Premiering the week before Christmas at the Au-Rene Theater of the Broward Center, Broadway Across America presents Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical to excited fans of the South Florida area. At a showing only available in Broward, the production is 90-minute, no intermission musical jammed pack with everything you love about the green menace, the spirit of Christmas, and classic Seussian rhymes. The story of the musical combines elements of Dr. Seuss’ book alongside visual aesthetics that stem from the Jim Carrey live-action film from 2000, and while rushed to feel at moments, I was in awe of the product unveiling before me.
My first reaction, shuffling through the rows of the theater, looking for my seat, was that the stage decor was red. With a red curtain behind it, there was a huge black and white wreath, laced with bright led lights. The pattern of the red curtain contained the original image of The Grinch from Seuss’ book framed in a wreath, and the image repeated over and over to create this omnipresent feeling that he was always watching. I believe this to be a subtle foreshadow to some of his entrances later in the production. This color scheme of white, black, and red was a firm constant from the beginning until the end, as you can see in some of the media photos. From the costuming of the Whos to the same background etchings of Whoville, all maintained this palette, and I was so impressed with this aspect. It was unlike anything that I’d seen, with the style of houses and towers of presents reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ style.
Even more surprising, and I think this goes to the accomplishments of the Set Designer (John Lee Beatty), the Associate Set Designer (Kacie Hultgren), and the Lighting Designer (Craig Stelzenmuller), was how the green lights and green costume of The Grinch juxtaposed against everything else in this world of Whos. Even in the smallest of scenes, you are meant to notice The Grinch and his green. This green of his becomes something more, something nasty and feared.
The events of the play itself play out mostly like the book, so there are no major departures, other than the addition of an older version of Max the dog (W. Scott Stewart), who is the narrator. He is remembering Christmas alongside his time with The Grinch (Joshua Woodie), and how his love/hate relationship unfolded. Young Max (Xavier McKnight) serves as a kind of conscience for The Grinch as he navigates his jaded feelings for the holiday. His plan: to steal Christmas. He disguises himself as Santa and breaks into the homes of the Whos to steal their presents, their trees, and their cookies. Cindy-Lou Who (Vivian Atencio) stumbles upon his heist and begins to warm the mean one’s heart. As a side note, as you might have guessed, the best song of the night was absolutely “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” performed by Stewart, McKnight, and Woodie, with an out-of-this-world bass from Stewart.
If I were to change something about this performance is its pacing, or rather how the actors affect the pacing by their repeated movements of back-to-back performances. What I mean is that I could feel the enthusiasm completely leave from an actor when they had to do some interactive part of a song or routine. My prime example of this is when Woodie steals the Christmas tree. He reaches for the electrical plug, but a snafu occurs here and The Grinch is electrocuted. The lights change and an outline of a skeleton appears on him to simulate this fake electrocution, but Woodie’s body language did not express this almost-fatal slapstick. He just stuck one leg up to align with the projected bones. Blink, and you’ll miss it.
Still, there is ample reason for you and your family to make it out to see this green Krampus and his singing dog(s). On stage until Monday, December 23, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical is fun for anyone.
The post Just in Time for Christmas, ‘The Grinch’ Descends Ft. Lauderdale’s Chimney appeared on South Florida Theater.
