Cuteness wins

If the 20-piece orchestra, 30-member cast, dazzling costumes, and delightful Seuss-ian set pieces aren’t a good enough reason to cross the Yolo Causeway, consider the wonderful cast of Seussical, the Musical, now at the Davis Musical Theater Company, directed and choreographed by the legendary Ron Cisneros.

Based on incidents culled from more than a dozen Dr. Seuss books, this musical by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens has a thin plot and a few weak spots in the production, but is overall a hit for DMTC, whose level of professionalism has been steadily rising over its 30-year history.

The Cat in the Hat is the interlocutor for this show and F. James Raasch comes through with a wonderful voice, an irresistible twinkle in his eye and great interaction with the audience.

But it is newcomer to DMTC Nephi Speer, as Horton the Elephant, who gives the show its heart.

These two are supported by Jenna Karoly as JoJo, taking on the role late in rehearsal, who becomes the anchor for the action. Adam Sartain is the Mayor of Whoville, and Dannette Vassar is his wife.

For sheer cuteness and amazing discipline and precision there are Miller Traum and 6-year-old Gillian Cubbage (Thing 2 and Thing 1, respectively).

The kids will love it, but there is enough “grown-up” humor for the adults as well. The matinee audience was filled with children ages 3-4 years old and up, and all sat enthralled throughout the two hours.