Dr. Seuss’ colourful collective of stories scream loudly for extravagant stage productions. Perhaps his most famous work, The Cat in the Hat, has proudly marched into the Pleasance for Edinburgh’s Fringe, with a gorgeous and playful production courtesy of the National Theatre.
On a rainy day, Sally and her brother stare out of the window wondering just what to do in such miserable weather. In an attempt to liven things up a bit, a flamboyant cat in a tall red hat and bow tie arrives, bringing with him oodles of fun, chaos and mess!
What must be noted when discussing this production is just how effectively the colours expressed in Seuss’ words and illustrations come to lustrous life on stage. Those distinct blues, reds and whites adorn the stage in a wonderful way, prompting nostalgic feelings for those familiar with the book, and bright eyes for the children fixated on what’s in front of them. The costume design is equally wonderful, whether it’s Sally’s black and white lovely collared ensemble or Thing One and Thing Two’s brilliant red jumpsuits with their mops of electrified blue hair. The whole production is a sensory delight that seeps like blue-raspberry syrup over its willing audience.
In terms of script, every effort has been made to emulate the whimsicality that Dr. Seuss used effectively in the production’s source material. The unmistakable Cat shines in his central position, using witty, rhythmic dialogue as he balances on balls and juggles much to the audience’s delight. As a result, the rest of the cast fade insignificantly into the background. It has moments of true flamboyancy that sometimes verge into abrasive for anyone over the age of seven and after a short while, the gangly leg movements and repetition of “said the cat” could leave adults restless as their children chorally join in. All is forgiven as the Cat’s bonkers assistants, Thing One and Thing Two arrive, and breathe life into something that could have turned from lively to boring, and colourful to lurid.
The Cat in the Hat proves itself as a sugary sweet tale that children will adore. It may require a little perseverance from parents who aren’t used to colourful and exciting theatre, but there is so much of both that you’ll be struggling to have your mind on anything else.
For tickets, head to Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s website
Editor of Frowning.us (SSJA 2014 Student Publication of the Year) & Film Writer for The Edinburgh Reporter
