Cats the Musical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
18th July - 23rd July 2016
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
18th July - 23rd July 2016
The last time I saw Cats the Musical was over 20 years ago at the New London Theatre in the West End. It was one of the most talked about shows at the time with Elaine Paige playing Grizabella and hitting the charts with the song ‘Memory’ from the show, which I loved and still do. My recollection of seeing Cats is mostly of sitting in the audience waiting to hear THAT song and waiting and waiting. Everything else that happened on the stage that evening seemed like a slow build up and the feeling of disappointment has never really left me. Perhaps I wasn’t as much into cats (the real-life furry ones, I mean) to appreciate Andrew Lloyd Webber’s interpretation of T. S. Elliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ or maybe, not being a dancer, I couldn’t fully appreciate the full worth of Gillian Lynne’s choreography. Perhaps, I just didn't get it.
Fast forward to 2015 and the Cats revival in the West End with the star pull of Nicole Sherzinger playing Grizabella to rave reviews and then Beverley Knight and all my musical theatre chums exclaiming how fabulous it all was. So, as soon as I heard that the touring version of the show was coming to the Cliffs Pavilion, I was eager to find out whether, 20 odd years later, this show could perhaps impress me more.
The storyline centres on a group of cats called The Jellicles. They meet once a year at the Jellicle Ball with their leader, Old Deuteronomy, deciding who is worthy of ascending to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn. Throughout the show the audience are introduced to various feline characters including ‘Gus the theatre cat’, ‘Rum Tug Tugger’ and ‘Mr Mistoffelees’.
I was instantly wowed with the sight of the set on stage; a junk yard of truly larger than life proportions. Crisp packets, cereal boxes and general rubbish scattered around the footlights and steps leading down into the auditorium which the cast use during the show to come into the audience along the aisles and allowing us into their world.
We are introduced to all the Jellicle cats as they build up for the Jellicle Ball, the annual dance where all the cats celebrate. What is evidently clear from the get go is that this cast work beautifully as an ensemble, from the vocals to the outstanding dance numbers that they gruellingly perform. There is a dedication and loyalty to the Cats ‘tribe’ here that is clearly evident.
There are some notable performances with Marcquelle Ward performing a newly tweaked rap version of his Rum Tug Tugger song which I expect goes down quite well with younger members of the audience and an unbelievably amazing piece of choreography from the company with the Jellicle Ball dance just before the end of Act One.
Act Two introduces us to Gus, the old theatre cat, played by Greg Castiglioni who I absolutely adored, in which he recreates his younger performing days as a pirate cat - imagine Laurence Olivier as a cat and you kind of get the gist. Another highlight is James Titchener as Mr Mistoffelees with a magical balletic dance number that quite obviously impressed the opening night’s audience.
Grizabella, the once glamorous cat who left the Jellicle tribe to explore the outside world and now wants to return, re-appears to sing ‘Memory’ and with such an amazing build up from her fellow cast members, it was no surprise that Marianne Benedict, who plays Grizabella, absolutely brought the house down with a wonderfully emotional rendition of the song that will forever be this show's signature number.
I am glad to say that I really enjoyed Cats this time around; and not just because of the quality of the company’s singing and dancing talents which are outstanding but also because it is enormously evident that although there are 29 performers on the stage there are almost just as many people working behind the scenes of this show in order to create the delight and wonderment that surrounds the production. I take my hat off to the sound and lighting technicians who work on this show as they really provide a huge part of the overall magic which really needs to be appreciated. A nod also to the orchestra who are hidden away under the stage directed by Tim Davies, who did a great job on one of Southend’s most hottest of nights.
Cats may not be for everyone as it really is a heavily dance orientated show and T.S.Elliot’s poems can verge on the slightly odd in musical translation, however, I was thoroughly swept away by the dedicated performances in this show and had the most purr-fect evening. (sorry, couldn’t resist)
Tickets are still available at southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Fast forward to 2015 and the Cats revival in the West End with the star pull of Nicole Sherzinger playing Grizabella to rave reviews and then Beverley Knight and all my musical theatre chums exclaiming how fabulous it all was. So, as soon as I heard that the touring version of the show was coming to the Cliffs Pavilion, I was eager to find out whether, 20 odd years later, this show could perhaps impress me more.
The storyline centres on a group of cats called The Jellicles. They meet once a year at the Jellicle Ball with their leader, Old Deuteronomy, deciding who is worthy of ascending to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn. Throughout the show the audience are introduced to various feline characters including ‘Gus the theatre cat’, ‘Rum Tug Tugger’ and ‘Mr Mistoffelees’.
I was instantly wowed with the sight of the set on stage; a junk yard of truly larger than life proportions. Crisp packets, cereal boxes and general rubbish scattered around the footlights and steps leading down into the auditorium which the cast use during the show to come into the audience along the aisles and allowing us into their world.
We are introduced to all the Jellicle cats as they build up for the Jellicle Ball, the annual dance where all the cats celebrate. What is evidently clear from the get go is that this cast work beautifully as an ensemble, from the vocals to the outstanding dance numbers that they gruellingly perform. There is a dedication and loyalty to the Cats ‘tribe’ here that is clearly evident.
There are some notable performances with Marcquelle Ward performing a newly tweaked rap version of his Rum Tug Tugger song which I expect goes down quite well with younger members of the audience and an unbelievably amazing piece of choreography from the company with the Jellicle Ball dance just before the end of Act One.
Act Two introduces us to Gus, the old theatre cat, played by Greg Castiglioni who I absolutely adored, in which he recreates his younger performing days as a pirate cat - imagine Laurence Olivier as a cat and you kind of get the gist. Another highlight is James Titchener as Mr Mistoffelees with a magical balletic dance number that quite obviously impressed the opening night’s audience.
Grizabella, the once glamorous cat who left the Jellicle tribe to explore the outside world and now wants to return, re-appears to sing ‘Memory’ and with such an amazing build up from her fellow cast members, it was no surprise that Marianne Benedict, who plays Grizabella, absolutely brought the house down with a wonderfully emotional rendition of the song that will forever be this show's signature number.
I am glad to say that I really enjoyed Cats this time around; and not just because of the quality of the company’s singing and dancing talents which are outstanding but also because it is enormously evident that although there are 29 performers on the stage there are almost just as many people working behind the scenes of this show in order to create the delight and wonderment that surrounds the production. I take my hat off to the sound and lighting technicians who work on this show as they really provide a huge part of the overall magic which really needs to be appreciated. A nod also to the orchestra who are hidden away under the stage directed by Tim Davies, who did a great job on one of Southend’s most hottest of nights.
Cats may not be for everyone as it really is a heavily dance orientated show and T.S.Elliot’s poems can verge on the slightly odd in musical translation, however, I was thoroughly swept away by the dedicated performances in this show and had the most purr-fect evening. (sorry, couldn’t resist)
Tickets are still available at southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
We got to go backstage last night to meet a few of the cast as they were preparing to go on stage. Steve got some fabulous photos and we will be posting a video of our interview with cast member, Gabrielle Cocca who plays Tantomile in the show very soon.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH GABRIELLE
CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH GABRIELLE
