CATS-why? (tour)- Page 2

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:16am

"And Old Deut. sat on stage through the ENTIRETY of the 20 minute intermission. Now THAT was weird. "

I think that is what is traditionally done. And I think kids in the audience are usually welcome to go up and talk to him, though few do.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:25am

I *did* see it during its original run, and I remain perplexed why it ran so long. But then I have the same question about PHANTOM and LES MIZ. None of these three are especially wonderful. They all have mediocre scores, save for a few high points.. but "Memory" was pretty much the "Theme from Titanic" of its day, waaaaaaaaaaaaaay overplayed no matter where you went.

Yes, the choreography was wonderful and the set/costume/makeup design was outstanding, but as a production, it really is in the "why?" category.

Just as side note, I saw the MUNY production a couple of years back. The MUNY *is* a huge stage, one of the largest outdoor faciities in the US, and you would think that CATS woud be tailor made for such a stage. Normally, the MUNY productions are pretty good, but this one just seemed to underlne everything essentially wrong with the show. I couldnt wait for the damn tire to ascend.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:52am

"I think that is what is traditionally done. And I think kids in the audience are usually welcome to go up and talk to him, though few do."
Yeah, that is correct. When I saw Cats I went up to talk to him.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:57am

CATS is amazing when it's done right. It is part of my heart and soul and part of LOTS other peoples around the world as well.

"Why?" Beacuse it is an extremely popular and beloved show. It's not hard to put on. The dancing and costumes are exciting. The music has flashes of brilliance.

Sure there's a plot- a loose one, but it's there. TS Elliott's poetry: You either like it or don't. A group of cats who gather together choose one of their own for renewal. They are presenting themselves to you. It's a story of redemption and communication and learning to accept and understand and interacting. It's the story of a community and all the different people who live in it. A refelction on society.

And every one of the times I've seen the show- on Bway/tours/a local production- Old Mr D sits there during intermission.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:42am

I hosted a group of school kids to CATS at the Winter Garden a loooong time ago. They totally loved the show! The highlights of the show was their chance to line up onstage to shake the hand of the "wonderful" Ken Page, Old Deuteronomy. That and the talk back with the cast in costume after the show. I have wonderful memories and photos burried in a dresser of that one.

It was one of the most special theater trips I can recall. Today, I run into a few of those big kids who still talk about it. (That and the time the Phantom, Jeff Keller, came out for our kids in full makeup and his shortie bathrobe!)

CATS, touches people... did back then and still does today.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:18pm

It's not hard to put on.

rotflmao...

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:01pm

"Yeah, that is correct. When I saw Cats I went up to talk to him. "

Broadway Baby, what did you two discuss? LOL! I just can't imagine the conversation....

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:56pm

CATS works well in a theatre-in-the-round format. Sacramento Music Circus did it a few years back and I believe it worked well because the theatre is small, all the seats are great, and the stage is just big enough for the actors to perform without a lot of extra space.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 7:42pm

I saw the most recent tour last September, and I thought they were really on top of their game. And Old D did sit up on stage for the whole intermission, although I don't think people were allowed to get onstage to talk to him.
The tours are kind of hit-or-miss, because CATS doesn't play well in large auditoriums. It rides on the little details that have to be changed for the road. For example, during the overture, the Winter Garden had tiny lights literally all over the auditorium to represent cats' eyes in the dark. The set extended all over the place, and the tire didn't just rise; it actually came out over the audience a little. Seeing it in the Winter Garden was truly an unforgettable experience. I saw it in June 2000, and it was unlike anything I'd experienced before or since.

[AStack75]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:57pm

I saw the Boston show last night also. It was my first time seeing it and I enjoyed it. Not the type of show I would see over and over, but it was nice to see it just so I know what the heck all the fuss was about. The woman who sang "Memory" was really good. Although there was some microphone problems when she sang it at the end of Act I.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:59pm

I thought her Act I Memory left something to be desired, and people didn't know when it was over, so they didn't clap when they were supposed to in order to end act I. Also, the sound problems happened a little bit at the beginning of Act II.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:03pm

Does anyone know what student rush seats there were last night (2/20) in Boston? Where were they?

Posted: 2/22/07 at 12:55am

i think its pretty overrated, but its still a nice show to see. there are points where i just lose interest, but the majority of the show is fun to see, i like the music. its a good show, but in my opinion really overrated.

[ACTlete676]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 1:32pm

anyone know about the rush tickets in Boston?

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 1:42pm

I hate when people say "Cats has no plot" or "Cats is the worst musical ever!" and then turn around and praise Movin Out. Cats is not a musical, not a traditional one. It's a collection of storied tied together through dance, if nothing else Cats is an incredible dance concert and should be viewed as such. Of course it isn't Sweeney Todd, but I missed the fact that it was trying to be...

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 6:53pm

ACTlete676, the rush seats are best available. I'd call the box office before you leave, though, as it is February Vacation and a lot of families are gonna be taking their kids.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 7:28pm

I believe Richard Stafford staged this tour. He has been associated with this show since Broadway.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:13am

The rush seats are actually not that great, the sides of the orchestra, around Row O, seats in the 30's and 50's where around half the stage is obstructed. Richard Stafford is listed as choreogrpahing this tour, but I wonder when was the last time he checked on it.

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 10:06am

The rush seats in Boston are much better the farther back you sit. The last couple rows of the orchestra were empty though Wednesday night, so you can always move. There were indeed a lot of kids there, slightly annoying.

The show was decent for what it is. I wish the enunciation was a bit better though, I had a hard time understanding a lot of the lyrics. Of course, this wasn't helped by the mics being turned on full blast during the "dramatic" moments. Almost went deaf during the "Touch me!" part of "Memory".

[misto625]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 5:20pm

I moved seats during the blackout between "Bustopher Jones" and "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer"- I had to make sure that I saw the Jellicle Ball unobstructed and straight from the front. I was in an orch box seat beforehand. The "Memory" mike effect was pretty weird as well.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 5:36pm

"Broadway Baby, what did you two discuss? LOL! I just can't imagine the conversation...."
I really don't remember...I was only 8 years old. I probably just told him I liked the show or something.