"Cats" reviews- Page 5

[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.

 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/16 at 2:33pm

 

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

 

"HUGE"? Who are you? Donald Trump?

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 1:22pm

Just watched the GMA medley (linked to here on BWW) and now I understand what people are saying about Ms. Lewis.  She does look too young for my view of Grizabella.  And, to me, she starts out so breathy and not in a good way - it doesn't sound "tentative".  Maybe it's just too early in the morning.    

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 1:29pm

She also moves as if she's singing the song in a concert setting. There seems to be very little attempt on her part to use movement to convey a character. She's just convulsing because she's belting and that's what singers are "supposed" to do.

The choreography also lacks fluidity like the cast is just moving from one pose to the next.

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 1:42pm

CATSNYrevival said: "She also moves as if she's singing the song in a concert setting. There seems to be very little attempt on her part to use movement to convey a character. She's just convulsing because she's belting and that's what singers are "supposed" to do.

The choreography also lacks fluidity like the cast is just moving from one pose to the next.

 

"

I guarantee you still haven't actually seen it for yourself and are just going off of their performance on GMA today. These guys and girls are insanely talented and are exceptional dancers. Blankenbuehlers choregoraphy is outstanding and really is a great complement to Lynn's already exceptional ballet/jazz choreography. It's a little frustrating hearing you slam a show that you have never seen only because they took out a part that no one cared for in the first place. Also if you read the reviews the main thing the complain about is that it is just a rehash which is something that you have previously complained about this show not going to be. It's not radical changes that have been made. They are just changed that add to the production and does not take away from that nostalgia feeling I'm assuming they were looking to cash in on.

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 01:42 PM

[10086sunset]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:02pm

Anyone who has seen it, could you please tell me the run time?

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:19pm

10086sunset said: "Anyone who has seen it, could you please tell me the run time?

 

About 2 hours, 20 minutes, including intermission

 

[stage_star]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:20pm

I just saw the Cats's cast performing on GMA.

I never really liked Cats, except for "Memory", a great song, undeaniably. And I really like Leona, the singer. But that casting was all kinds of wrong. Sure, she can belt, but everything else was just WTF? From the facial expressions, to the weird movements, the dramatic clearly marked fall to the floor... Nope!

And the fact that they audition true Broadway actresses (Alice Ripley talked about auditioning) and ended up with a popstar is just gross and disrespectful!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:32pm

rangersrule132 said: "I guarantee you still haven't actually seen it for yourself and are just going off of their performance on GMA today. These guys and girls are insanely talented and are exceptional dancers. Blankenbuehlers choregoraphy is outstanding and really is a great complement to Lynn's already exceptional ballet/jazz choreography. It's a little frustrating hearing you slam a show that you have never seen only because they took out a part that no one cared for in the first place. Also if you read the reviews the main thing the complain about is that it is just a rehash which is something that you have previously complained about this show not going to be. It's not radical changes that have been made. They are just changed that add to the production and does not take away from that nostalgia feeling I'm assuming they were looking to cash in on."

Quit attacking me. I'm allowed to review their performance on GMA. Obviously I can't speak for the show as a whole and a wasn't attempting to. I commented only on what I saw in the video per your previous comments. I've already decided not to see the show. Why would I spend that much money to see a show that I can already tell I will be disappointed by? It's not like it's a new musical. I know Cats very well, I've seen it many times and I know what I'd like and what I wouldn't like. I'm sure the majority of the cast is talented. I'm not criticizing them. I'm unhappy with the changes that the creative team has made and I don't have to support those changes with my dollars just to confirm what I can already clearly see in that video.

 

[Neon20]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:36pm

stage_star said: "I just saw the Cats's cast performing on GMA.

I never really liked Cats, except for "Memory", a great song, undeaniably. And I really like Leona, the singer. But that casting was all kinds of wrong. Sure, she can belt, but everything else was just WTF? From the facial expressions, to the weird movements, the dramatic clearly marked fall to the floor... Nope!

And the fact that they audition true Broadway actresses (Alice Ripley talked about auditioning) and ended up with a popstar is just gross and disrespectful!

 

"

Totally agree! Watching this morning all i kept thinking was how much I wished it was Laurie. RIP Ms. Beechman

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:41pm

I saw it Tuesday. show start at 7 and was done about 9:20/9:25

[10086sunset]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:04pm

Thanks Phantom and Jakeevan.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:10pm

I just posted in the Leona Lewis thread. All can say again is Alice Ripley was/is phenom as Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard, (and Side Show and ...) !! Just buy Leona out (like Patti LuPone) and get Alice into Cats asap!!

Alice would get her next Tony Award!

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 04:10 PM

[RW3]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 5:54pm

Just watched the GMA performance and it seemed like they had slowed down the tempo of "Jellicle songs". Additionally, I was holding out hope for Leona, but that was rough. She sounded good for 8 o'clock in the morning, but there was little left to be desired by her acting performance. However, I won't place all the blame on her. I will also place some blame on Trevor Nunn who clearly needs to work with her individually.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 6:45pm

re: the Jellicle Tempo. It also seemed slow to me for the GMA performance, by a few metronome clicks compared to the opening night performance. I suspect that they wanted to stretch it by a few seconds to use every bit of their TV slot, but certainly can't say for sure. 

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:00pm

Hi guys! Check out my colleague's column/review and let me know what you think!

He discusses some of the differences between the old and new productions, what he remembers, what he thinks works, etc.

Would love some feedback! 

http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/theater/2016/08/04/broadway-cats-ready-make-memories/88267828/

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:27pm

Leona's performance on GMA was hilarious

A classic lesson on "what not to do" in musical theatre acting. 

people (aka her stans) need to stop making excuses for her. SHE. SUCKS.

Too bad they didn't get Nicole Sherzinger. at the very least, she could act decently and also sing the song well (if they really wanted to stunt cast)

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 08:27 PM

[holdyourbatboy]

Posted: 8/5/16 at 11:21pm

Can you see the "moon" on the set's backdrop from the fourth row of the front center mezzanine?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/5/16 at 11:29pm

Did Trevor Nunn actually direct any of this? I mean this go around? 

[Buffalo Bill]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 12:27am

Yes, Trevor Nunn directed this revival. He was at The Simon, I saw him there frequently!  Andrew Lloyd Webber was there as well. 

[Olivia11]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 1:41am

We saw it tonight and enjoyed it very much. We had seen the OBC and liked what they kept and enjoyed what the updated. 

The cast was enormously talented and happy to be there. The audience enjoyed the performance and a night out. It doesn't have to be all things to all people. 

 

Updated On: 8/7/16 at 01:41 AM

[@z5]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 3:58am

Gotta say i LOVED this show! I was totally blown away and taken in by it...especially the opening, and the entire second act was amazing. Leona's 'Memory' at the end gave me chills. 

The lighting was absolutely brilliant, as was the set and, of course, the choreography.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 4:05am

@z5, I was delighted by your review. It's just refreshing, as the majority of the people on these boards can't stand the show, lol.

[evic]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 10:57am

It looks like the make up was changed from the original- you can see more of their faces here.........but it's the same old boring show- Just give her a mic and she may as well be singing in a club- no acting at all...no emotion, her hands! (paws)!.  She stunk

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/6/16 at 11:11am

either Trevor Nunn is sloppy in directing Leona or she's just too dim-witted to comprehend instructions