CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Reviews — Page 2

would someone plz be kind enough to share a gift link to the nytimes review? thanks so much

blaxx said: "
More than anything, is everyone still hating on Cats? Or have they admitted the material wasn't the issue?"

No, some people are still asses and act like this is the only way the story could have ever been told. Still some of that elitism there, but that's about them and not the show so I just roll my eyes and it let it be. I know my truth.

blaxx said: "MemorableUserName said: "Genuinely curious...is anyone surprised it got raves? Wasn't this expected after the raves for the 2024 production?

For comparison, the PAC reviews (which BWW calculated to 85%)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-CATS-THE-JELLICLE-BALL-Opens-Off-Broadway-20240620"

More than anything, is everyone still hating on Cats? Or have they admitted the material wasn't the issue?"

I think Feldman said it best in his review that the original production, material and all, was at best magically ridiculous and, at worst, just ridiculous, especially with subsequent stagings being increasingly uninspired.

This took a huge risk in not changing the text and songs, and opted to build the space around it. The general consensus will always be the infamous “Hal, it’s about cats”, but adding some bass, putting glitter on its ta-tas, and voguing like life depended on it made 80s kitsch into a queer reckoning by way of celebratory camp.

MemorableUserName said: "Genuinely curious...is anyone surprised it got raves? Wasn't this expected after the raves for the 2024 production?

For comparison, the PAC reviews (which BWW calculated to 85%)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-CATS-THE-JELLICLE-BALL-Opens-Off-Broadway-20240620"

I think there was a lot of speculation around whether it would be able to maintain the same energy in the transfer (or even the momentum, given that it's been a year and a half). Especially when they chose a proscenium theater and didn't do a full build out to make it completely immersive. But even so, it's still gratifying to see that such a big swing can land so well.

blaxx said: "Play Esq. said: "More than anything, is everyone still hating on Cats? Or have they admitted the material wasn't the issue?"

Let’s be clear: the material is, now and always, gonna be ****. But this production elevated the material in the same way a great regie-director elevates La bohème, Tosca, or any Handel opera.

The production is the show: not the music."

Oh, agree to disagree. The music soars in its own right, and the evening would still be half baked if the score was not good."

I was never a fan of Cats, this production made me forget I was watching Cats during much of it.

TheatreFan4 said: "broadfan327 said: "
I was never a fan of Cats, this production made me forget I was watching Cats during much of it."

Says more about you than it does about the show because this is all very much STILL Cats."

Exactly, it's ok for people to admit they were wrong about the source material.

I've never been one to let critics dictate what I should like or dislike, but these reviews are heartwarming to me for Andrew Lloyd Webber and the directors, choreographers, costume designer, and the entire exuberant cast.

I also love that the show is something of a giant middle finger to the current administration.

Updated On: 4/8/26 at 07:55 AM

87 on Broadway Scorecard, critical gold.

"Critics hail this ballroom-inspired reimagining as a triumph that transforms Andrew Lloyd Webber's divisive musical into something fresh, joyous, and essential, praising its inventive choreography and fabulous queer-of-color celebration."

https://broadwayscorecard.com/show/cats-the-jellicle-ball

quizking101 said: "kdogg36 said: "quizking101 said: "Ain’t no wheels left on that dream. PERIOD"

No need to be so mean-spirited: they're both great shows, for different reasons. I do share your view thatCats: The Jellicle Ballshould win the Tony for Best Musical Revival, though."

I think my candor comes from the fact that I had so many people tell me I was wrong for feeling indifferent to the RAGTIME revival. It felt like a singing diorama to me - nothing really new other than Joshua Henry singing with his full chest and, in my opinion, besting Brian Stokes Mitchell.

I feel vindicated - I also heard about the workshops of this years ago and I absolutely balked, but still bought tickets because even if it was going to be terrible, the concept had me sold. I went on to see it 12x more downtown and 5x more since previews."

josh henry bested Brian Stokes Mitchell?? Ummmm that’s a hot take

Personally I think the style of the show is a bit boring. I understand the concept of "spreading queer joy" and "fabulous queer-of-color celebration" as others have described, but I think it has all been seen and done before. It is exactly what we have seen in drag bars and tv shows for decades now. But then the cheapest version of that. I like to see this community as more than complete cheapness. I think there could have been much more cool, classy, creative ways to do this. I think even the original Cats is much more creative, refined, outrageous, fun, queer and entertaining to me.

TheatreFan4 said: " to say Cats on its own is more Queer than Jellicle Ball."

Yes, we might have different visions of the word "queer". I think the original Cats is extremely queer. To me, it means more than acting as cheap/trashy as possible. It's layered, fun and classy. In fact, what they do in Jellicle Ball has absolutely nothing to do with it.