So first, your memory I’ll jog And say: A cat is not a dog. With cats, some say one rule is true. Don’t speak ’til you are spoken to. Myself I do not hold with that. I say you should ad-dress a cat. But always bear in mind that he. Resents familiarity.
So what exactly is a Jellicle Cat? Adapted from TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, this wonderful blend of fantasy, drama and romance is set on the night that the Jellicle Cats meet for the Jellicle Ball in a sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse.
With an amazing musical score, as you’d expect from one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, Joanna Ampil (Grizabella) gives a fantastic performance hitting all the big numbers in spectacular fashion including the timeless Memory.
The classic Cats set design adapted brilliantly for the the Opera House provided the Cats with ample stage to perform and freedom to roam into the crowd at any moment. The costumes need no introduction, anyone familiar with the 80’s, think David Bowie for example, and a keen sense of imagination can envision these highly theatrical yet elegantly simple ensembles, allowing the Cats to not only perform but shine in their individual looks and personalities.
For me it was all about the choreography, and if any scene was to sum up the quality it’d be Act Two, Scene 17: Mr Mistoffelees Joseph Poulton delivered a stand out performance throughout and in Quaxo’s pinnacle moment he nailed it.
Also thought I’d include this little bit of nostalgia for all those around in the late 90’s when VHS was going strong, the straight to Video production of Cats featuring Elaine Page, John Partridge, Rosemarie Ford, John Mills and many more..
CATS is billed as a musical like no other, I’d be hard pressed to disagree, it has enchanted audiences in over 300 cities around the world and i highly recommend, with kids or not, to experience it Manchester.
