By Jonathan Williams
The Grinch. Whoville’s resident Scrooge and ultimate heel has been an integral part of the holidays and pop culture since the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book of the same name) first aired in 1966. In fact, it simply wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the limerick-like tale of how the green-furred curmudgeon tried to thwart Christmas for the Whos, only to have a Scrooge-like change of his two-sizes-too-small heart (which “grew three sizes that day”) after the good-natured Whos refused to let him spoil their fun.
Bob Lauder plays Old Max, the narrator of this version of "The Grinch." Photo courtesy Brave Public Relations
More recently, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical has become one of Broadway’s biggest successes, touring select cities to help bring its whimsical holiday feel to the whole country. In the midst of its 2011 tour, the show opened at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre Nov. 28. The current stage production puts some new twists on the already somewhat twisted tale, most notably by having the narration (made famous in the original animated special by Boris Karloff, who was also the voice of the Grinch) come from the perspective of an older version of Max, the Grinch’s downtrodden (yet upbeat) dog. As Max revisits his surreal past (in much the same way Scrooge does in A Christmas Carol), we see a song-and-dance version of the Grinch’s story with elaborate sets and costumes that retain the Seuss-like splendor we’ve come to adore.
Young Max (Seth Bazacas) and the Grinch (Stefan Karl) try to steal Christmas. Photo courtesy Brave Public Relations
Aside from the two songs taken from the animated classic (“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas”), the rest of the songs don’t quite have the same Seuss qualities, but are catchy and Christmas-y nonetheless. Much like Ron Howard’s 2000 film version, The Grinch musical gives the story a bit more depth, with the Grinch sneaking into Whoville in disguise to plot his big plan. And as Jim Carrey did in the film, Stefan Karl of Nickelodeon‘s LazyTown portrays the Grinch with a hint of the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz (and occasional Jack Nicholson-like traits). He adequately exudes the Grinch’s grump and sleaze, and comfortably carries all of his musical numbers.
Despite the liberties it takes with the original story, this musical production is an impressive interpretation filled with enough visual splendor, chuckle-inducing dialogue and overall wittiness to make Seuss himself proud. After it’s Atlanta run ends, the show will move on to St. Louis before finishing the year in San Francisco.
For more information, go to www.grinchmusical.com.