A world whimsical and oh! So inimical!

Theater, film honor Dr. Seuss

Audrey Geisel, the widow of the real Dr. Seuss Theodor Geisel, said her husband felt the need to create characters and, once down on paper, he was rid of it

Cynthia Tornquist
CNN Showbiz Today Correspondent

NEW YORK (CNN) -- You would think Dr. Seuss loved children, but reconsider: The man who gave the world the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Who-hearing elephant and that mean, green Grinch felt awkward around the little tykes.

Theodor Geisel could handle "one child at a time for a specific amount of time," says Audrey Geisel, widow of the author who penned Seuss books for more than a half century. "That was all right, but he was not comfortable."

Yet Geisel -- Dr. Seuss, if you prefer -- had plenty of fans who loved his work, regardless of how he felt about them. Those long-ago children are grown now, and are taking their youngsters to see his "Grinch" character brought to life on the big screen. A musical celebrating his work is poised to open on Broadway.

Dr. Seuss, who died in 1991, may not have anticipated such a reaction to his work. When he began writing books, says his widow, he wanted only to help children learn to read.

AUDIO Audrey Geisel on what her husband's books have done for literacy ... 352KWAV sound On Theodor Geisel's relationship with children ... 256KWAV sound   VIDEO Movie trailer for 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) INTERVIEW CNN interviews Jim Carrey and other celebrities at the premiere of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)  VIDEO Watch a clip from "Seussical: The Musical" Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

He accomplished that goal by discouraging the use of his books in schools, says Audrey Geisel. His books, he figured, were an escape hatch for youngsters; making them part of children's curriculum would make the stories about as interesting as "See Spot run," his widow says.

"The moment you make it something they must read, they will not," says Audrey Geisel.

Geisel stumbled on the idea for his first book in 1936. He was on a vacation cruise, his widow says, and the rhythm of the ship's engine drove the cadence to "And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street." It was published the next year.

"It (writing) was something he had to do," she says. "He'd put it on paper and then he'd be rid of it. If he didn't take it and put it on paper, it would be with him forever."

In 1954, a report on illiteracy suggested that children had trouble reading because their books were boring. The problem inspired Geisel's publisher to send the author a list of 400 words that were important for children to learn. Nine months later, Geisel, using 220 of the words given to him, published the character who would epitomize the world of Seuss -- "The Cat in the Hat."

Geisel has been dead for nearly a decade, but his works don't seem to have faltered. (Oh, you will find him here and there. Soon you will find him everywhere!)

A film adaptation of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," starring Jim Carrey, is a box office favorite. Meanwhile, "Seussical: The Musical" a multimillion-dollar production based on Dr. Seuss stories and characters, opens on Broadway on Thursday.

The Seuss name has to be handled with care, says Audrey Geisel.

"We've been very careful," says his widow, who controls the late author's estate. She turned down many studio requests to bring "Grinch" to the screen before allowing director Ron Howard to adapt it.

Some of the best in the business, including Steven Spielberg, had tried to sway her, and came away disappointed. "They couldn't handle it," she says. "And what they did offer, I could not allow."

"Seussical: The Musical" is based on Dr. Seuss stories and characters

A meeting between Audrey Geisel and Carrey on the set of "Man on the Moon" (1999), a film about deceased comic Andy Kauffman, changed her mind about Dr. Seuss on the big screen.

"He (Carrey) had his hands on my shoulders and he just looked at me and his whole face became the Grinch," she says. "He could screw that face up exactly right. It was weird."

Audrey Geisel got the hint, Universal got the nod and Carrey got the furry, green costume.

Theatergoers will get to see a musical that takes the characters and words of various Seuss tales and puts them to music. Lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty have collaborated on the production, along with Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle.

How Audrey Geisel think her husband would react if he knew his work had been adapted for the stage and screen?

"He would have been thrilled," she says." And I say that, absolutely."

Christine Baranski: Busy lady, Grinch love interest
November 20, 2000
Steal away to see the latest 'Grinch'
November 17, 2000
Serious Seuss: Children's author as political cartoonist
October 17, 1999
Millions celebrating Dr. Seuss with 'Read Across America'
March 2, 1999

Cyber-Seuss
The Grinch

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.