Sac Bee "Seussical" Review

"Cool Cat":

The Cat in the Hat (the magical Kevin Caravalho, clearly enjoying the romp) leads the show, which starts with an imaginative little kid named Jojo (Ana Chan) from Whoville, who thinks things unimaginable to ordinary, unimaginative types.

The story � seemingly all in her imagination � centers around Horton the elephant (sweetly comic Kyle Hadley), who finds himself in a double bind, trying to help his tiny friend Jojo (and all the other invisible Whos) when their too-tiny-to-see world lands on a clover he has picked.

At the same time, he's guarding an abandoned egg left in his care by the lazy Mayzie La Bird (Kay Hight).

Horton, faithful and true, tries desperately to fulfill his obligations despite cold, rain and ridicule. He's even kidnapped and sold to Circus McGurkus (Steve Isaacson in one of several fine roles, including Judge Yertle the Turtle and the Grinch).

As might be expected in a cast that involves both children and adults, the acting can be uneven, with the adults faring better.

There's no question that Caravalho is the standout. His ad-libs (sniffing a sparkly glove and proclaiming it smells of "Bubbles and Macaulay Culkin"), for example, are edgy and exciting. What won't he say?

Chan seems rightly cast as the imaginative Jojo, too. She's just a little shy but obviously capable of big "thinks."