"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Packs 'Em In

This is the story of a little child who leads them. When Cindy Lou (the adorable Leila Manuel) of Who-ville innocently treats the evil Grinch like the decent person he basically is, his shrunken heart starts to g-r-o-w. And with it his remorse and affection for the non judgmental denizens of Who-ville.

Who-villeans are amusingly upholstered, sing like angels and even appear as tiny puppets on the hill in starlight—leading us to applaud the Globe’s technical team, to wit: the Who-chestra led by music director Elan McMahan; John Lee Beatty, scenic design; Robert Morgan, costumes; Pat Collins, lighting; Paul Peterson, sound; Jess Slocum, stage manager; Bob Richard, additional choreography for John DeLuca’s original dances; Joshua Rosenblum, vocal arrangements and artful incidental music; Sarah Daoust, editor of the wonderful program; James Vasquez, director of this Christmas confection; and Jack O’Brien, Globe patron saint, who delivered the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas 24 years ago.

All those years ago, kids sobbed in fright as the hairy green Grinch strode the stage and screen. Now, moppets are convulsed in giggles, while their parents applaud vigorously. A packed house clearly adored the tightly-constructed show running an hour and 20 minutes. Vasquez uses the entire theatre with Who folk in the aisles, fake snow falling, and a pair of fetching "dogs" (John Treacy Egan and Tommy Martinez) keeping us on message and on track.

Strive though he does to thwart Christmas and maintain his rugged individuality, the Grinch (the virtuoso Andrew Polec) is persuaded bit by funny bit to admit he blew it. Along the way, Who-villeans remind us that gifts are not the message of Christmas, “It’s the Thought That Counts,” they warble.

Dismayed though they are when the Grinch swipes their food, gifts, even, gasp, the tree with the star on top, they press on and celebrate with their children the true meaning of the Christian, but universal, season.

We thank the Globe for ignoring political correctness and all-against-all warfare and choosing, instead, to mount a happy production that emphasizes multiculturalism and the brotherhood of man. Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) would be proud of you. The show runs through Dec. 31--get your tickets now. Merry Christmas!