience, many dressed up as Whos or Grinches, and they filled the Fox with squeals of delight, as the adults filled it with laughter and vigorous applause.
A big part of what makes this show is the Grinch himself, played wonderfully by Joshua Woodie. As the Grinch, Woodie is a comic delight, as he grimaces, mocks and rages, and also as he gags and stutters when he is forced to say that dreaded word, “Christmas.” He’s wonderfully ego-driven and ridiculously absurd in his demands. On top of that, Joshua Woodie can really sing and dance beautifully too, which adds a lot more entertainment value to the character and the musical.
The whole thing is narrated by Old Max (W. Scott Stewart), the Grinch’s dog, now grown old and remembering the life-changing events he saw as a young pup. The show is very much in the style of the original book and cartoon, and also features a great deal of Dr. Seuss’ marvelous original rhyming words, which adds to the fun.
While the musical generally follows the Dr. Seuss classic, the stage version adds a few more songs, a few more characters, and some extra comic bits for our wonderful Grinch. These include a disguised Grinch and his dog Max sneaking into Whoville before Christmas for a few supplies and to kind of “case the joint” before their planned heist of Christmas itself. Spotted by a Whoville-ian as an outsider, the Grinch poses as a tourist, to nice comic effect, and also meets the very cute and lively Cindy-Lou Who, played wonderfully by charmer Vivian Attencio, alternating with Mila Jaymes.
The costumes and staging were perfect too, with the fuzzy green Grinch particularly impressive in shaggy lime green, with his expressive face made up in grease-paint white with dramatic red and black markings. The Whos’ costumes were an exaggerated version of the Dr. Seuss drawings, and the sets and props echoed the artwork in the beloved book as well, including that single antler tied to Max’s head.
The two dogs, old Max and young Max, were delightful too, with fluffy fur and long, bushy tails to wag. As Old Max, W. Scott Stewart narrates the story in a deep, resonate voice, while the mostly-silent black-and-white Young Max goes bounding and leaping around with acrobatic skill, played by the high-energy, talented Xavier McKnight. Cindy-Lou’s parents (Nick Drivas and Marissa Parness) and grandparents (Brian Rooney and Barbara Bayes) are a nice addition, played with a fine comic style, particularly a trouble-making grandpa.
All together, it was a delightful show, with laughs and warmth, perfect for families and just adults alike. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through December 29.
© Cate Marquis
