'Grinch' entertains IU Auditorium audience with holiday spirit

The doors of the IU Auditorium opened up to an eager crowd Nov. 15. 

Audience members of all ages overflowed the Christmas tree-filled lobby in anticipation for the return of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical.” 

Allan Headly, an audience member, sat in the second row with his wife.  

“It’s one of my favorite stories,” he said. “I grew up with it.”

After the house doors opened at 6:30 p.m., the crowd streamed into seating, guided by the auditorium’s ushers.

While initially quiet, the room gradually filled with the buzz of an incoming audience. 

When the lights dimmed, signaling the beginning of the show, the audience became silent as they awaited the rise of the cartoon-decorated red curtain.

The show started with Old Max, an older version of the Grinch’s puppy, and the character continued to comment on the plot throughout the length of the musical.

Everything on the stage, including the actors, was colored with black, white or red.

Seth Bazacas, the actor who plays Young Max, said he thinks Seuss would approve of the show.

“It is close to what we hope Dr. Seuss himself would want when he wrote that book, if it were to come to life on as a musical on stage,” Bazacas said in a previous interview.

This color scheme depicted the imagery of the illustrations in Dr. Seuss’ story of the Grinch. The only time a different color than black, white or red was used was during the entrance of a vibrant green Grinch soon after the start of the show.

The costumes donned by the actors on stage were whimsical, as was the fairy tale-like stage, but no costume was more extravagant than the ones worn by the Grinch and Max. 

Stefen Karl, who plays the Grinch, said he reacted strongly when he found out he had to wear such an extreme costume.

“I got scared, really scared, because it’s really hot,” he said.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” re-tells the heart-warming classic of how an initially isolated antagonist slowly grows to love the holiday season.

During the length of the show, the Grinch is progressively adopted into his cheerful community.

Cheers erupted in the audience when the Grinch came out wearing a crimson Hoosiers foam finger.

Watching the show so close to Thanksgiving break was a reminder of the upcoming holiday season, Headly said.

“It’s a good start for the holiday season,” he said.