"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at Children's Theatre Company

It's been a rough week. A lot of people are feeling a little Grinchy right now, I know I am. Children's Theatre Company's annual holiday* favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas has returned just in time to offer perhaps a little bit of solace, and remind us that no one can steal our Christmas, our joy, our community, if we stick together and stand up for each other and remember what's important. This is my fifth visit to Whoville; I first saw it 2014, when I wrote, "it's a bright and colorful, silly and funny, sweet and heart-warming tale of redemption and love." I'm happy to report this is still true, no matter how many times you've seen it. In a less than two-hour visit to Whoville, the show will make you laugh, warm your heart, and hopefully remind you of the real reason we celebrate any holiday - family, friends, and being together.** The Grinch continues through January 5, but the show is popular so get your tickets soon to experience the magic.

This Children's Theatre Company's original adaptation of the Dr. Seuss favorite premiered in 1994 - 30 years ago. That was CTC company member Dean Holt's first season, and now he's making his directorial debut with this show, in addition to playing Old Max. I can't say specifically what he's changed or brought to the show, but I can say that it's an absolute delight, filled with heart and humor and silliness, with great physical comedy as well as fun technical effects. It's the exact right length and the exact right pace, that keeps the little ones' attention as well as entertaining the grown-ups (who can relate to Old Max's sense of nostalgia in remembering Christmases past).

Max and Mr. Grinch (Harriet Spencer and Reed Sigmund)
(photo by Glen Stubbe)

In this musical adaptation, the Grinch's story is told by his dog Max, who is now an old dog ready to move on from the cave in the mountain above Whoville. But first, he shares with the audience the remarkable transformation he witnessed. No mention is made of what has happened since that pivotal Christmas long ago, or where the Grinch is now, but it's a clever device that allows much of the original descriptive rhyming language to be used. Old Max remembers how disagreeable Grinch was when he was an eager young pup, and how he forced him to help steal Christmas from the Whos. The plan failed when the Whos woke up on Christmas day to find all their presents, decorations, and food gone, but still sang and made merry, filled with the joy of togetherness and the spirit of the holiday. The Grinch realized that perhaps Christmas is more than presents and roast beast, his heart grew three sizes, and the rest is history.

that moment when the Grinch's heart began to grow
(photo by Glen Stubbe)

At seven productions and hundreds of performances, the Grinch is sort of Reed Sigmund's signature role. He puts on the role as easily as the costume, to the point where he's totally natural. After so much time with the role, he's has figured out how to milk every word, every moment, every movement of everyone's favorite meanie. If anything he gets better every year, with such a specific physicality and voice, and choices that feel new and surprising every time. It's such a treat to hear him spit out Dr. Seuss' words, or whisper them, or scream them in an audience member's face. Because watch out, the Grinch walks through the audience at his most mean (and most fun). But I'm pretty sure being yelled at by the Grinch has got to be the best Christmas present of all. Reed Sigmund as the Grinch is an example of an actor who knows his role inside and out and gives it everything he's got, to the most entertaining effect.

photo by Glen Stubbe

Reed is surrounded by a super talented cast of adults and kids alike, all bright-eyed and filled with joy. Adelyn Frost is a charming young Max (alternating in the role with Harriet Spencer), embodying the eager puppy who is quite the opposite of Mr. Grinch, creating a fun comedy duo. Little Batya Rose Green Hofkin is such a sweetheart as Cindy Lu (alternating with Chloe Hu), the littlest Who who helps the Grinch's heart to grow. The adult Who cast includes such local favorites as C. Ryan Shipley, Autumn Ness, Adam Qualls, Suzie Juul, and Janely Rodriguez (if you can recognize them under their delightfully absurd Who makeup).

The original songs are fun and well performed by the cast and live pit orchestra, conducted by co-Music Director (along with Denise Prosek) Victor Zupanc (who hangs out at intermission to chat with the kids). The CTC stage looks like something right out of a Dr. Suess book, with cartoonish and playful set pieces (by Tom Butsch). We see the Who family home or the Whoville shopping district on stage, with the Grinch's snowy lair off to the side. There are some thrilling moments of flying sleighs, and some fun animation (projection design by Craig Gottshalk). The Whos are dressed in bright and colorful costumes that are somehow cute despite being the most unflattering shape - a bit wide at the hips and high in the forehead, each a little different to express individual Whovian personalities (by David Kay Mickelsen).

The super fun, heart-warming, and endlessly entertaining How the Grinch Stole Christmas continues through January 5 at Children's Theatre Company in South Minneapolis.

the Grinch with me and my fellow Twin Cities Theater Blogger
Tracy from What Stirs Your Soul at a 2018 backstage tour

*Click here for reviews of all of the holiday shows I've seen this year.

**Much of this post is borrowed from what I've written about previous productions.