In my opinion, the JR version licensed by MTI is actually better thematically than the full version. It cuts out some of the unnecessary elements and is a tighter, more coherent show. I would love to see a revised revival done. The music is great for that show.
icecreambenjamin said: "Jojo has plenty to do throughout the show. The military plot adds a whole extra hour to the show and it has no real purpose and it's based on a more obscure Seuss story that many don't recognize. I would prefer to see The Lorax incorporated instead if they were to do rewrites. Maybe Encores! will decide to do this in the future.
BroadwayMan5 said: "In my opinion, the JR version licensed by MTI is actually better thematically than the full version. It cuts out some of the unnecessary elements and is a tighter, more coherent show. I would love to see a revised revival done. The music is great for that show."
I believe that the JR version is essentially the same as the TYA version, in which case I absolutely agree with you. The show in its two act form just feels bloated and overlong. The Broadway production, and subsequent tours, even with the revisions, felt overproduced and unfocused. The TYA script, and especially the production done by Theatreworks at the Lortel, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, definitely streamlined the show for the better (and that production is just absolutely charming in its simplicity).
Revisited the cast recording today, I would love for a revival to happen if it included Christopher Fitzgerald, Brian d'Arcy James, Anna Kendrick and Joshua Colley
I've never seen it, but thanks to Family Guy it's become synonymous with bad theater in my mind. I always say something is "worse than Seussical" just because I find that line funny for some reason.
The Jr version is a little TOO streamlined, IMO. It barely runs over an hour, and cuts out some nice bits, like the Cat reprising "How Lucky You Are" as well as Having a Hunch. The show does have some lovely songs though, and the Sour Kangaroo has such great belt-it numbers. I think a brief rewrite could do wonders for it.
I'll actually be helming a new production of this, to open this winter. With how dark and dreary the world is, we all need that escapism right about now, so, I'm certainly looking forward to providing it. Will keep you all posted.