Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - CATS is still a masterpiece and has landed firmly on its feet

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We were invited to see CATS at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Read what our reviewer Karen Ryder had to say about this incredible musical...

For me, CATS is a lifelong fascination finally coming full circle. I first became aware of CATS as a child when someone from my dance community travelled to London to audition for the show. Suddenly, everyone was talking about Jellicle Cats, feline movement and the unique dance style that had made this musical such a phenomenon. Like countless young dancers of my generation, I became fascinated by those unmistakable cat-like movements long before I fully understood the show's place in theatre history. Since then, I've spent years listening to Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic score, worn out recordings of the celebrated 1998 stage production on VHS, and even enjoyed the much-discussed 2019 film adaptation when many didn’t. Yet somehow, despite CATS being one of the most successful musicals ever created, I'd never actually seen it performed live on stage. Since premiering in London's West End in 1981 and transferring to Broadway in 1982, CATS has become one of the longest-running musicals in theatre history, clocking up 21 years in London and 18 on Broadway. It has accumulated an insane amount of awards including Olivier’s and Tony’s, and more than four decades later, its influence is still being felt through new and invigorating interpretations. Cats: The Jellicle Ball recently took Broadway by storm with its reimagined Queer ballroom adaptation, ensuring that the CATS legacy continues to introduce fresh revivals of the Jellicle tribe to new audiences. So, I was feeline a little giddy about this latest revival, especially following the positive reception of Drew McOnie's reimagined production at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, and with three outstanding Grizabella’s lined up to share the role, alongside a purrfect cast, the expectations were understandably high for one of the world’s most enduring musicals.

Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, CATS is one of those rare musicals where atmosphere and characters take precedent over a traditional, linear storyline. It creates moments in time with a unique viewpoint through the cats’ eyes, exploring perspective. The narrative has perhaps become more tangible over the years through various explorations, bringing us to the here and now. In short, this is a piece of art. As a tribe of cats, known as the Jellicle Cats, gather beneath the Jellicle moon over the course of one night, we bear witness to all their various personalities, their skills, and their individual journeys. They come together for The Jellicle Ball, a special event held once a year to celebrate all things feline. But this is a special anniversary, where their leader, Old Deuteronomy, will select one cat to journey to the mysterious Heaviside Layer, where they will be reborn into a new life. Every cat makes their case as to why they deserve to be the chosen one, and so their stories are shared to the backdrop of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s illuminous score, and some of the most athletic dancing you will ever witness! And with cheeky, intoxicating characters to meet such as Skimbleshanks the railway cat, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the theatrical Gus, the curious and rebellious Rum Tum Tugger, or the delightfully devilish Macavity, there is no shortage of individual stories to unfold. And we can’t forget the heroine of CATS, Grizabella! Our famous feline who belts out ‘Memory’ and who makes the song come alive with aching glory of bygone days, loneliness, isolation, and the hope for redemption. After being tossed aside from the Jellicle tribe, she is haunted by memories of who she used to be, a glamourous, popular somebody who everyone wanted to be seen with. But as age and life outwardly changed her, so did the way the Jellicle’s treated her, and it is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster, with societal disgraces hidden in plain sight, disguised as cats.

The concept itself remains faithful to the original, but this feisty revival has impressively reinvented the world in which it takes place. The oversized junkyard, costumes, and wigs, have been redesigned by Sami Fendall and expose the outdoors as a place that the cats not only have to survive, but where they have learned how to thrive. It is a magical place, decked with arched trees curving across the front of the stage, a huge tree root centre stage, in front of architecture that represents the iconic crescent moon, and ‘C’ for CATS as a huge sculpture. It perhaps mirrors the kind of cat tree or cat tower a doting owner might purchase for their pride and joy, allowing performers to rest, jump, play, and even slide down it! It is then wonderfully transformed into a pirate ship with the addition of a sail, and other incredible set pieces are brought on when needed, such as a brilliant train for Skimbleshanks, that even lights up! Behind this is more woodland and a Jellicle moon aesthetic as a dynamic centre piece.

