THEATER REVIEW: Dr. Dolittle

THEATER REVIEW (WSAU) When I saw 3rd-grader Emma Durkee dressed as a pig in pink tights with a curly tail, I knew this would be a tricky review to write. This is hands down the cutest cast that Wausau Community Theater has ever assembled. We have two dozen young people dressed as animals of various kinds, all so the good Dr. Dolittle can talk and interact with them. And all of the children were a delight to watch. I hope Savannah Johnson, Katie Huryk and Aliya Surti grow from pink sea snails, seals that look like old ladies, and bright yellow ducks into orphans in time for next fall’s production of Annie.

John Huryk is a very good Dr. Dolittle. He fits in mannerisms and voice. Realizing that he gets to sing to his daughter on-stage was a genuinely touching moment. Emily Cattanach took flight as Polynesia the Parrot, confident in her part and her lines.

I wish I could tell you I was enchanted by Wausau Community Theater’s Dr. Dolittle. I wish cuteness and two outstanding individual performances could have carried that night. They don’t. Dr. Dolittle has a long, dawdling book and too many songs that simply aren’t memorable. This is a musical that’s caught in an unfortunate in-between-land. It’s beyond the attention span of younger audiences; it’s not whimsical enough to capture the older crowd. I wish that a young, hard-working, enthusiastic cast had better material to work with.

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Wausau Community Theater announced its 2012-2013 season: Annie in September, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas in November, Jesus Christ Superstar in March, and Hair next June. This is a strong line-up. Here’s to hoping for quality casts and good box office.

Chris Conley
Operations Manager, Midwest Communications-Wausau
3.17.2012

There are two remaining performances of Dr. Dolittle at the Grand Theater in Wausau, Saturday evening at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2:30.

An achieve of WSAU Theater Reviews:

A CHHRISTMAS CAROL – 2011 (Dec 18, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/dec/18/theater-review-christmas-carol-2011/

MAN OF LAMANCHA (Nov 6, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/nov/06/theater-review-man-la-mancha/

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (Oct 23, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/oct/23/theater-review-dirty-rotten-scoundrels/

OKLAHOMA (Sept 8, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/sep/08/theater-preview-oklahoma/

EVITA (Aug 8, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/aug/04/theater-preview-evita/

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (Jul 23, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/jul/23/theater-review-philadelphia-story/

SMOKEY JOES CAFE (Jun 23, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/jun/23/thaeter-preview-smokey-joes-cafe/

KISS ME, KATE (Apr 16, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/apr/16/opinion-kiss-me-kate/

HELLO DOLLY! (Mar 11, 2011)
http://wsau.com/blogs/post/cconley/2011/mar/11/theater-review-hello-dolly/