“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

When: Through Dec. 27; showtimes, 7 p.m. Tuesday-Fridays, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Saturdays, plus 5 p.m. Dec. 12 & 19

Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park

Tickets: $20-$79

Info: (619) 23-GLOBE

Web: www.TheOldGlobe.org

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

By Patricia Morris Buckley

You have to hand it to the Old Globe Theatre. As every holiday season the theater scene is flooded with endless productions of “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker,” the Globe created its own holiday show by adapting the popular children’s book and animated TV special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to the stage.

Every year, the show varies some and sometimes that variance is good, sometimes not. But that doesn’t change the fact that in its 12th year, “The Grinch” has become a treasured holiday tradition for many San Diego families.

Not to be a Scrooge about it, but the current production can’t be said to be any better than the half-hour animated version. By stretching out the action past 60 minutes (there’s no intermission), there’s a lot of filler between the familiar scenes of the Grinch and his dog Max planning to steal Christmas from the ever-cheerful Whos. Like “A Christmas Carol,” it is a story of redemption and the lifting of oppressive isolation.

The show falters in a few places, most notably in the score by Timothy Mason and Mel Marvin. Songs such as “Who Likes Christmas?,” “I Hate Christmas” and “One of a Kind” are fairly forgettable. The song about commercialism, “It’s the Thought That Counts,” seems out of place with the Whos we have grown to love over generations of TV-watching. The only songs that really resonate are “Welcome Christmas (Fah Who Doraze)” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (in the latter, the audience gets to sing along), which are from the animated version.

But much of the production does work. The live factor can’t be emphasized enough — everyone enjoys seeing the Grinch close up and possibly interacting with him. The framing of Max as an old dog reminiscing of that fateful Christmas, his first with the Grinch, is delightful. And the sweet relationship between Cindy-Lou Who and the Grinch can’t fail to bring a few tears to the grown up eyes while the humor of the Grinch himself will tickle younger funny bones.

The real standout in this production is only 5 years old. Shea Starrs Siben (alternating with Anna Bahen) is simply wonderful as Cindy-Lou Who. She sings with the voice of someone four times her age and gives the character the right balance between pathos and humor (her older sister Skylar once also played the role).

In his first turn as the Grinch, Broadway veteran Jeff Skowron leans a little further toward the comic side of the character, but remembers to give him a slight edge. His Grinch doesn’t scare, but doesn’t appear tame either.

Martin Van Treuren’s Old Max is a comfortable old chair of a character, while Logan Lipton’s Young Max is a puppy full of vigor and innocence. Both are excellent in the roles. In fact, the quality of the entire ensemble is impressive, especially members of Cindy-Lou’s family.

John Lee Beatty’s set brings the Dr. Seuss book (not the animated show) to life, down to the pillow-like candy canes. Robert Morgan’s costumes make the characters appear anything but human – yes, that’s a compliment.

While “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” isn’t perfect, it’s something different and enjoyable for the whole family. And that’s what makes it a perfect holiday tradition.