San Diego Playbill - Theatre Reviews

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2002)
by The Globe Theatres

Seuss’s seasonal spectacular has returned to the Globe,
Now in its fifth year running,
With those merry Whos of Whoville and that mean ol’ Grinch,
Who keeps trying to stop Christmas from coming!

But this year is different from last.
Don’t panic! It’s changed just a pinch.
Just to add an old, familiar blast from the past,
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

And boy, is he ever!
(At least as we start our dear story.)
Guy Paul has been funnier nor Grinchier never.
A Grinch to the core and in all his awful Grinchy glory!

And then there are his lovable mutts named Max.
Both quite charming, it’s a fact.
A Young Max in his prime,
Who reluctantly nearly wrecks Christmastime,
And an Old Max many years later,
Who becomes our most amusing narrator.

He tells the tale of just how,
Now so many long years ago,
The happy Whos nestled down in their town,
Had all their presents stolen by a Santa Claus of faux.

But these Whos don’t give up nearly quite so quickly.
You can bet on that, and I will too.
For they have a young Who whose love flows oh-so-thickly,
That sweetest of all Whos, our heroine Cindy-Lou!

With Who-charm and Who-grace,
And a most Who-lovely voice to boot,
Shannon Partrick takes her place,
As a Cindy-Lou who is just so cute!

Cindy is joined by an endearing flock of Whos,
A thoroughly lively and jolly bunch,
Who sing and dance as true Whos could only do,
Deserving all a big roast beast for lunch!

And they do it all among sets so endearing and grand,
And costumes so imaginative and amusing,
You’ll think it’s in a real Whoville that you stand,
In a magic world where we can all forever go a-Seussing.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill

~ Cast ~

The Grinch: Guy Paul
Old Max: Mitchell Edmonds
Young Max: Rusty Ross
Cindy-Lou Who: Mary Frances McClay or Shannon Partrick
Mama Who: Annette Michelle Sanders
J.P. Who: Scott Dreier
Grandma Who: Eileen Bowman
Grandpa Seth Who: Robert MacAulay
Boo Who: Nicholas Felizardo
Annie Who: Charlotte Wen
Danny Who: Danny McCarthy
Betty-Lou Who: Alejandra Jimenez
Grown-up Whos:
Alex Apostolidis
David Brannen
Danielle Forsgren
Meredith Kaye Clark Joseph Molina Rodney Peck Little Whos:
Alexa Bergman
David Cabinian
Jenianne Fortney
Gina Holslag
Zev Lerner
Kelly McCarthy
Joy Newbegin
James Patterson
Alynia Phillips
Natalya Phillips
Julianna D. Rose
Kathleen Sullivan
Jennica Vargas

Director: Jack O'Brien
Book and Lyrics By: Timothy Mason
Music By: Mel Marvin
Musical Director: Jay Alger
Choreographer: John DeLuca
Costume Designer: Robert Morgan
Scenic Designer: John Lee Beatty
Lighting Designer: Pat Collins
Stage Manager: D. Adams
Sound Designer: Paul Peterson (based on original design by Jeff Ladman)

Additional production support provided by Audrey S. Geisel, Dr. Seuss Fund, San Diego Community Foundation.
Based on the story by Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel.