Grinch Musical Delights in Dallas

The Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but Stefan Karl steals the show with his rendition of the infamous green curmudgeon in How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Musical. The show opened at the Winspear Opera House last night, with a limited run of 12 performances through this Sunday, December 12, 2010. It is well worth seeing.

In case you have forgotten the premise, the Grinch is a hairy outcast with a grudge against the townsfolk below his mountain lair. Despite claiming to be happy in his solitude, the Grinch spies obsessively on the inhabitants of Whoville. He especially hates Christmastime, and like many of us, grows sick of the incessant holiday music, and the materialistic frenzy of holiday gift shopping. This all changes when, to quote the original story by Dr. Seuss, “Then he got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea!” He decides to end Christmas by stealing all the decorations and gifts from the inhabitants of Whoville. Much to his surprise, his larceny fails to dampen the Who’s Christmas cheer, and in a Scrooge-like epiphany, the Grinch realizes that Christmas is about, “something more.”

Unlike the book or movie, the musical version of this Dr. Seuss classic features two versions of Max, the Grinch’s dog. An older and wiser version of Max (Bob Lauder) narrates events, while a younger, naive version of Max (Seth Bazacas), begrudgingly carries out the Grinch’s dastardly plan.

Best known as the bad guy in Nickelodeon’s “Lazy Town,” Stefan Karl uses his knack for physical comedy to play the Grinch perfectly, from every growl, leap and pose, right on down to every flick of his long, hairy fingers.

One could easily grow impatient during scenes not involving the Grinch; however, Cindy-Lou Who (played on opening night by Brooke Lynn Boyd, and alternating with Carly Tamer) is captivating. The scene in which she catches the Grinch red-handed is utterly adorable.

The production successfully brings all the flavors of a Dr. Seuss book to the stage, from the line quality of the sets to the candy-colored whimsy of the Who-folk’s costumes. Added dialogue mimics Seussian rhyming schemes, while even the way the Who villagers move makes it seem as though they stepped straight out the book.

Thankfully, the musical keeps two songs from the original 1966 animated version, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome Christmas,” both written by Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague. Bob Lauder’s rich baritone is perfect for “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” making it a show highlight.

Composer Mel Marvin and lyricist Timothy Mason created eight additional songs for the musical. While these tunes blend well with the original music, and keep the story moving right along, none are as memorable as the Hague/Seuss numbers. Even so, “One of a Kind,” is fun, giving the Grinch a chance to strut his bad self, while the choreography of “What Cha Ma Who,” creatively portrays the chaos of kids playing with their toys (and thereby driving the Grinch nuts.)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – the Musical runs 90 minutes long without an intermission, but there is plenty happening onstage to keep everyone’s attention. The kids in my section (and there were many) loved the show – and I did, too. See below for more information on tickets and showtimes.

What: How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Musical
When: 12 performances from now through December 12, 2010
Where: Winspear Opera House (map), 2403 Flora St., Dallas, TX
Price: Tickets run $30 to $150
More information: Visit the AT&T Performing Arts Center official website.

Photo credit: Photos by PaparazziByAppointment.com, provided courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

Note: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.