HOLLAND, Mich.–The six dogs in Go, Dog. Go! at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre work hard, play hard, rest a little, sing just about every 20th century style of music there is, dance–from tap to ballroom to jazz to ballet–and speak very few words. In other words, it’s a one-hour, colorful, musical, physical comedy that’ll capture the imagination and attention of a toddler.

Based on the 1961 P.D. Eastman children’s book that introduces beginning readers to concepts such as colors and shapes and their relative positions, the 2003 musical adaptation by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory is like a pop-up book vividly come to life.

Director Desha Crownover has a gift for wildly playful and sensually delightful children’s theatre. She makes magic with very little and has brought together a tremendous cast and crew here.

Every actor in this six-person ensemble brings energy and good humor in spades. They play well off each other and the audience of children who are intermittently invited to verbally interact with the dogs. And one of the great pleasures of this show is watching how the actors and Music Director Alex Thompson respond to one another. Thompson, though tucked away behind an upright piano stage right amid audience members, plays a character all his own, reacting to the dogs’ shenanigans and creating all kinds of percussive sounds as well as every variety of song with his piano—from silent movie score to blues to jazz to the Mario Bros. Nintendo game theme song.

Likewise, the actors shift gears effortlessly, scatting, crooning, be-bopping, do-wopping, as well as barking, snoring, growling, bow-wowing, whining, and mewling among other hilarious sound effects. The purple dog narrator may provide the majority of what little dialogue there is (Work, Dog. Work!), but that doesn’t mean the show isn’t a cacophony of sound, both silly and beautiful.

The show is also full of impressive movement and dance that runs the gamut, most notably a tap dance number with a sheet of bubble wrap, a joyous conga line, and a sweet little solo ballet in which Lance Spencer (Blue Dog and co-choreographer) shows off his lovely classical training with airy pas de beurres, turns, and a grand jete.

Clever props and costumes amplify myriad interesting scenes and allow for minimal set changes. These dogs are busy. They work construction, drive cars, play baseball, throw parties, climb trees, swim and sail, eat lunch, and make shadow puppets instead of sleeping, and each scene is distinct with transitions so quick you don’t even notice them.

For example, three dogs having a party in a boat means actors sitting on the ground between a small ship’s striped bow and a pole with a paper lantern hanging from it. It’s very creative work from Scenic Designer Keenan R. Minogue as well as Costume Designer Nicole Angell. Hats, from a sequined straw skimmer to a beanie with propeller to baseball caps, with dangling felt dog ears to match attached tails complement the otherwise fun and colorful costumes: polka dotted dresses with tulle petticoats and plaid trousers with suspenders or vests among those fit for humans dressed as playful cartoon dogs.

And what’s most pleasing of all in this excellent production is witnessing the child audience members’ utter suspension of disbelief and sheer joy. It’s the magic of theatre. And the promise of audiences for this art form for generations to come.

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