Oh, The Places You'll Go! and The Lorax

This production combines two of Seuss's most famous fables. OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO, once offered as a graduation speech, tracks life's transitions. John Lithgow follows the rhythms and rhymes that express the ups and downs of life. His performance has an air of authority that is comforting. He shifts tone to fit the shifting moods--offering jocularity when life seems devastating, compassion in the face of losses and confusion. Mark Levinson's score spurs listeners on to success. THE LORAX is an allegory of the Earth's ruin, told through wacky Seuss characters. The musical accompaniment goes from magically bright to dark and frightening. Ted Danson begins slowly, pausing to take in a glorious world of bounty. Pacing and volume increase as the ancient, wise Lorax recounts a story of destruction and the hope for undoing the ruin. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine