Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

What the critics had to say.....

CHARLES ISHERWOOD of the NEW YORK TIMES says �The lively whole seemed to please the legions of critics in the audience who really matter here, the 10-and-unders, who hardly stirred in their seats during those 90 minutes. That can confidently be taken as a sign of satisfaction, or at least contented distraction."

JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ of the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS says "Eat your heart out, Ebenezer. There's a new holiday humbugger in town. He's a mean, green, Who-hating machine." & "The musical expands the story a bit and manages to maintain much of its humor and pathos. At about 70 minutes, it's also kid-friendly." & "The show's most high-flying effect creates the Grinch's late-night sleigh ride with reluctant "reindeer" Max. Such a fun, theatrical moment makes the show a real Whoot."

CLIVE BARNES of THE NEW YORK POST says "Mel Marvin's characterless music sounds bland enough to give modesty a bad name. Still, the show's intermissionless 80 minutes should prove easy on a child's attention span, and harmless, with a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason that are only a little worse than that seductively magical Seuss doggerel verse."

MICHAEL SOMMERS of Star-Ledger says "Brightly packages a familiar tale with gleeful songs and a joyful staging." & "It's a good-hearted story, really, and writer Timothy Mason's neat text doesn't over-cook this tasty holiday dish with needless extras or too much gush." An enjoyable holiday visit with an old friend of many families."

LINDA WINER of NEWSDAY says "Before enduring the Broadway version of the little story, one assumed that some pretty spiffy additions would've had to be dreamed up to blow this slim volume into an 80-minute musical spectacular. One assumed wrong." & "'Grinch's' constant repetitions of simpleton songs might work for a patient 3-year-old or a really sad 83-year-old, but those of us in the big-tent middle should find distraction elsewhere."

ROBERT FELDBERG of THE RECORD "One more effort to transfer Dr. Seuss' famous tale � a whimsical borrowing of the theme of "A Christmas Carol" � to another medium. Your appreciation of the attempt is likely to be in direct correlation to your age. While the brief evening might be just the ticket for the finger-painting crowd � albeit a ticket at Broadway prices -- older children and adults will be reminded how small the story is and the general peril of adaptation." & "Ultimately, though, something's missing, and that's the distinctive author's voice � and illustrator's hand -- of Dr. Seuss. What made "Grinch" special was not the story but the way the story was told � in jaunty, lilting Seuss rhymes that practically demanded to be read aloud. That pleasure can only be suggested by the stage show."

MICHAEL KUCHWARA of ASSOCIATED PRESS says "The production is brief, less than 90 minutes, and appetizing to look at since set designer John Lee Beatty's wonderful Who-ville houses resemble gigantic ice-cream sundaes. But because of some ho-hum new songs, it's also a bit bland except when the Grinch, a deliciously dyspeptic fellow with green fur, is front and center."

DAVID ROONEY of VARIETY says "Buoyed by gorgeous design and a saucy star turn from Patrick Page, "The Grinch" likely will satisfy family crowds in search of holiday spectacle. Those seeking a memorable book and songs will be disappointed, however. The strongest material comes from Seuss, who uses his famously clever rhyming couplets to explain how a furry meanie tries to ruin Christmas for a group of elfin villagers called the Whos."

External links to full reviews from newspapers

New York Times
New York Daily News
New York Post
Star-Ledger
NewsDay
The Record
Associated Press
Variety