The review

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Theater Review: 'Green Eggs,' 'McFuzz' combo a successful collaborative effort
Web Posted: 09/28/2006 01:50 PM CDT
Deborah Martin
Express-News Staff Writer

As it turns out, "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Gertrude McFuzz" make for a particularly tasty combo.
New Jersey-based composer Robert Kapilow adapted the Dr. Seuss tales into a pair of kid-friendly 15-minute operas, which Magik Theatre and San Antonio Opera teamed up to stage.

The production is bright and funny and well-worth catching.

Kapilow, who had the Seuss estate's OK for his adaptation, sticks to the text faithfully.

The double bill opens with "Gertrude McFuzz," in which a bird (Ariel Rosen) with one scraggly tail feather and some serious self-esteem issues longs for the grandeur of haughty Lolla-Lee-Lou (Athena Suline Boneta), who swishes about with two lush tail feathers. Gertrude eats a berry that causes her to sprout an additional tail feather, but that isn't quite enough, so she eats more berries, sprouts more feathers and is soon so weighted down by them that she can't fly. The feathers have to be yanked out, and Gertrude comes to feel comfy in her own skin, even if it is festooned with just one tail feather.

Rosen gives an assured comic performance, but sprightly Athena more than holds her own. The 7-year-old cutie oozes attitude as she sashays about, sticking out her tongue and showing off those feathers.

"Green Eggs and Ham" follows the efforts of the determined Sam-I-Am (another entertaining turn from Athena) to get The Grump (well-played by Crystal Jarrell) to give green eggs and ham a try. By the end of the piece, the youngsters in the audience were clearly on Sam-I-Am's side .. cries of "Try it! Try it!" came from all over the theater.

Most of the sung parts are handled by a pair of strong sopranos. Gail Wettstein narrates "Gertrude McFuzz," and Jarrell takes care of it in her role in "Green Eggs and Ham."

Kapilow's jazzy score is served well by both singers and by music director Jaime Ramirez, who recorded it for the show.

The action plays out on a beautiful Seussian-set, designed by Chris Boneta. The stage is bracketed by those distinctive, feathery trees, and all of the setpieces .. including a train, a car and a box in "Green Eggs and Ham" .. look like they popped from the books.

Director Dave Morgan added a couple of stagehands (played by Mollie La Rue and Dylan Collins) to the Magik staging. They introduce both shows .. La Rue also reads "Gertrude" so that the kiddoes know what's ahead .. and chat a little bit about opera. They also make quick appearances in both shows, wheeling in setpieces, helping Athena fly and adding to the physical comedy. They have a breezy chemistry that works well and adds to the overall fun of the shows.

"Green Eggs and Ham" and "Gertrude McFuzz" can be seen at 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 7 at Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St. Tickets cost $8 to $10. Call (210) 227-2751 for reservations.

dlmartin@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News
publish date Sept. 29, 2006

2:41 PM