Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.  

Oh, the songs you will hear.

Oh, the characters you will meet.

Horton the Elephant says, “I meant what I said; and I said what I meant; an Elephant’s faithful 100 percent.”

The Peak to Peak Players also meant what they said when they promised they come up with the musical, Seussical, Jr. after only two weeks of rehearsal. The work culminated in a one-hour production, which was performed on Saturday, July 28, at 2 p.m.

Whole generations of kids have grown up with those mischievous critters The Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, Horton and the entire country of Who. To see these beloved characters dancing and singing on stage brought joy to the hearts of the audience. The show consisted of excerpts and quips from the Seuss collection, all tied together with whimsical songs and dances to boot.

Horton, played by Katiana Grey Barager-Stapleton, the kind, shy large elephant, hears a voice coming from a speck of dust on a clover flower and decides to protect it and the Whos, the people who live on it.

Jojo, played by Juliet Shaak Ragan, is a misfit Who who “doesn’t Think normal Thinks,” and struggles to find his place in the tiny Who society. Gertrude McFuzz, played by Killian O’Brien, tries to catch the attention of her love, the kind and compassionate Horton.

Through mishaps and adventures, these lovable characters finally find what they seek: their places in their world.

The curtain opened on the red and white hat, placed on the stage under a spotlight. It was this simple prop that set the mood for the show.

Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, and at the same time, protect an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird, played by Annie Wolfe. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, played by Killian O’Brien never loses faith in him.

Eventually, the two fall in love. This is a show about friendship, loyalty and love. Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool. Seussical teaches us the power of being unique, and the importance of fighting for your beliefs.

(Originally published in the August 2, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)