Chicago Parent April 23, 2007
Go, Dog. Go! Review
A+ (Kids)
A+ (Parents)
In a delightful display of imagination and creativity, the Chicago Children's Theatre has re-created the children's classic, Go, Dog. Go! by Dr. Seuss' protÉgÉ P.D. Eastman, as a full-scale 90-minute production. On a spare stage with costumes that are part couture, part kitchen cabinet, the show is like Cirque de Soleil with an all-dog cast. It is an inspired approach to this classic tale of a dog's life, with every page faithfully reproduced as a rousing song or dance number.
Held in a heated circus tent in the middle of Grant Park, the show lacks for creature comforts – particularly with its simple wooden benches – but the setting adds to the fun and chaos of the show by bringing the audience up close and personal with its actors. The cast includes a rainbow of dogs outfitted in brightly painted knee pads, mismatched footwear and helmets with wool socks and spatulas for dog ears. At the center of the cast is Hattie, a playful pink poodle with curlers in her hair and ping pong balls adorning her multi-layered pink tutu.
Throughout the show, the cast pops in and out of a few cleverly designed houses and loft-like tree tops, reappearing with skateboards, cardboard race cars and other props to the delight of the audience.
My 6-year-old daughter belly-laughed through the entire production and was thrilled when the cast launched a game of beach ball baseball, launching balls into the audience and begging us to throw them back. In the small setting, every child who wanted to participate got the chance and the cast members were quick to respond to all the tiny outstretched arms aching for the chance to throw a ball on stage.
We also loved the Stomp-style number when the dogs sent lunch boxes and dog bowls whizzing across the stage while banging on buckets and wooden sticks. And Hattie's periodic appearances in a succession of crazy headwear kept the audience laughing as she flirtatiously asked the lead character, M.C. Dog, “Do you like my hat?” Probably the most talented of the cast is the charmingly baffled M.C. Dog, portrayed by Adrian Danzig. Danzig plays his role as father dog and lead clown to the hilt with a dazzling display of slapstick moves that include a hilarious chair wrestling match at the opening of the show and an acrobatic finale that includes backward summersaults on a dangling ladder that eventually leads all the dogs to the tree top dog party.Overall, it was a pleasure to watch this magical production, which relies on simple but clever costumes and props and an enthusiastic group of entertainers. I'm certain it would make Eastman and Dr. Seuss proud.
Sarah Fister Gale