CATS: I'm finally joining the rest of the theatre-going world

[SuperSchubert]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:18am

This Wednesday, I'm finally joining the rest of the theatre-going world and seeing the show lots of people love to hate: CATS.

This production will play the St. Louis MUNY this coming week, then the Kansas City Starlight the week after. These outdoor venues tend to share a show (or two) every few summers. It's being directed/choreographed(?) by Cats-alum Suzanne Viverito. Ken Page is reprising his Broadway role for the show--which should be a TREAT! The sets, designed by Sam Gilliam, will be a totally new design (the whole thing takes place outside of a couple of buildings near a highway overpass).

You may flame me for:

a.) waiting this long to see it
b.) seeing it to begin with
c.) all of the above

-SuperSchubert

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:26am

I loved Cats and I'm not ashamed
Have fun

[J.]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:27am

I heard about this. I think it's going to be strange when we star seeing regional theatres do CATS because it will be a completely different design than the Trevor Nunn version we all know so well.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:51am

I still worry about changing the design, but I guess it's time for others to put their creative spin on it. No matter how horrid it may turn out to be... ya never know. It could be good. Just don't start cutting songs. That pissis me off....

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:52am

ignore this... Updated On: 7/4/04 at 01:52 AM

[Juliette Capulet]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:28am

Actually, I love to love CATS.

Have fun!

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

[J.]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:33am

There's no reason to be ashamed of likeing CATS. This is who you are. Come out of your bubble. Flaunt it! lol It's like the movie TITANIC: more people hate it than you think because its so popular.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:48am

some people hate it because the music makes them scratch the skin off of their faces and run around and circles gasping for air, before upchucking and screaming "why, oh lord, why why why?"

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:50am

awww... that's what I said when I saw HONK!, not CATS.

[J.]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:50am

looking at your photo, i can see you've had that problem before.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:53am

Funny....I had a similar reaction to 'Wicked', Sarah Brightman and 'Starlight Express'.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:53am

He's just a mean old man, without a mommy...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:54am

awww....poor Dustin Hoffman!

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 4:23am

A small correction: it's Steve Gilliam, not Sam. There are preliminaries of his designs on his website (http://www.trinity.edu/sgilliam/SLG/CATS/homepage.htmlhttp://www.trinity.edu/sgilliam/SLG/CATS/homepage.html>http://www.trinity.edu/sgilliam/SLG/CATS/homepage.html), and, frankly, I'm not real impressed. This one just feels a little wrong in approach (Check out the Heavy Side for something truly bizarre), which is kinda unusual for Gilliam. He's usually more bang on.

But CATS is one of those shows that I'd love to see someone do as a small-scale production. I'd be curious to see if it holds up as well when the focus shifts from big sets and big production numbers down to something a little more intimate.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:12pm

I can't even call Cats "legitimate theater," it makes me blush and burst laughing.

Essentially, it's a Disney show on ice, without the Disney or the ice.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:14pm

yes, I have loked at Steve's designs one line on aregular basis to see what he has coming up.

ken Page will be a treat.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 5:56pm

Its not SO bad. I mean there has been worse. (TOO OFTEN!) I actually like "McCavity" Thought it would make a great strip tease #>

[J.]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 6:01pm

yeah CATS could be a good show to see while high. I do see what you mean about the disney on ice without the ice or disney.

[Theatre_Lover]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 7:58pm

I like Cats, I guess. Honestly, there are more songs that I dislike than I like. The plot is kinda weak, and there's not a lot of character developement, but than again, I am a sucker for character development.

I love MaCavity, too. I like what's-her-name, Bumbulrinia or whatever. She's so cool, even though I know nothing about her.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 8:12pm

the only real problem with CATS is that it inexplicably ran so long. i'm usually the first to attack the show, but it's fun the first time, especially for young audiences, and there are a few good songs. a good run would have been a year maybe.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 8:13pm

The plot is kinda weak

Plot? What plot?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 8:13pm

Anytime an argument about CATS arises I always have to say that although I loathe the show, it got many people interested in theatre, which in essence is great for Broadway.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 8:18pm

Exactly StickToPriest. Cats was my first show and it is THE show that got me into theatre. I have no regrets.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 7/5/04 at 12:49am

>He's just a mean old man, without a mommy...

or an 18-year old girl