Seussical: Ranking the Cats of Broadway
Today is a day that is special to me. The sort of a day that makes my heart feel free! For twas 65 years ago, down to the day, when the Cat in the Hat first decided to play.
And I’m not going to rhyme anymore…I hope that’s okay. Har Har. ANYWAY…as anyone who knows me knows well, the stories and characters of Dr. Seuss mean a lot to me. I will never, truly never, understand a lot of the controversy that seems to arise over his stories in recent years, so I’m not going to address that, and I ask that no one else bring it up either: I want this to be a celebration, not a debate. DOUBLE-ANYWAY…the Cat in the Hat is my favorite of his characters (alongside the Grinch, who are each the most iconic figures of his works), and for me, the definitive depiction of the Cat outside of the books comes from my all-time favorite musical, Seussical. (That show will be having its 22nd Anniversary in November.) For over a decade now, I’ve loved this show, and the Cat in the Hat is one of my dream roles. So, to celebrate the occasion, I decided I should talk about my favorite portrayals of the character in the play! There’s just one problem: as I’ve likely stated before, Seussical is such a big deal that narrowing down my list is EXTREMELY difficult. It’s one of the most performed musicals ever made, with casts that range from Elementary School students to more experienced adults, and budgets that range from next-to-nil to somewhere in the MILLIONS. So, for the sake of my sanity, I decided to stick to one key version: the Original Broadway Production. Three people played the Cat in the Hat during the run of the show on Broadway. This original version of Seussical was not perfect, and some things in the show since then have actually changed a bit, but I still consider it the gold standard by which all Seussicals should be judged. And, to be perfectly honest, the three aforementioned actors would all be among my favorites, anyway, so there’s no reason not to discuss them. So, sit back with a dish of Green Eggs and Ham (you better like it), grab some Moose Juice (or Goose Juice) to drink, and join me in this adventure of Ranking the Cats from Broadway’s Seussical!
3. Rosie O’Donnell.
A lot of people dislike Rosie’s Cat in the Hat nowadays, but I personally don’t. The fact she ranks the lowest of the three by no means indicates she was a bad performer. Rosie was a game changer for the show: the Broadway version, when it first debuted, wasn’t doing too well with critics and audience participation was a roller coaster ride. As it turns out, O’Donnell absolutely LOVED the show, and made a deal with the producers that, for a limited time, she would take part in the play to see if her star power could help boost sales and reactions. I’m not sure what critics felt, but it definitely helped the show’s financial position. Even though Rosie was completely and totally cast for her big name appeal (when she asks “Did you ever imagine you’d see me onstage?” it’s a very un-subtle wink to the audience), she gave the show and the part her all. It’s a highlight for her sense of comedy and panache, and even gave her a few moments where she could show a level of softness and care you don’t see in much of her work. The only reason she takes the bottom spot is because…well…it’s ROSIE O’DONNELL, and she’s kind of half-playing the Cat, and half-playing herself, if that makes sense, which makes it harder to totally buy the character. It’s the difference between watching, say, Tim Curry in “Criminal Minds” versus Tim Curry in “Freakazoid!” He’s great in both, but I would argue the latter is a case of enjoying the part BECAUSE it’s Tim Curry, whereas the other is legitimately enjoying the part and the work the actor does in it. Rosie as the Cat is the same thing: it’s Rosie at her best, but you see more of Rosie than the Dr. Seuss character, I’d say.
2. Cathy Rigby.
Cathy Rigby has essentially made a career for herself in theatre playing Peter Pan…and virtually nothing else. Actually, I suppose that’s a slight lie: she has done SOME other shows and characters besides the Boy Who Never Grows Up, and probably the most well-known of those other parts is her performance as the Cat in the Hat. Rigby was the last of the Broadway Cats; she was not as popular as Rosie O’Donnell, but she did seem to be the version most critics preferred most. Her limber framework, spry and gymnastic physicality, and exuberant energy made her probably the most musically experienced take on the character of the three. She’s actually reprised the character since the Broadway version closed in years since. Rigby is and always was magnificent, bringing the same mischievous spark to the role as Peter, but there’s a freewheeling sort of nature to her Cat that makes the part stand unique from Pan and other roles Rigby has tackled. There’s also a sweetness to her Cat that the other two lacked; a chaotic wild child, but a good sort deep down.
1. David Shiner.
Shiner was the first Cat in the Hat, and I will never understand why critics at the time seemed to so cruelly and utterly bash his performance. Shiner, himself, was always proud of his work in the role, and I feel he had every right to be! For me, this is one of the more definitive portrayals of the Cat in the Hat, in general: Shiner didn’t have the strongest singing chops or choreography skills, but what he lacked in grace and technique he made up for in personality, stage presence, and other skills. Shiner was a renowned stage clown and mime, and he used those abilities to the full with the Cat. His lightly-lisping, spritely, ever-eager voice - one of the precious few speaking stage parts he ever put forth - brings Seuss to life with a sense of excitement that’s truly magnificent. And, while Shiner neither was nor is a total no one, he’s far less of a household name than Rigby or O’Donnell, and I would argue that allows one to sink into his performance just as deeply as he sank into it with greater ease. You don’t see an actor with him, you see the Cat in the Hat. Perhaps unappreciated in his own time, he’s still, to me, the best take on the Cat we got from Broadway. The ladies who followed him were fantastic in their own regard, but I personally will always call David Shiner My Favorite Cat in the Hat On Broadway.
