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The show may have more than nine lives, having
been around since 1981, but the current cast certainly breathes
new life into it.
This is a big show in every sense f or
Norwich's Theatre Royal.
Musicals are a risk for the sometimes fragile finances,
but the gamble's paid off - the show sold out weeks ago.
Cats is something of a theatrical milestone.
A few years ago a West End run of six years was
considered a massive success with shows like Oliver! and The Sound
Of Music holding the records.
Then along came Cats, to become the Tom cat of
them all when it came to mega-musicals.
It had a rocky start. Andrew Lloyd Webber took
TS Elliot's Old Possums Book of Cats and set the poems to music.
There were those who thought he was barking mad
to attempt this kid of feline fantasy on stage. But
young producer Cameron Mackintosh believed in the project and backed
it.
Cats is more of an experience than a musical.
The action takes place on the night of the Jellicle
Ball. You may think of your cat as dear old Tiddles but, in TS Elliot's
world, they have a secret double life where they have names and
characters.
Each of of the cast is outstanding. Quite how
they can manage to keep singing while they leap about and swing
from a trapeze without losing their breath, leaves me breathless
with amazement.
Full marks to Chrissie Hammond in the Elaine Paige
role of Grizabella, the has-been glamour cat who's shunned until
the final minutes.
For comedy and sheer showing off, Stuart Ramsey
deserves credit as Rum Tum Tugger and Patrick Clancy is moving in
every sense as Gus the Theatre Cat.
Also good is James Patterson who presides over
everything as Old Deuteronomy.
He's cat-napped and then rescued by the magical
Mr Mistoffelees, an excellent performance by Guy-Paul Ruolt de St
Germain.
In the past we've heard it said Theatre Royal's
stage isn't big enough to accommodate this type of show. Well, honey
they shrunk the set!
John Napier's junkyard masterpiece fitted perfectly
on the stage.
The band was hidden behind the oversized rubbish
tip and the refuse spilled into the auditorium. The way the set,
lighting and performance extended into the audience and made us
feel even more part of it.
Magical lighting effects and excellent sound added
to the pleasure. This was certainly no hand-me-down second rate
West End cast-off, but a show of the highest quality.
If you are one of the lucky ones who's got a ticket
you are in for a treat with one of the biggest and best shows ever
seen at the Theatre Royal.
There is no question, it is a triumph.
Go
behind the scenes and discover the magical make-up of Cats
Cats runs until Saturday 10 July, 2004, only
box-office returns available.
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