Seussical at Bucks County

Hm - interesting. I'm taking my students to the drama festival later this month (already!!!) and they unanimously decided to see Into the Woods instead of Seussical as the show we would get to see (I agreed). Hope ITW is just as good...

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Ok, I went to see Seussical at the Bucks County Playhouse on Sat, at 4 pm. The house was about 1/4 full as is normally the case with a Sat matinee.

I found it to be a little (just a little) bit better then usually. They did add new lights and possibly a new sound system. They did spend extra money on sets and costumes. The cast was very large. Most of the leads hold overs from year after year. None that special, with the exception of the young boy that played JOJO and the guy that played Horton. Both very good and newer to the playhouse.

I was entertained, but still very much a high school type production. They all tried very hard and I was, as I said, mostly entertained.

My partner however, he hated everything and ended up walking around New Hope during the second act.

gee this sounds really biased.

Bucks County reminds me of Bright Lights, Big City.

Well I think people have issues with it because it has declined. It USED to be a great place to go see theatre. You can't deny that it's sort of fallen out of grace. I have plenty of friends who've worked there and at times it was not even safe to work there. I mean literally dancing with on a stage that feel like it's gonna give. I think some of the shows aren't as great as they could be. The ones I've seen just haven't. You can't get angry at people who think the shows there stink. IT's there right to have that opinion. I mean sure the people there work hard etc etc, but hard working doesn't make it good. I don't think there's 1 single person involved with Carrie who didn't work hard. That doesn't make the show great.

I've often wondered how this dump stays in business. I've never been to a show that is more than half full. Where are they getting their money from?

I have yet to go to the BCP, but I plan to see a few shows there this summer. I also just found out that a boy from my Uni is in Company A, so that's always fun! :)

Greatgilly - As another poster stated you might be a little bias. But I commend your passion. You say that you are sickened by everyones lack of support. I am a subscriber, I go to 8-10 shows here a season, along with 4 other people. We do support the playhouse. I agree that the addition of the tech stuff is great. The playhouse itself is in extreme need of refurbishing. The ceiling is extremely bad and stained. The seating is horrible. The bathrooms are disgusting. I believe this may ultimately distract from the viewing pleasure.

The main reason I contunie to subscribe is that my partner's mother thoroughly enjoys the day spent in New Hope and the Theater.

While I agree that most of the performers seem to really love what they are doing, that does not necessarily make what they are doing good. They try hard and some are actually very good. I do disagree that most of their shows have had better and more exciting choreography then many Broadway shows.

I do not feel that I am lowering myself and I do not feel i ripped the production apart. I said that I was entertained. I just can not agree that these productions even come close to being compared to anything on Broadway or even off Broadway.

As another poster stated, just because love and work goes into a production that does not always make it good.

I do believe that you might be too attached to the product to see some of what I am saying, but loyalty is good.

I guess you should also be lucky that my partner did not post his opinion because it would not have been pretty. He did not have a nice thing to say.

By the way, the night club next door has been closed for a while and they are currently renovating the building. They plan to put in some sort of museum there.

Updated On: 5/9/06 at 09:11 AM

I also heard they were thinking about selling the place. I wish they would bring it back to the way it was years ago where they would attract pre broadway productions.
I have to say the Steven Casey is an excellent director. I have compared Steven's productions with regional higher budget productions and have found Steven's to be more entertaining.
He is a big fish in a small pond, and a very nice man.

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I remember seeing "The King and I" at Bucks County when I was 7 :::sigh::: I thought that was good but, they had a bunch of campers running around the place.. and If I'm correct, the brother on Clarissa Explains it All was Ana's son.