It is with a curiosity that would be right at home with the CATS that are about to take the stage that the massive first night audience take their seats to witness the all new 2016 version of CATS, recently premiered in the West End. Now that it is over 30 years since it was first seen at the New London Theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber has decided to update some of the costumes and, for one character in particular, give him a very 21st century make-over.
As Gillian Lynne’s superb choreography has stood the test of time, Chrissie Cartwright has recreated her direction and choreography for the new touring show making it tighter than ever which, with the poems of T S Eliot, which are just as mesmerising now as they were when they were written, means that, thankfully, the changes turn out to be quite minimal.
It is their knowledge of the show that has attracted a near capacity opening night audience and, as the lights dim and the familiar opening music fills the auditorium, the relieved audience settle back in their seats, as if to greet old friends and, one by one, those old friends appear.
Cats with incredible names like Munkustrap (Matt Krzan), Admetus (Javier Cid), Bombalurina (Megan Armstrong), Bill Bailey (Aaron Hunt) and Carbucketty (Enric Marimon) appear from all over the stage, and auditorium, and, as their numbers swell to over two dozen, they launch into Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats and display their energetic dance moves and almost impossibly tight choreography (and costumes!) for all to see.
As part of this song the entire plot of the show is explained, and it goes something like this – once a year a cat is chosen by their leader, Old Deuteronomy (Kevin Stephen-Jones) to head off to The Heaviside Layer (cat heaven) and to be reborn into a new life – simple as that. Over the next two and a half hours, in a series of wonderfully crafted and varied pieces we get to meet about a dozen of those cats and we learn a little more about each of them.
Jennyanydots (Lucinda Shaw) appears to be one of those cats who just laze around all day but, while the family are asleep, she teaches the mice to sew and crochet and the cockroaches to tap-dance whereas Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser (Joe Henry and Emily Langham) are the kind of cats who could easily destroy your house and then just look at each other when you try and find out who was to blame.
The pace of the show is relentless and, with several members of the cast playing multiple parts, must be very taxing on the actors – but they don’t show it. They sing, run, dance, leap and interact with the audience with incredible enthusiasm from start to finish and really bring the performance alive.
Marcquelle Ward plays the character who has been firmly placed into the modern age, the all new Rum Tum Tugger (pictured). Gone is the skin tight body suit and fur collar of previous productions and in come the leopard print baggy pants and bling that this hip-hop rapping cat need. His updated song still uses the same lyrics, but as most are delivered by the company, he seems to have lost some of his individuality and appeal.
Of course, when one talks of CATS, there is one main musical number (although the refrain crops up throughout the show) and, as act two draws to a close, Marianne Benedict takes centre stage as Grizabella the Glamour Cat to deliver a faultless, breathtaking and very emotional rendition of Memory.
Other highlights of the show are the really touching number by Gus the Theatre Cat (Greg Castiglioni), the terrifyingly terrific Macavity the Mystery Cat (also played by Javier Cid) and, to top it all, the marvellous magical Mr Mistoffelees – a tour de force by the superbly expressive dancer Shiv Rabheru.
Despite its age, CATS has lost none of its strength. The touring production may have lost some of it’s more elaborate scenery and special effects but it’s still a powerhouse of skill, energy and drive, filled with fantastic tunes and stunnigly energetic dance numbers which were more than deserving of the very enthusiastic standing ovation that this delighted audience offered.
***** Five stars