Thank goodness cats have nine lives, because the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats is still kicking it 41 years after it first premiered in London’s West End. The current national tour, which is currently playing in Vancouver, is a re-creation of the 2016 Broadway revival—the second major version in North America. This production maintains the authenticity of the original London/Broadway production, with exciting freshness thanks to the young, talented cast members, many of whom probably were not born yet when the original Broadway production closed in 2000.
Based on the poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, and set to Webber’s music, Cats tells the story of a group of cats called the Jellicles, who gather annually to send one cat to the Heaviside Layer and return to earth reborn. Their leader, Old Deuteronomy, decides who this lucky cat will be, and throughout the night we’re introduced to a number of cats who are contenders, all with interesting personalities and lives.
As mentioned, the current touring production is a recreation of the 2016 Broadway revival, directed by the show’s original director Trevor Nunn, and with similar (if not the same) costumes and set by John Napier. Even after so many years, this production still has the same essence as the original—the staging is mysterious, a bit creepy, and wonderfully entertaining. The Broadway production was done in a semi-round concept, with the audience surrounding the stage in an up-close-and-personal setting. Obviously this isn’t possible on tour, but Napier has still done an excellent job recreating the iconic junkyard in a traditional proscenium space. The stage is packed with giant-sized human items such as a boot, old tires, and a stove, to give the illusion that the performers onstage are normal-sized cats.
The cast here is phenomenal, consisting of sensational triple-threat performers who are first-rate dancers. The show is a marathon of high-level dancing, with countless leaps, leg extensions, turns, and acrobatic moves, all done with cat-like sleekness and mannerisms. Famed Broadway choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (he also choreographed Hamilton) did this version, based on Gillian Lynne’s original work. Not only does the cast perform the choreography tremendously, but they sing and act with wonderful personality to fit their characters.
The sensational dancing cast of Cats. Photo credit: Matthew Murphy, Murphymade
Some standouts include Hank Santos as the cheeky, hypersexual Rum Tum Tugger; the gorgeous Yuka Notsuka who has the extension and impressive technique to brilliantly dance the role of young Victoria (the white cat), but also does so with cute enthusiasm; the saucy duo of Taryn Smithson and Brian Craig Nelson as Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie; the amazing IBN Snell who turns, jumps, and extends his legs like a dream as Mr. Mistoffelees; the captivating Kade Wright as Munkustrap; the sassy pair of Nora Degreen and Erica Lee Cianciulli as Demeter and Bombalurina; the tap dancing phenom Michelle E Carter as Jennyanydots; and the sensational Lexy Brittner who displays sky-high kicks throughout the show and oozes charisma as Cassandra. A powerhouse singer and performer, Tayler Harris plays the coveted role of Grizabella, the faded “glamour cat”. Her emotional and haunting rendition of “Memory”, gave me chills.
The performance of the entire cast is riveting, as everyone has the distinct movement and character styling down. What makes this production special is the youthful energy the cast bring with them, and the fact that over the years, the physical and emotional advancement in dance has continually escalated. The technical and acrobatic feats now being displayed at youth dance competitions and on social media is mind blowing, as well as the emotional maturity brought on by the popularity and advancement of contemporary dance. These qualities really add wonderfully to Cats—we see outstanding dancers with both technical brilliance and emotional artistry.
Kudos must be given to director Nunn, choreographer Blankenbuehler, and the creative team for orchestrating the revival of such a legendary show, with this version of Cats as strong and captivating as ever. On opening night, there were multiple times when the show was stopped because the audience continued to cheer after a number, showing that modern audiences are still wild about Cats, especially a production as fabulous as this one. The show’s classic tagline is “Now and Forever”, and one can hope that the “forever” part will bode true.
Cats, presented by Broadway Across Canada (BAC), continues to play at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, until May 28. Visit BAC’s Vancouver site for ticket information.