Jessica Hun Hang Yun’s lighting is phenomenal, transforming the stage into a place of beauty, magic and mystique. The stage is lit from a variety of angles, front, side, back, creating shadows, and darkness from which cats appear without you even noticing. Moonlight, dapples with serenity, and shimmers through the trees in broken beams that dance and ripple with splendour. We slowly watch as dusk is broken with dawn and are won over by the beauty of a night full of stars. It truly is stunning. Her use of contrasting washes and spotlights, especially during the outstanding Jellicle Ball sequence, were mesmerising and added to the frantic atmosphere of these live wire, often feral cats. Costumes are cat suits minus the fur, streamlined for the physical dexterity and mesh up of dance styles on display, garnished with individual elements for each character, meaning you may catch a flash of diamantes, patchwork, ruffles, fringing, waistcoats, patterns, or stylised wigs and blankets. Each character song is given a distinctive costume that represents them with such intricate detail, right down to the smudged smoke and ash of a coal train, on Skimbleshanks! The make-up design by Guy Common is phenomenal, and so important to engage the audience sense of belief and believe we do!

Drew McOnie directs and choreographs with a fresh vision, perhaps making the entire production of CATS the one to journey to Heaviside and be reborn with new life! It is surely imposing to reinvent the sublime work of the late Dame Gillian Lynne, but McOnie’s vision is one I am sure she would have applauded. It is a visceral, explosive, exciting fusion of many genres, always keeping a cheeky wink to the original balletic and contemporary style, but stitching it together with ballroom, jazz, street dance, hip hop, breakdancing, acro, and just about everything in between. The ensemble cleverly moves as a hunting pack, often mingling the rawness of nature with prowling lionesses, and feral, defensive urban street cats. This is also highly notable in individual characters too, making them so reflective of the world we now inhabit. The magical Mr. Mistoffelees no longer bowls us over with his balletic prowess, but instead is representative of a street magician hustling as he tries to draw a crowd with his break dancing, street performer skills. As the second act brings us dusk, the cats become more alert, more heightened, more feral and it is an energy you not only witness but physically feel too. Drew McOnie has directed and choreographed with integrity, vision, and excellence.

The casting for this production in inspired! They are a fierce and fabulous force to be reckoned with. Rachael Wooding was tonights Grizabella and what a moment! Exquisite with every appearance, she took on the juggernaut that is ‘Memory’ and made a song I have heard thousands of times feel like I was hearing it for the first time. Context of course helped with this, but ‘that’ moment quite literally made my entire being tingle in awe, and my face leak tears I didn’t even know were there! Incredible! Jack Wilcox is Munkustrap and makes this second in command cat confident, authoritative, and charismatic. He has a natural presence and wows with his smooth and powerful voice. Kalisha Amaris is Old Deuteronomy, with silky smooth vocals and an aura that beamed out not just to the other cats, but to the audience as well. Jet Yau is Mr. Mistoffelees and wow! Seriously, wow! I would buy a ticket to any show Yau was dancing in, for this was like nothing I have seen before! Talk about reinventing how gravity works, how the human body works, and how dance works! Head spins, freezes, I couldn’t even tell you the names of half the stuff performed, unbelievably spectacular, and one of the highlights of the entire show!

Elliott Broadfoot is Gus and Bustopher Jones, giving us two wonderful distinctive characters, from the comedy and joviality of Bustopher, to the heartwarming Gus, who made us feel real empathy for this old cat with shaky paws. Diante Lodge as Macavity created tension and an edge with stealth like movements and brilliant fight scenes, Matthew Caputo as Skimbleshanks brought fun, lightness, and infectious energy, Danny Nattrass and Briana Craig as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were pure fun and the perfect duet partners, so in sync with each other. Lucie-Mae Sumner also brought us two distinctive cats as Jellylorum and Griddlebone, and Jaydon Vijn as Rum Tum Tugger brought swagger and rebellion to the tribe. I could honestly write a full review on each talented, exceptional performer!

CATS is once again taking the world by storm, and with a fresh, modern interpretation, it feels the timing has never been better for the escapism it brings, but also the unexpected connection regarding belonging, identity and hope. Whether you're a lifelong fan, or someone who has always held it as a part of their psyche without actually ever seeing it on stage, this reimagined production offers a striking new perspective on one of musical theatre's most celebrated and, perhaps, most misunderstood shows. It is invigorating, entertaining, exquisitely skilled, and with a live audience willing and wanting to meet these street savvy cats, the phenomenon lives on. Another day is dawning for this rejuvenated production of CATS, proving that after more than four decades, the Jellicle spirit still has nine lives left to give. CATS is still a masterpiece and has landed firmly on its feet.

WE SCORE CATS...