The bird girls are some of the most beloved characters in the popular musical Seussical. Based on the stories of Dr. Seuss, Seussical tells the tale of Horton the Elephant and his adventures protecting a speck of dust containing the tiny Whos. The bird girls serve as a Greek chorus, narrating parts of the story through song and dance. In this article, we’ll explore who the bird girls are, their role in Seussical, and some of their iconic musical numbers from the show.
Who Are the Bird Girls?
The bird girls are a trio of performers who narrate parts of the story in Seussical. They wear brightly-colored, bird-like costumes and represent different bird species found in the world of Dr. Seuss. The three main bird girls are:
- Mayzie La Bird – A lazy, vain bird who only thinks of herself.
- Gertrude McFuzz – A shy little bird with a tiny tail feather who is self-conscious.
- Sour Kangaroo – A bossy bird who likes to be in charge.
Together, these three bird girls provide narration, comic relief, and captivating dance numbers throughout the show. They help progress the story and provide commentary on the action through song.
The Bird Girls’ Role in Seussical
As a Greek chorus, the bird girls serve several important functions in Seussical:
- Narrate the story – They introduce characters, provide background information, and summarize plot points through song.
- Transition between scenes – Their musical numbers help transition between different scenes and plot lines.
- Comment on the action – They provide a third-person perspective and comedic commentary on what is happening.
- Add spectacle – Their dance breaks and colorful costumes liven up the show.
Without the bird girls, the plot of Seussical would not flow nearly as smoothly. Their numbers provide coherence between the different scenes with Horton the Elephant, the Whos, the Wickersham Brothers, and other characters.
Notable Musical Numbers
Some of the bird girls’ most iconic and entertaining musical numbers in Seussical include:
The Opening Number
“Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!” introduces the bird girls and begins setting up the zany, imaginative world of Dr. Seuss. Their tight harmonies and vocal skill help set the tone.
“Notice Me, Horton”
This comical song allows Gertrude McFuzz to express her shyness and desire for Horton to notice her. The bird girls provide excellent backup vocals.
“Amayzing Mayzie”
One of the showstoppers of the show, this number features Mayzie La Bird singing about her glamorous, indulgent lifestyle. The energetic dance breaks exhibit the actresses’ talent.
“The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz”
Gertrude sings about her desire to improve her tiny tail in this funny solo. The bird girls offer encouragement through the creative use of props.
“All For You”
This ballad allows the bird girls to show off their singing ability as they narrate the romantic subplot between Horton and Gertrude.
Finale
The bird girls lead the rest of the cast in wrapping up the story and summarizing the morals learned. Their vocal inflections are on display here.
Bird Girls Throughout Productions
Since Seussical first premiered on Broadway in 2000, the bird girl roles have been played by many talented actresses across productions worldwide. Here is a look at some notable bird girls over the years:
Broadway Premiere
- Janine LaManna as Mayzie La Bird
- Jennifer Cody as Gertrude McFuzz
- Sharron Matthews as Sour Kangaroo
This original cast helped define the bird girl characters and their musical numbers. Their comedic skills and vocal talents brought Dr. Seuss’ world to life on the Broadway stage.
National Tours
As Seussical launched national tours across the United States, Canada, and beyond, many actresses portrayed the bird girls in various productions:
- Cathy Newman as Mayzie La Bird
- Laura Marie Duncan as Gertrude McFuzz
- Nicolette Hart as Sour Kangaroo
These talented women got to share Seussical with audiences far from Broadway. Their high-energy performances captivated families across North America.
Recent Productions
Even decades later, Seussical continues to be performed by enthusiastic theatre troupes. Some recent acclaimed bird girls include:
- Sophie Lane as Mayzie La Bird
- Clara Darling as Gertrude McFuzz
- Lily Cooper as Sour Kangaroo
These young actresses bring fresh takes to the classic bird girl characters, proving the enduring appeal of the show.
Costumes and Characterization
A huge part of portraying the bird girls is developing their colorful costumes and animal characterizations. Here is an overview of key costuming and acting choices:
Costumes
- Bright, bold colors like purple, green, orange
- Whimsical headpieces with feathers and decorations inspired by each bird species
- Long gloves, feather boas, and tutus evoking wings and plumage
- Thick stage makeup for an exaggerated, cartoonish look
- Glamorous rhinestones and sequins for Mayzie’s sparkling tail feathers
- Creative props during musical numbers like noisemakers and signs
Characterization
- Mayzie: Struts arrogantly, gestures dramatically, sings powerfully
- Gertrude: Hunches timidly, flaps short arms during “Notice Me, Horton,” sings sweetly
- Sour Kangaroo: Assertive posture and expressions, points and gestures authoritatively, bold singing
Developing these sorts of stylized movements and voices allows the actresses to fully transform into the bird girls. The costumes complete the illusion.
Challenges of the Roles
While playing a bird girl in Seussical looks fun, it also comes with unique performance challenges including:
Stamina for Dance Numbers
Nearly all of the bird girls’ songs involve demanding dance breaks—from the opening number to “Amayzing Mayzie.” Performers need energy reserves to make it through many active songs.
Comic Timing
The bird girls’ commentary provides much of the show’s comedy. Actresses must have excellent comic timing and delivery to maximize laughs.
Powerful Vocals
With numerous solos and group harmonies, strong vocal skills are a necessity. Belting is required, especially for Mayzie.
Exaggerated Characterization
Subtle, natural acting is not an option. Over-the-top facial expressions, voices, and physicality are needed.
Quick Changes
Several bird girl numbers occur in quick succession, requiring speedy costume and makeup changes.
It’s no easy feat to play a Seussical bird girl. The role demands talented quadruple-threat performers—skilled in acting, singing, dancing, and comedic timing. But for actresses able to master these challenges, it is an incredibly fun and rewarding role.
Conclusion
As this exploration shows, the bird girl characters are key to the enjoyment and success of Seussical the Musical. Their narration, show-stopping dance breaks, and humorous numbers captivate audiences of all ages. While the roles require versatility and stamina from the actresses, the fun of embodying the playful bird personalities makes it all worthwhile. For two decades, talented performers have brought Mayzie, Gertrude, and Sour Kangaroo to life and helped introduce generations of fans to the world of Dr. Seuss through Seussical. Here’s to many more tours and productions featuring spectacular bird girls yet to come!