"Cats" reviews- Page 4

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 2:52am

Born in a Ditch said: "Buffalo Bill,

Absolutely a performer should/will grow more into a role as a run goes on, but they should also be able to start the run giving a performance at a certain level. Unfortunately, Leona is far from the level that she should be at given she is the lead name in a high profile revival of one of the most famous shows in the musical cannon.

Your argument of her "putting the work in"  is a bit flimsy seeing how that isn't something that should be applauded; it should be expected. 

Also, calling Grizabella a "demanding" role is a huge stretch. She is on stage for less than fifteen minutes and has one song to sing right before the end of the show. 

 

"



it would be hilarious if her stans started acting salty on social media when she doesn't receive a Tony nomination (obviously).

Updated On: 8/2/16 at 02:52 AM

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 6:50am

I just reread the Guardian review and wow, so insulting to compare Leona's performance to Zeta Jones's turn in A Little Night Music because (1) Zeta Jones is a very accomplished film / stage / TV actress (2) her role was originally written for someone who couldn't really sing (3) she won a TONY for portraying Desiree.

Seems like the reviewer only remembers her manic Tony performance for which there was a legit medical explanation. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 7:20am

This inward looking mentality that only theater trained actors are entitled to Broadway roles is bizzare. 

Imagine if movie producers wrote off Mark Wahlberg based off his rapper/modelling background? 

The crossovers between theater, music, film  and TV makes the industry overall stronger and more interesting IMO. 

If Leona stays dedicated to theatre and uses this opportunity in CATs to grow as an actors then she could really shine in another role down the line. Most reviews praised her singing which is something.   

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 7:25am

Buffalo Bill said: "Well, after all the naysayers, all the critical response, guess who will be going out on stage tonight to open herself up to us and sing? 

Leona. Leona Lewis will, that's who.

With impossibly big shoes to fill, Betty, Laurie, Elaine just to name a few, Ms. Lewis will once again apply her makeup and don her costume and go out there and sing to us. 

I hear her every night. Leona is hardworking and consistent and her performance is growing each and every time.

Bravo to her and to the entire cast and crew of CATS.  Well done, folks! 

 

Thank goodness we have Leona Lewis to go out there and perform every night under these circumstances. How does she even manage it? We should consider giving her the Congressional Medal Honor.

 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 8:15am

adamgreer said: "Buffalo Bill said: "Well, after all the naysayers, all the critical response, guess who will be going out on stage tonight to open herself up to us and sing? 

Leona. Leona Lewis will, that's who.

With impossibly big shoes to fill, Betty, Laurie, Elaine just to name a few, Ms. Lewis will once again apply her makeup and don her costume and go out there and sing to us. 

I hear her every night. Leona is hardworking and consistent and her performance is growing each and every time.

Bravo to her and to the entire cast and crew of CATS.  Well done, folks! 

 

Thank goodness we have Leona Lewis to go out there and perform every night under these circumstances. How does she even manage it? We should consider giving her the Congressional Medal Honor.

 

 

"

she's a shoe in for the Kennedy Center Honors.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 10:52am

Leona doesn't need me to defend her.

I am obsessed with her belt. 

She peeled the paint off the ceiling last night, the crowd went NUTS.

Have you seen her? 

Her belt is HUGE. It gets BIGGER on the second show (in the theatre, we call two shows a day a "double".)

On the night show of the double (Saturday night and this week, Sunday night) she will use that giant talent to wail on the high belt section of Memory, which occurs in the second act. 

It's very demanding. She doesn't disappoint, kids. 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 11:01am

Buffalo Bill said: "Leona doesn't need me to defend her.

I am obsessed with her belt. 

She peeled the paint off the ceiling last night, the crowd went NUTS.

Have you seen her? 

Her belt is HUGE. It gets BIGGER on the second show (in the theatre, we call two shows a day a "double".)

On the night show of the double (Saturday night and this week, Sunday night) she will use that giant talent to wail on the high belt section of Memory, which occurs in the second act. 

It's very demanding. She doesn't disappoint, kids. 

 

"

Yes because grizabella is nothing more than just the belt. Ho hum

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 1:40pm

A friend of mine played Grizabella during its original Broadway run.  Her total stage time is 12 minutes.  Having played demanding roles prior to this gig, it took about 2 months to get into the groove of sitting in her dressing room like a prisoner until her cues.  Yes, she got to literally do nothing but appear on stage briefly in Act 1.  Then wait around to sing the BIG song towards the end of Act 2 then get her star curtain call bow but boy was she depressed during her first 2 months when she started playing the role.  

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 2:00pm

@BrodyFosse, very interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 2:22pm

Wow, 12 minutes. I can see why she'd be feeling a little depressed.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 2:26pm

These reviews are a little upsetting...they're truly a "fatalistic warning" of how well this revival will do for itself.

