From MrsJemimaMistoffelees:
December 31, 2003
CATS Tour Review - Dec. 31th, 2003...New Years Eve!
We traveled over mountain passes in Washington State to see CATS in Yakima on New Years Eve...
After spending a couple of hours of my sister and I getting into costume, my dad, mom, little sister Melanie, and I left the hotel room around 6:30 to meet a Gail Wright, the public relations director and friend of mine, to take a tour of the historical (and haunted) Capitol Theatre.
Once we got there, we met Gail outside of the theatre and we all introduced ourselves, and then stepped into the theatre because it was very cold! Gail then gave me a little goodie bag that contained my newspaper interview (which was on the front page of the Entertainment section!) 2 CATS promotional pictures, 2 of the free programme’s (gotta say, they have the nicest ones! No stupid adverts), and some postcards showing the history of the theatre.
We then began the tour buy walking up to the 1st balcony section, Gail explained the beautiful paintings and how the guy who painted them, painted them within a couple of days! We then headed into the balcony section and we got to watch them rehearse the CATS stage setup! It was so cool seeing it all lit up with regular lights. Gail then told us about the fire that occurred in 1975 and that the entire roof just caved in. She then told us that the man who painted the BEAUTIFUL ceiling died 2 days after finishing it. She also told us about the ghost named “Shorty” that haunts the theatre…but he’s a nice ghost
So after about 15 minutes of talking about what kind of musicals are “accepted” in Yakima (RENT isn’t one of them…) it was almost time to let the crowd outside in. So, we headed down stairs where Gail quickly showed us some tragic pictures of the fire. She mentioned that it’s so weird to have to rebuild a theatre (or anything) again because you don’t know where to start.
She lead us back up to the entrance and we said goodbyes (for now!) and we were let outside were the crowd was beginning to form. It was so funny, because as we were walking towards the car (I wanted to go back to the hotel and get my camera) I heard this girl go “where are they going?!”
So after we got back from going to the hotel, we waited out in the cold to be let in. Once we finally were, my mom splurged on souvenirs! This one girl told us “You guys look cute” and then this old woman gave my sister and me high fives, lol. We then walked down the isle in the orchestra to our seats; Row A seats 12, 13, and 14…front row center! SO COOL! (Thank-you Gail!)
So I talked to this guy next to me for a few minutes, and then this one woman said that she saw me in the paper and that I was famous. And I even talked to Amber Cameron’s (Cassandra/Asst. Dance Captain) mom! She asked me where I got my costume, and I told her about MsJellicle and musicals.net.
A few minutes later, the show started. It was pretty downscaled from when I saw the show in Seattle. Granted, the orchestra pit was viewable (There were maybe 7 people down there, including the conductor), but it blocked the stage, so that means that the cats couldn’t run up onto the stage and Tugger couldn’t go out into the audience and all that fun stuff. But ‘tis okay! I still had an amazing time. And we only had one understudy and that was for Tumblebrutus.
I’m not going to review the songs because that takes to long, and you all know how it goes. But here are my reviews on the actor’s and actresses:
Bo Broadwell (Alonzo): He was a very good dancer, and had a lovely voice. But since his colors aren’t really unique I didn’t really pay attention to him.
Anne Brummel (Grizabella): She was a bit small and I didn’t really like her voice. But she was a great actress.
Katy Burns (Rumpleteazer): A lot better then when I saw her last time. She wasn’t as giggly. But I think she was starring at me throughout “Naming of CATS” and it freaked me out! Lol. And I loved how in the beginning of the second act Mungojerrie and Sillabub are about to pounce on each other and then Rumpleteazer blocked Sillabub and gave her the “stay away from my man!” look! It was so cute!
Amber Cameron (Cassandra): She had an okay voice. She was a very beautiful Cassandra though. She played the character very well.
Suzzanne Dressler (Jennyanydots): She was wonderful. Very bright and cheerful like Jenny should be!
Jesse Factor (Skimbleshanks): Wonderful voice from someone who looks like he’s 17 in his headshot! If I were to see him walking down the street, I would never think he played Skimbleshanks.
Brian Gallagher (Rum Tum Tugger): Not impressed at all. He was cute, yeah, but he couldn’t sing. The girls belted better then him. Got to admit it, Stan did much better.
