Bosco Drama Group from Northern Ireland got the competitive side of the Waterford International Music Festival incorporating the 50th year of the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera off to a bright lively start with Seussical the Musical.

Bosco appear to be a youth company with adults drafted in to do bigger shows and the blend was successful, as they introduced a Waterford family audience to the imaginative Dr Seuss characters such as Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, the inhabitants of Whoville, The Grinch, Sour Kangaroo, Mayzie, Gertrude McFuzz and Jojo, the little boy all alone in the universe where a person’s a person no matter how small.

The apple-pie kernel of the show was well maintained by sharp direction from Corinna Cunningham and Jim McGuigan. Choreography was the shared work of Ann Marie Morgan and Naoimh Morgan (who also impressed as Vlad). The dance in the dark routines in UV light were a highpoint of the big show numbers.

This company created the quirky landscapes of the story and a quality pit with at least two keyboards created a fine musical buzz even if there were a few sound glitches. Stage management was slick and seamless and well done to Rory Fegan. Mairéad Quigley was a sympathetic Gertie McFuzz and Maeve Bell rang the high notes as amazing Mayzie. Aoife Cumiskey was a lively expressive Sour Kangaroo and the three Wickershams excelled and were Killian Foy, Colin McCalmont and Paddy McGennitty.