[Whateverjsays]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 5:21pm

I thought Leona was really wonderful. Vocally I thought sounded better than most others before her (don't attack me for that) but I also love that even after the reviews came out ALW is still standing by her side. 

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Credits-Son-for-Leona-Lewis-CATS-Casting-20160802

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 5:53pm

trpguyy---thank you for posting that original NY Times review of "Cats" in 1982. Frank Rich nailed it as to why this show has (in Rich's case it was a prediction) endured. He understood the appeal:

"No, the reason why people will hunger to see ''Cats'' is far more simple and primal than that: it's a musical that transports the audience into a complete fantasy world that could only exist in the theater and yet, these days, only rarely does. Whatever the other failings and excesses, even banalities, of ''Cats,'' it believes in purely theatrical magic, and on that faith it unquestionably delivers."

[South Florida]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 6:23pm

Growlie wrote

"The correct phrase is "champing at the bit." We'll let you slide this time, but please be more careful in the future. Remember -- the day you cease being BWW's comtock is the day you lose your identity here altogether."

I thought it was chomping too.  Growl, you really know how to hit a guy where it hurts.  I was just thinking dosen't AE write purdy?

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 9:42pm

PThespian said: "I was impressed with Leona's vocal chops. Where it all went horribly wrong for me was with the acting. At least on the night I saw it she started leaning to one side during the middle of Memory.  I have no idea why, but it looked pretty ridiculous.

She's a great singer IMO, but needs to work on her acting.

 

"

I agree with this statement whole heartedly. All she really has to do is slow down her movements and it would help her out a ton. She have the movements of a 30 year old human not a dying glamour cat.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/2/16 at 10:38pm

She thinks she's in a music video. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 12:24am

Saw the show for the first time ever tonight. Not really sure why I liked it, but I liked it. And kinda want to go back. The overture sequences with the eyes and such had me so goddamn giddy, I was almost vibrating. The cast is really spectacular, but I will have to agree with the underwhelming response to Leona. She can SANG that Memory, the vocals giving me goosebumps on top of goosebumps, but she sure has hell can't act it. I found myself desperate for some storytelling context in her performance, but it's just not there. Or her choices aren't reading past the third row. And coming after the magic of that Mister Mistoffles number, I was like, meh. But otherwise, it was a lot of fun.

I don't think the show is going anywhere soon. The house was packed full of tourists and college groups, probably desperate for a classic fun show now that Mamma Mia is gone. 

Oh and a seating note. The cats have a walkway over  the mezzanine left. It's actually pretty cool, I had cats coming through in front of me 3 or 4 times. But there's also a small railing that blocks the view. 

[@z5]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 12:58am

I've never seen it before...but I have been SO excited to see it and am on Fri night. Everything I keep hearing about it, especially the staging, design and choreography makes me more excited. Also... I've listened to Leona since 2008-- so there's that, too. 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 8:31am

I definitely plan on returning to see this, but will more than likely get a seat in the orchestra (preferably an aisle seat).

[scampsweep]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 10:19am

For how long is Leona Lewis contracted in the show.  I'm planning to be in New York next Easter and, assuming the show is still running, will Leona Lewis still likely be in it at that point? Thanks for any information. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 11:56am

scampsweep said: "For how long is Leona Lewis contracted in the show.  I'm planning to be in New York next Easter and, assuming the show is still running, will Leona Lewis still likely be in it at that point? Thanks for any information. "

There may only be a few people in the world who know the details/length of her contract. Typically principal contracts are one year, but anything can happen, especially considering she has other commercial ventures. 

[@z5]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 12:24pm

For anyone that has seen it...How is ORCH row N seat 2 (on the aisle) for this show?

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 1:04pm

I saw Cats last night and I enjoyed it.  My only experience with the show is the tour in 1994 which I intensely hated. I was able to appreciate the artistry involved in the show last night.  

The set is breathing taking. However, sitting in the front of the mezz, I had ugly, black, ill-fitting screens, coverings, etc draping the proscenium and front of the house. I get that it all needs to be there for the starlight effect, but for 95% of my time in the theater, I was staring at black tarps that looked to be sloppily thrown into place.  

Leona did sing the heck out of Memory. Her acting did consist of "dang it seems like the other cats don't like me so I have a sad look on my face". But I don't know what more we could expect from someone playing the part.

So many of the scenes were a joy to watch and the score was gorgeous.  Last time, I was preoccupied with the actors trying so hard to be cat-like that it was distracting. Last night , the cat-acting was more nuanced so it didn't overshadow the acting and choreography. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 1:10pm

It just makes me disappointed that out of all of the beautiful divas out there right now they went with Leona Lewis.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 1:20pm

@z5 said: "For anyone that has seen it...How is ORCH row N seat 2 (on the aisle) for this show?"

 

That's a really great seat for this show.