Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

Summer Fun at Navy Pier - Seussical, The Musical (thru Aug. 20)

It's summer and every year, The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier uses their wonderful theater to bring a pure Family show to the Chicago audiences. This year, ÒSeussical, The MusicalÓ, based on the works of children's author Theodor Seuss Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss), a rollicking 75 minutes of pure fun is the choice. This is a pure delight for young and old- truly pure family entertainment. Narrated by The Cat In A Hat (E. Faye Butler) the show intertwines the characters and themes from many of the Dr. Suess classics - ÒHorton Hears a WhoÓ, The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz and ÒOh, The Thinks you can ThinkÓ. Over 25 musical numbers help in introducing the characters as well as telling the stories.

Directed by Eric Rosen with a great set by Robert Andrew Kovach and sensational costumes by Janice Pytel, ÒSuessical, The MusicalÓ is close to perfection. The cast has been assembled with some of Chicago's best talent - Bernie Yvon is ideal as Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz is a scream as played by Brandy McClendon (she will be replaced by another Chicago favorite after July 23rd, Johanna McKenzie Miller, who truly has her work cut out for her, as Ms. McClendon is a ÒhootÓ. Alexandra Billings (Chicago's Joanne Worley, but better) is dynamite in the role of Mayzie La Bird and Becca McCoy is a very strong Sour Kangaroo. Just watching these actors is worth the ticket price, but the rest of the cast is just as strong. Mitchell Hollis plays young JoJo (as well as the boy) and for a newcomer handles himself well with the pros that move about the stage to bring these characters to life. Berwick Haynes is a powerful Mayor of Who as well as one of the Wickersham Brothers (along with Devin DeSantis and Travis Turner and the female ensemble is made up of Melanie Brezill, Ericka Mac and Rebecca Finnegan (who also handles the Mayor's wife). One of the best parts of watching a show like this is watching the young audience members who were really into the story- these are characters they know and now they watch them come to life and they do so brilliantly.

Every year, Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier finds just the right show for the visitors to the Pier- tourists love what they see and I hope that residents of our area take advantage of the wonderful production that is made available. The schedule for this production is as follows:

Wednesday at 11am. Thursday at 11am. and 2pm. Friday at 2pm. and 7pm. Saturday at 11am., 2pm. and 7pm. Sunday at 2pm.

Saturday night, stay after the late show and watch the marvelous firework show they put on. Go out for ice cream or something to eat, take a boat ride or just walk around with your family and enjoy what the Pier has to offer.

Tickets are $23 for adults and $18 for students 18 and under - a real bargain when it comes to a production this strong. Let's face it, for just a little more than a movie ticket, you can enjoy live theater in a wonderful theater. To order tickets call the box office at 312-595-5600 or visit chicagoshakes.com.

Discount parking is available, but if you really want to make a fun experience out of your visit, grab the free trolley (at State and Grand) a treat for the entire family.