Whenever I mention to fellow theatre-lovers that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is one of my favourite musicals, I receive a chortle in response. Maybe it’s because when the musical first launched here 28 years ago, it was the only spectacle to see in town (“Whenever you went on a date, you went to Cats,” someone recently said to me, rather bitterly).
Or maybe it’s because the hatred between dog lovers and cat lovers runs pretty deep. Whatever the reason is, the response is surprising given that it’s the second-longest running show in Broadway history (although New Yorkers would probably roll their eyes and blame the tourists for that).
Admittedly, my love for the show relies heavily on romantic nostalgia. Cats was the very first musical I ever attended. I was five years old and I loved it so much that I saw it twice. I don’t know what captivated me most: the set, which is a moonlit junkyard that seemed so real to me, or the elegant movements of the cats, including the gyrating, Elvis-like Rum Tum Tugger, who pulled me onstage (I’m guessing it’s the latter).
However, after watching the new production 20-plus years later at the Panasonic Theatre, with years of theatre-going under my belt, I was still mesmerized.
The show itself is more a fanciful suite of music and eclectic dance (including ballet, modern, jazz and tap) than a traditional musical with a story. Based on T.S. Eliot’s book of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and a few other choice works of his, there is scarcely a plot but rather a few dozen vignettes.
It’s a pretty simple scenario. But like a cat’s mood, Webber’s score — which easily goes from the frisky (“Mr. Mistoffelees”) to the wistful (“Memory”) — keeps the energy of the play moving with vigour, along with Gino Berti’s cat-like choreography, which has the cast slinking, preening and prowling with just the right amount of cat-titude.
Though the costumes and makeup seem dated to me (there’s something very ’80s David Bowie about them), the all-Canadian cast gives fresh and confident performances. There are a few standouts like Martin Samuel, who charmingly steals scenes with his cool cat performance as Rum Tum Tugger, and Devon Tullock is another favourite with his mischievous performance as the magician Mr. Mistoffelees. And of course Dionisio broke my heart with her powerful rendition of “Memory.”
Okay, I admit it: I am a cat lover. I loved cats before they were ubiquitous grumpy memes. Once I even participated in constructing a “cat wall” at my office comprised of kitty cutouts and photographs. But I assure those who are not so feline friendly that you will still enjoy this new production, so quit your snickering.
Cats, Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge St. Runs until July 28