KDHX Theatre Review - Cats
Fox Theater
Reviewed by Sheila R. Schultz
Cats breaks all the rules, yet continues to charm audiences. A decade before Jerry Seinfeld proved that "a show about nothing" could become a phenomenal success, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Trevor Nunn created a musical about nothing. It broke box office records around the world. Cats is a musical revue featuring a series of melodic and choreographic vignettes in furry character portrayals.
Unencumbered by plot, why is Cats an international sensation? First, the costumes and makeup are magnificent! Each feline character is a work of art. Drama critics have the luxury of sitting within whisker-length of the stage, but even from a distance, each costume is a treat to behold.
The astonishing transformation of each actor into a distinctive cat is a tribute to the ingenuity of designer John Napier, who fastidiously fashioned the raffish black tomcat, Rum Tum Tugger; the portly Bustapher Jones in white spats; the orange-fringed ginger cat, Jennyanydots; and the bedraggled, "look what the cat dragged in," Grizabella, among others.
Napier also designed the set - a junkyard filled with the shattered remnants of human existence. A discarded tire, a torn nightgown and other castoffs of exaggerated proportions lay about the stage to provide a playground for cats. One man's trash is another's Š well, you get the idea.
Then, there's the dancing! Gillian Lynne's breathtaking choreography, adapted by Richard Stafford, captures the feline spirit with exquisite attention to detail. Notice the arching of backs, the padding of paws, the percussive swatting and the fluid grace. The dancers are disciplined as any professional ballet troupe. Those who view Cats as dance concert will have a heady experience. Shylo Smith, who dances the role Victoria (the diminutive all-white cat), is magnificent.
The singing is excellent, with most actors clearly articulating the tongue-tying lyrics derived from the verse of T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". The exuberant cast artfully handles melodies ranging from jazzy to sprightly to the show-stopping ballad, "Memory". Sung by Gretchen Goldsworthy, it did send chills up my spine.
With Cats , Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer-marketeer, Cameron Macintosh engineered a new genre - the musical spectacle shows in which the technical details overshadow and sometimes supplant story and characters.
In the traditional musical, costumes, scenery, and special effects are considered enhancements, designed to augment the story and add dimension to characters. Subtract the glitz, and you still have a show that can stand on its own.
In the 80's, however, certain theatrical mavens began boosting the wattage onstage to compete with computer-generated special effects blasting from movie screens. Cats is an early result of this über-theatrical approach.
Is this bad news? Well, it depends on your taste. If you enjoy an evening of pure entertainment, shows like Cats fill the bill. If you seek an emotional or spiritual uplift, you might prowl around elsewhere.
I found this particular production darker than others. Even whimsical numbers like "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" are tinged with shadowy undertones. I would recommend the show to adolescents, who revel in brooding darkness, but younger children might find it a bit gloomy, in spite of the costumes. At two and a half hours, intermission included, it challenges those with a short attention span.
This unique show evokes mixed reactions. Cats is like Las Vegas. Everyone should go at least once to see what all the fuss is about.
Cats runs through June 9th [2002] at the Fox theatre, 527 North Grand Blvd. For tickets, call 314-534-1111.
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