THE CAT IN THE HAT
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th March 2015
I have to confess that when I was asked to review The Cat in the Hat, with its target audience age range starting from 3 years old, I wasn’t exactly filled with excitement. Those days of sitting watching kids’ shows like Tweenies, Barney the purple dinosaur, Polka Dot Shorts and Bob the Builder are long gone for me, now that my two are teenagers.
However, having said that, I did enjoy reading a good bedtime story when my two were small and the one that was always a big winner in our house was - yes, you’ve guessed it - The Cat in the Hat. I think I almost knew it word for word the amount of times it got read; and then of course came the film.
Dr. Seuss was known as ‘the’ children's book writer not only in the United States, but across the world. He’s the figure who very early on was responsible for teaching children how to love to read. From 1957, when he wrote The Cat in The Hat, his books have entertained and educated children along with his many other classics such as The Grinch, The Lorax and Horton Hears a Who. So I wondered, would today’s children find this show format of this book just as entertaining and educational?
From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home?
This is a great transition from book to stage with a simple set that has a fabulous 3D feel to it which really helps to bring this fast paced show alive. Sally and her brother, Conrad, are sat indoors, gloomily looking out of the window and are really fed up with not being able to go out to play because of the rain. They are instantly revived by the arrival of the Cat with his very tall red and white hat. Lots of fun ensues, despite their pet goldfish’s insistent warnings that it will all end in tears if mother comes home to find them misbehaving. The madness becomes mayhem once Thing 1 and Thing 2 arrive, much to the delight of the children in the audience.
This show is perfect for any child who is visiting the theatre for the first time. It’s a very lively, interactive show which basically narrates the book and fills out the time in-between with some highly animated whooping and whoa’ing, bubbles falling from the ceiling, quite a lot of giant ball and balloon throwing and the hugely enthusiastic cast having a little run around the auditorium giving high 5’s to the over-excited kiddies. Some of the dads in the audience had very wisely got themselves a beer, which I would heartily recommend, if not during the show then definitely afterwards! This is without a doubt one for the kids and thankfully only 40 minutes long with no interval which means that the kids don’t have long enough to get bored and start fidgeting and dad can get back to the bar pronto for another beverage. Everyone’s a winner!
This production may not be as educational as Dr Seuss may have liked if he were still alive today, however, there is one lesson that might be learned from watching this - just be careful who you invite into your house when your parents are away. This is pretty much just one adolescent step away from one of those horrendous house party situations that you often read about in the news; you know, where the naive teenager inadvertently ends up broadcasting to everyone on Facebook that they are having a party while their parents are away - and the next thing you know, the whole house has been trashed.
Let this be a warning kiddies. Unless, of course, you have a feline friend with a big red and white striped hat who is prepared to come and clear up at the end of the night, who also just happens to own a giant red super-powered hoover car!!
However, having said that, I did enjoy reading a good bedtime story when my two were small and the one that was always a big winner in our house was - yes, you’ve guessed it - The Cat in the Hat. I think I almost knew it word for word the amount of times it got read; and then of course came the film.
Dr. Seuss was known as ‘the’ children's book writer not only in the United States, but across the world. He’s the figure who very early on was responsible for teaching children how to love to read. From 1957, when he wrote The Cat in The Hat, his books have entertained and educated children along with his many other classics such as The Grinch, The Lorax and Horton Hears a Who. So I wondered, would today’s children find this show format of this book just as entertaining and educational?
From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home?
This is a great transition from book to stage with a simple set that has a fabulous 3D feel to it which really helps to bring this fast paced show alive. Sally and her brother, Conrad, are sat indoors, gloomily looking out of the window and are really fed up with not being able to go out to play because of the rain. They are instantly revived by the arrival of the Cat with his very tall red and white hat. Lots of fun ensues, despite their pet goldfish’s insistent warnings that it will all end in tears if mother comes home to find them misbehaving. The madness becomes mayhem once Thing 1 and Thing 2 arrive, much to the delight of the children in the audience.
This show is perfect for any child who is visiting the theatre for the first time. It’s a very lively, interactive show which basically narrates the book and fills out the time in-between with some highly animated whooping and whoa’ing, bubbles falling from the ceiling, quite a lot of giant ball and balloon throwing and the hugely enthusiastic cast having a little run around the auditorium giving high 5’s to the over-excited kiddies. Some of the dads in the audience had very wisely got themselves a beer, which I would heartily recommend, if not during the show then definitely afterwards! This is without a doubt one for the kids and thankfully only 40 minutes long with no interval which means that the kids don’t have long enough to get bored and start fidgeting and dad can get back to the bar pronto for another beverage. Everyone’s a winner!
This production may not be as educational as Dr Seuss may have liked if he were still alive today, however, there is one lesson that might be learned from watching this - just be careful who you invite into your house when your parents are away. This is pretty much just one adolescent step away from one of those horrendous house party situations that you often read about in the news; you know, where the naive teenager inadvertently ends up broadcasting to everyone on Facebook that they are having a party while their parents are away - and the next thing you know, the whole house has been trashed.
Let this be a warning kiddies. Unless, of course, you have a feline friend with a big red and white striped hat who is prepared to come and clear up at the end of the night, who also just happens to own a giant red super-powered hoover car!!
WHAT THE AUDIENCE THOUGHT
Nicki, (Zeki’s mum)
“There was lots of energy and I thought it was really true to the book. A good transition. I thought it was a bit short though.”
Nicki, (Zeki’s mum)
“There was lots of energy and I thought it was really true to the book. A good transition. I thought it was a bit short though.”
Nathan, age 10 from Tilbury
“This is the first time I’ve been to this theatre. I’ve been to the Thameside Theatre before. I thought it was quite good and realistic. I’d give it 9 out of 10!”
Mia, age 7, Southend on Sea
“The best bit was when the Cat got out Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the box. I laughed when Thing 1 squirted a water gun in the audience.”
Charlie, age 6, Southend on Sea
“I liked Thing 1 and 2. I’d like them to come and play at my house. The best bits were when the cat drove the car and the big balls in the audience.”
Zeki, aged 7, Southend on Sea
“This is my first time that I’ve been to the theatre here. I’ve got the dvd of the film at home. I really liked it. I thought Thing 1 and Thing 2 were funny when they were making silly noises. I thought the stage looked really good - just like in the book. It was really funny!”