There’s a lot to like about the world-premiere production of Go Dog Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve! at Chicago Children’s Theatre, but the incredible costumes by Jazmin Aurora Medina and the scenic design by Michael Sommers, rendered in a riotous array of primary colors, make the most lasting impression.
Adapted from the P.D. Eastman picture book by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz, with music composed by Michael Koerner, the show makes a tasty meal out of the brief, surreal story (though it could stand to lose about 10 minutes judging by some of the restless tykes at the opening).
Infused with buoyant accordion music courtesy of a roaming dog musician (the beautifully emotive Rob Witmer, soon to be replaced by Nathan Hunter), the story of Blue Dog (Maria Clara Ospina), Green Dog (Jalbelly Guzmán), Red Dog (Tony Carter), Yellow Dog (Shawn Pfautsch), MC Dog (Jean Claudio) and Hattie (also a dog, played with stylish aplomb by Melanie Brezill) is essentially a series of blackouts with a loose destination of a crazy treetop party at the climax.
As a bonus, the show is bilingual, incorporating Spanish-language dialogue seamlessly throughout the production.
Claudio, as the ubiquitous MC Dog, is every bit as delightful here as he was as the lead bear in Corduroy at Chicago Shakes last summer. Everyone brings big, fun energy to the proceedings and leaves most every tail wagging.
Our only quibble was that the creators missed an opportunity for a parody of the Cubs victory song “Go, Cubs, Go.” The lyrics write themselves: Go dog, go! Go dog, go! Hey there doggo, what do you say? The dogs are going to go today!” Ok, we won’t quit our day jobs, but it would have been good for a chuckle.
Go Dog Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve! runs through May 18 at Chicago Children’s Theatre.
For a full roundup of reviews of this show, visit Theatre in Chicago.
Photo by Joe Mazza
