Cats

          I have to say, out of all the shows on my blog this was the one I was most excited to see. I went to see it in the early 90s, when it was at the New London Theatre, with my family and I have been in love with it ever since. My two cats are even called Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser after two characters from the show.

          When it first appeared in the West End in 1981, and even now, people were confused and even angered by the fact it's a story all about cats. 'Whats so interesting about cats? Stupid idea.' is something many people I know felt when I show my enthusiasm for the show. To be honest, I can see where they're coming from. It does SOUND stupid. It is infact a touching and heartwarming story full of love, mystery, suspense and tension.

          The set is fantastic. Wrapping around the edges of the stage slightly down into the stalls and up to the circle. Every bit of the set is used by the cast. Every bit. The cast climb all aver it and walk, well prowel (they're cats after all) though the audience in the stalls and in the royal circle. I went with my sister and we were both commenting on the sets appearance. I mean the bra was big enough for Big Foot's mother and the tyre was the same size as the matchbox, but one can easily suspend belief for a few hours. I mean your going to be watching people dressed as cats singing and dancing around the stage. Before the show began my sister and I were shining a few of the songs from the show. Not loudly but we just couldn't help it. We were stupidly excited.

          I unfortunately have to say though that in my opinion the show, to a certain extinct, has been spoilt. I was going to say ruined, but this might be a little strong. My sister would disagree however. For me I have a very clear image of the show. Most of this has, I will admit, been formed from the 1998 filmed version of the show which I watch at least twice a year. Don't get me wrong though, I have some very clear memories of the show from when I went to see it at the New London Theatre back in the 90s. For instance the stage at the New London is semi-circular and the seats wrap around it. It's not quite in the round, but almost. This, I think, suits the show much better. War Horse is showing there at the moment (you can read my review here) so it's a shame they couldn't put it on there this time around. I also have a very clear memory of, as the opening of the show, many of the cast were in the isles of the audience and had lights that looked like cats eyes on there face/head that periodically lit up so that eventually, combined with the lights on stage, the whole auditorium was filled with yellow cats eyes. This was both impressive and mesmerising. This, unfortunately wasn't the case in the new probuction. A disappointment I was willing to overlook as let's face it, it isn't integral to the show. There were others however which I couldn't be so understanding about.

          I feel that there was a lot more musical interludes and dancing between and during songs. My assumption is that this is because the back of house areas are a lot bigger that they were at the New London Theatre and so ample time has to be given for the actors to get into position. At a few points I found my self thinking 'oh get on with it'. Not the sort of thing one want to be thinking when at the theatre. I also had a nigeling feeling throughout the show that the singing wasn't quite up to the standard me that I remember, but this is probably because I'm used to the high production quality of the filmed version.

          Perhaps the biggest disappointment, and something that almost ruined the whole show for me, was the song The Rum Tum Tugger. This is one of my favourite songs in the whole show, however it has been change to beyond almost all recognition. John Partidge who played the role in the film, as well as Paul Nichols in the original london cast, played this role fantastically. They just oozed sexual energy. However in this production the song has been transformed from semi rock into a sort of hip-hop/rap thing. They guy that sings it, Antoine Murry-Straughn, is good but it's just a change to the show that was compleatly unnecessary. It ruined a perfectly good song, and it's all I could talk about for a while. Rum Tum Tugger features in another critique. Not a disappointment, as I'm fairly nuetral on this matter. For me, another song I enjoy is 'Mr Mistoffelees' sung by Rum Tum Tugger. It's a fun little song and the show that Mr Mistoffelees puts on during it is great. I never really thought much about a male cat singing to another male character. However in this show there is no denying from the interaction of the characters that it's a love song. One almost felt that as soon as they left the stage they'd by jumping on each other like a pair of rabbits. Now don't get me wrong I have no issue with a gay relationship being portrayed in any way, however it was coming on very strong and was actualy for me slightly awkward (says the man who watched the bumping and grinding of near naked men in Pricilla Queen Of The Desert).

 

          Now I had the pleasure of managing, at fairly late notice, to get tickets to a performance where Grizzabella was played my Nicole Scherzinger. As great as she was, she was never thrust to the front as the main star of the show. She even takes her bow in the middle of the lineup, not right at the end like the celebrity star or main character normally does. Her role is only small, though the song Memories has become iconic. In fact it's one of only a few songs that make me cry. From the first cord I can feel myself welling up. As great as Nicole was I couldn't feel emotional with her singing however. Like other aspects of the show, I may have a preference to the film version simply because I've watched it so many times. Elaine Paige played the role in the film as well as in the original London cast (a last minuet replacement for Judie Dench who had to back out of the role after receiving an injury during rehearsals). Her singing was good, don't get me wrong, but for me there was no raw emotion. It seemed to me like she was showing off her talent, which no one can deny she has, rather than trying to put emotion into the song. She's also meant to be the washed out glammor cat. Instead the costume department have made her look really glamorous and glitzy, all be it with a few shabby bits here and there, unlike the image the rest of the cast put across when singing about her. I never saw her as this before, but I get the overwhelming feeling like she's the slut of the cat world. I've never felt that before. maybe that's true, and I was to innocent to realise it when I was younger. all I know is that that is how I felt about her during the show. I watched the film this morning and with Elaine Paige's performance that feeling completely vanished.

          I don't think you'll be able to see it with Nicole in it now as tickets are extremely hard to come across, but Kerry Ellis will be taking over the role. Definitely a show to see and a great one for the whole family. If taking children to the theatre for the first time this is one to consider. I would have given it top marks, but as there were a few disappointments for me and I don't give half stars, I had to go with just four. This production is going to be in Macau, China in March and later this year in Paris. Tickets and Info