Review | CATS (UK Tour) March 2013

On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life....

That's about it, as far as the story goes, but Cats is so much more than that. On entering the theatre you're entering a dump - a giant playground for cats. The atmosphere is set before a single note is sung, before a cat is even seen. An abandoned car, larger than life-size tyres, boxes of Shreddies, Ritz biscuits, paper plates, cans of Pepsi litter the auditorium and strings of fairy lights hang from the boxes and around the circles, it's magical, yet rubbish.

I think you're either a cat person, or a dog person... I have a dog (ssshhh!), a sausage dog, so he's cat sized but I've never really been a fan of actual cats. But from the moment the glorious orchestra boom out the overture these creatures are somewhat strangely welcoming. Inquisitive, cute and playful at first Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats is the purrrfect opening, captivating the audience in every way. It's hard to pinpoint a particular element for being greater than another. Vocals, choreography, costume and fiendishly difficult make-up combine to present the stories of these practical, dramatical, pragmatical, fanatical, oratorical, delphioracle cats. 

Ben Palmer (Munkustrap)

Munkustrap acts as the narrator of the story and played by Ben Palmer (42nd Street) we get a solid and strong grey tabby who impresses throughout, particularly in his telling of Old Deuteronomy. Also leading the males is Oliver Savile (Les Misérables) as The Rum Tum Tugger, a curious cat - milking it for all it's worth, this cat revels in strutting around and gaining everyone's attention which Savile certainly achieves, riffing his way powerfully through the final choruses of Mister Mistoffelees and impressive vocal range is evident. Mister Mistoffelees, the conjuring cat has perhaps the most beautiful costume - sparkling and shimmering as he dances around, Joseph Poulton's exciting facial expressions and strength in ballet ensures all eyes are on him. Cameron Ball makes a ferocious Macavity. Nicholas Pound is majestic and in fine voice as Old Deuteronomy. 

Joseph Poulton (Mister Misoffelees) and Oliver Savile (Rum Tum Tugger)

Melissa James attracts attention as Bombalurina - incredibly sassy and impresses with Lily Frazer as Demeter in Macavity. Two other impressive duos are Barnaby Thompson (Legally Blonde) and Katie Warsop as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer in their song, and in dance Richard Astbury and Lizzi Franklin as Coricopat and Tantomile. Ross Finnie is a delight as Skimbleshanks the railway cat, the scene in which the cats build the train from rubbish is genius. 

Cats is very much an ensemble show and as boring as it may be to list names, I cannot go without out mentioning an individual that make up this fantastic company which includes Alicia Beck, Jessica Buckby, Matthew Caputo, Collette Coleman, James Darch, Barry Haywood, Will Lucas, Paul F Monaghan, Joel Morris, Ian Parsons, Alice Redmond, Clare Rickard, Freya Rowley, Francesca Whiffin and Dawn Williams. 

Richard Astbury and Lizzi Franklin

Memory is perhaps one of the most famous songs in Musical Theatre history and comes with a lot of pressure for a singer to follow in the pawsteps of Elaine Paige. So how do you manage to succeed in wowing thousands of people each night? You cast Joanna Ampil as Grizabella. I don't think there has ever been a time in which I have seen anyone sing with as much emotion, and keeping in such beautiful voice. A true star, who deserves to be remembered in this iconic role as famously as Paige. Incredible. 

Joanna Ampil (Grizabella)

Cats plays at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, the first English venue of the current tour for two weeks until Saturday 30th March 2013. Completely unmissable, get tickets HERE NOW. 

CATS (UK Tour) Interview with Ben Kennedy

Based on T.S Elliot's 'Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats', Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical Cats is about to embark on a UK tour. Premiering at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 9th February the tour plays it's first English venue in Wolverhampton at the Grand Theatre for two weeks beginning 19th March.

With an impressive back-catalogue that includes Hairspray, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Love Never Dies, The Wizard of Oz and most recently the UK Tour of Wonderful Town and the Wyvern Theatre's pantomime Aladdin, Assistant Musical Director Ben Kennedy is excited to be bringing Cats back to the Midlands where he grew up.

"I lived in Codsall all of my life so I've been to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on many occasions - from an audience member watching shows during my teenage years and more recently as a pit musician working on the touring shows which I started doing in 2007. I'm delighted that Cats is coming to the Grand for two weeks and I'm sure that Wolverhampton audiences will be delighted with the show!"

Cats ran for exactly 21 years in the West End between 11th May 1981 and 11th May 2002 and is currently back in London for the rehearsal process of a brand new tour.

Rehearsing Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat.

(Photographs by kind permission of Joanna Ampil.)

"Rehearsals are going very well at the moment, we currently have only one week left in London before we move up to Edinburgh for tech week and dress rehearsals at the Playhouse Theatre. A typical day in the rehearsal room starts with a thorough physical warm-up so that all of our company are totally prepared to work on the show, which is one of the most physically demanding shows in the musical theatre genre. We then do a vocal warm-up (as the show is also a demanding sing!), before starting work on the show itself.

We spent the initial part of the rehearsal period working on different sections of the show and putting all of the choreography together and learning all of the music. We are now at the stage of running the whole show - which is such an exciting part of the process!"

Cats has not only broken long-run records in the West End (21 years) and on Broadway (18 years) but has seen productions across the world including Madrid, Zurich, Sydney, Warsaw, São Paulo and Budapest to name but a few. The show has been translated into 10 different languages including Japanese however the show's title has rarely been changed. The Mexican people voted unanimously in favour of keeping 'Cats' as opposed to translating to 'Gatos'. The show has not only been presented in theatres but in tents in Japan and Korea as well as an engine shed in Switzerland. Perhaps the most recognisable version of the show however is the film version recorded at the Adelphi Theatre and released in 1998 starring Elaine Page and John Partridge. Fans should be pleased to discover the 2013 UK tour stays loyal to the much-loved favourite. 

"This is very much the Cats everyone knows so well. Chrissie Cartwright is directing and choreographing the production, bringing Gillian Lynne's brilliant original choreography to the stage once again. We were very lucky to have Gillian visit us in rehearsals this week, which was inspirational to all of us."

Cameron Ball rehearsing as Macavity. 

"Cats is such an exciting score to play. Firstly, as there are no dialogue scenes we are playing throughout the entire show, so we are kept very busy indeed. Secondly, Andrew Lloyd Webber has incorporated such a great variety of musical styles into the score that each section has it's own challenges. The result is a gripping piece of musical theatre, and demands a high level of continued concentration throughout. A good amount of the music in the show accompanies detailed choreography so we have to be totally focussed in order to give the company the perfect tempi, musicality and phrasing at all times. As Assistant Musical Director I get not only the pleasure of playing the beautiful score but also conducting one or two performances each week - which I'm looking forward to immensely!" 

Dance rehearsals require extreme precision. 

Cats has featured many well-known and much loved theatre stars in it's time including Elaine Page, Wayne Sleep, Bonnie Langford, Paul Nicholas, Brian Blessed, Sarah Brightman, John Partridge and Louie Spence. This brand new tour also has it's share of stars as musical theatre favourite Joanna Ampil leads as Grizabella. Joining Joanna is Les Misérables' Oliver Savile as Rum Tum Tugger, Nicholas Pound as Old Deuteronomy, Joseph Poulton as Mr Mistoffelees, Cameron Ball as Macavity and Katy Warsop as Rumpleteazer. 

You can book tickets to re-live the memory of Cats at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 19th - 30th March online here.