James Ginnever (Plato, Macavity): I miss Karl! But James is a good Macavity. He slipped up a couple of times during Munkustrap and his fight scene. But he’s a great dancer.
Shane Hall (Quaxo/Mr. Mistoffelees): He was so adorable! I like him better as Quaxo/Misto then as Pouncival. And him and Cassandra were all over each other more then usual! Shane spun around so many times during “Mr. Mistoffelees” I got dizzy for him! And he was so cute during Growltiger when he was acting all scared.
Gregory Haney (Tumblebrutus understudy): He seemed too small for Tumblebrutus. But dang, he can do some hell of back flips!
Martin C. Hurt (Old Deuteronomy): Just as amazing as last time. Wonderful and powerful voice.
Mario Martinez (Mungojerrie): I love Mario! He’s such a cute and cheeky Mungo. He’s one of the reason’s I wanted to see the show again, lol!
Bo Ranney (Munkustrap): He was okay. I think I liked the Munkustrap I saw in Seattle more. Bo was a wonderful dancer, but his voice wasn’t really bold.
Jacqueline Stedman (Sillabub): She is like the equivalent to Veerle’s Jemima! She seemed more “into” the role now then she did back in May. She was so cute playing with her tail, bopping everyone’s head. The scary thing is that during Gus’s song, she was starring down at Bombi’s head and then she lifted her arm up, held it out for about 5 seconds and then bopped Bombi’s head! The scary thing is, is that my little kitten Sillabub does that ALL THE TIME! I was so shocked to see that, that I covered my mouth in alarm, lol! Jacqueline has such an amazing voice and dancing ability. It was so sad though when Mungojerrie whipped Sillabub’s tail around and it smacked her in the face. And during the end of the show before they run off stage for the last time, she looked at me and swatted her head around smiling and then batted her paw out at me.
Erica Sweany (Demeter): Her Demeter was dead on! I loved how she was beautiful but also very paranoid. And she has such a marvelous voice.
Mary Elizabeth Sweeny (Jellylorum, Griddlebone): I am so glad that Mary is now the principal Jelly/Griddle. She has one of the most beautiful voices and has the same bright and cheerfulness that Jenny does. Her and Kevin really played off each other during Growltiger; I was seriously laughing my bum off, especially when she did the hand signal that means to “Shove it”! It was classic!
Jackie Tripper (Bombalurina): She is my favorite Bombi. She had the sexy/seduction bit down packed. And what a voice! She should move onto Chicago and be Velma Kelly next!
Katie Ann Wanner (Victoria): Don’t know how she did as Sillabub, but she is a wonderful Victoria! She was so cute and small. But she did mess up a bit during her solo dance.
Kevin C. Wanzor (Gus, Growltiger, Bustopher Jones): Hilarious! Kevin is such a good Bustopher and Gus/Growltiger. This was the first time I got to see “the walk” properly during Bustopher and it was drop dead funny! And he even did the flower bit and through it into the audience.
Justin P. Wingenroth (Pouncival): The only time I remember seeing him was during the end. So, I can’t really say what I thought of him. I’m sure he was good, though!
I wanted to mention that during the intermission, one of the keyboardists gave me thumbs up for my costume. I thought it was really cool.
SO at the end, my sister and I began to pick up some of the streamers that popped out during Misto’s song (I’m a fanatic, what can I say?) and about 10 minutes later we got out of the theatre and who should see waiting for me? Gail with a CATS poster that was signed by the ENTIRE CAST! I about died, lol. I probably thanked her about 100 times. We then hugged and said our final goodbyes.
I didn’t go to the stage door because it was starting to snow, and it was almost New Year’s Eve and I didn’t want to keep them held up.
What was also cool was that since the hotel my family and I were staying at was the closest to the hotel, most of the cast member’s were staying there also. I saw Jacqueline walking down the street by Taco Bell, and I think I saw Mario in the lobby this morning, but I don’t know. It’s hard to tell who is who without seeing them so often out of make-up. I do know that I saw Kerri Lynn Bernas (swing) in the lobby last night after the show.
All in all, it was a wonderful New Years that I shan’t forget!
Veel Liefs,
Jemima