Butter Side Up Theatre Company’s Seussical The Musical – 5 June 2026, University Drama Studio
Review by Claire Taranaski.
To celebrate their 10th anniversary Butter Side Up Theatre Company have chosen the musical inspired by the Dr Seuss books that in turned inspired the name of their company (it’s almost like a decade ago they planned it). I chose this as an opportunity to take my six year old daughter to her first full blown musical and going by the amount of children’s shows and pantos she has experienced, Butter Side Up will be thrilled to know she declared Seussical as the best show she has ever seen. I understand why, as the production was thoroughly delightful, quirky and fun throughout and felt like a high quality off-Broadway musical had been transported to Sheffield.
The musical focuses on four iconic Dr Seuss characters and their stories, merging them seamlessly and reminding the audience of their important life lessons, from being yourself to caring about those around you and having the courage to fight for your beliefs. Laura Edwards as The Cat In The Hat, made the character her own and was a superb cabaret style narrator with attitude, charisma, confidence and chemistry, combining all of these at their very best in “Havin’ A Hunch”. Laura’s version of the character put it up their withHadestown Hermes’ as one of my all time favourite musical narrators. On the subject of cabaret style performances, I must give a special mention to Amy Longbottom as Myzie LaBird as based on her and Laura’s performances, Amy’s glamourous performance of “Amazing Horton” sealing the deal, these two could set up their own cabaret night and blow the rest of the city’s cabaret scene away.
I have compared the show to an off-Broadway musical and Callam Fellows as Horton, Abby Lever as JoJo and Lilli Connelly as Gertrude McFuzz performances felt like they would not be out of place in the Big Apple, all with wonderful stage presence, chemistry and incredible acting and vocal talent. Whilst Abby captured JoJo’s childlike enthusiasm for life and Lilli’s performance was my daughter’s favourite, Callum truly felt the star of the show and made me believe in Horton and his belief that “a person’s a person, no matter how small”. We all need a Horton, JoJo and Gertrude in our lives and to be a Horton, JoJo and Gertrude for other people. Between the three of them their vocal performances of “Alone In The Universe” and “The One Feather Tail Of Gertrude McFuzz” would not feel out of place on an official soundtrack recording of the show.
In a show that all the cast and ensemble looked like they were enjoying every second of being part of, other cast members who deserve a special mention include Tara Kulbatski as Sour Kangaroo, whose powerful soulful voice and attitude I wish the musical made more use of and even without her “Thinks” made me want immediately made Aretha Franklin comparisons; Harvey Higgins as General Schmitz who captured the Scottish general and military attitude perfectly and somehow made Gilbert and Sullivan style operatic meet military matching chant work in “The Military”. And as someone who loves a great trio of female backing singers in a musical (think “Little Shop Of Horrors” or “Hadestown”) Becky Cleary-Holland, El Madeira and Georgia Deith as the Bird Girls were firmly up there.
Co-founder of the company, alongside Becky, Michael Hudson directed and choreographed the musical, getting the best out of a large cast and relatively small stage, with crisp fun choreography and clever staging arrangements, including having the microscopic citizens of Who Ville at the back of stage during ensemble pieces to create perspective. Combined with the clever musical arrangements of musical director Jack Wheatley (away from the numbers mentioned above at it’s delightful best with complex, multilayed, multi-cast musical numbers from the musical opener “Oh, The Things You Can Think?” which let us know exactly the type of show and the high quality we were in for via the moving “It’s Possible” and the court room “The People Versus Horton The Elephant”, which may have beaten Legally Blonde The Musical for the most satisfying musical courtroom scene). Between them they created a musical that Dr Seuss would be proud of. Behind the scenes, I must also praise Rhi Idris for the wonderfully fun costumes that complimented the characters and the world we were transported to, from the moment the show starts with just the cat’s iconic hat centre stage to Mrs Mayor’s fabulous ensemble.
Whether you are a Butter Side Up fan, grew up reading the Dr Seuss books or have introduced your children to them, this is a production not to be missed by all ages who want to spend a couple of hours delightfully transported into their world. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a decade of Butter Side Up and look forward to the next 10 years.
