When a nice youngster plays a meanie

By Amber Bartlett

Amber Bart;ett as Mayzie La Bird
Amber Bartlett as Mayzie La Bird

LA JOLLA, California –Aside from making me realize just “how lucky I am” and that “Anything’s Possible”, J*Company Youth Theater, and Seussical in particular, have shown me that at this point in my life, I’ve jumped off my clover and my “who” has finally been heard.

I started off at J*company as a 10 year old, a small who whose voice had not yet developed. I was mentored by all the “big kids.” My first day at J*company, Joey Landwehr, my inspirational artistic director, paired me up with what he called “a big buddy.” My big buddy held my hand all through my first show experience. It is hard for me to grasp that six years later, I am now the “big kid” and the “big buddy.”

Now, as a “big kid”, I am so honored to be cast as Mayzie La Bird in Seussical. This character is a blast to play, but finding my inner Mayzie was harder than Horton searching for the “whos” on clover number 9,999.  The most difficult part about finding the Mayzie in me was the realization that I am not a Mayzie. Mayzie is a self-conceited, manipulative sociopath who uses her feminine wiles to get her way. She is flighty, flying off from one place to the next, trying desperately to find where she belongs. All she wants is to be loved and admired, yet she is unable to give love. I had a difficult time identifying with this character because one of my best qualities is giving love so that in return, I can receive love.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the frivolity of the rhymes of Dr. Seuss and the silly storyline of one of his most famous works. However, teenagers and parents will be able to take note of the deeper messages woven into the seemingly child-like story.

Horton, the elephant and main character, finds himself fighting against mockery, humiliation, and physical abuse in order to save what he recognizes as a voice of real community. In a vow to himself and the audience, he states, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.” Gertrude, the female protagonist, admires Horton for his compassion and ability to give love. She continuously vies for his attention.

JoJo, the boy to whom many young children can relate, feels alone – only relying on his imagination. Horton also feels like he has nothing to live for, until they meet. They become best friends and are able to interact in the utopian realm, called “Solla Sollew”. In Solla Sollew “troubles there are few.” Solla Sollew can be described as symbolism for humanity’s achievement of euphoria.

There are many more hidden, mature messages in Seussical. I’m looking forward to seeing all of your faces in the audience contemplating these deeper meanings. I think Seussical is truly a thought provoking and spiritual journey. Well, what do you think?

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J*Company ‘big kid’ Bartlett is a 10th grader at San Diego Jewish Academy and a cast member in Seussical. For more information about the production, please click here.