Chicago Sun-Times: 'Cats' oozes feline fabulousness in Paramount Theatre's circus-inspired staging

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 12:59pm

https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2025/05/11/cats-review-paramount-theatre-aurora-chicago

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 5:22pm

See, don't get me wrong; this absolutely looks fun, but is it just re-heating the last Pippin revival's Nachos? Complete with hoisting your elderly character into the air on a Trapeze?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 5:29pm

Putting a circus concept onto Cats while keeping the cat make up feels like putting a hat on a hat... on a cat.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 6:02pm

See, don't get me wrong; this absolutely looks fun, but is it just re-heating the last Pippin revival's Nachos? Complete with hoisting your elderly character into the air on a Trapeze?

Yes. But it's not like that production of Pippin was the first time anyone ever added circus elements to a show. And when you decide to go circus... it's all gonna kinda look the same, no? This Cats looks as much like the Pippin revival as the Pippin revival looked like the original production of Barnum which looked a lot like the original production of Jumbo. 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 6:11pm

Not gonna lie: I’m curious to see this when I visit next month.  Not renting a car, anyone know how public transport is to the venue?

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 6:46pm

Play Esq. said: "Not gonna lie:I’m curious to see this when I visit next month. Not renting a car, anyone know how public transport is to the venue?"

You'd be taking the Metra from downtown and can check times and prices on their site, but if I recall correctly it is around $7-$8.

 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 7:42pm

Thank you!!!

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 10:13pm

This certainly looks fun -- and no knock to the work the company's done on this production -- but it almost looks ...quaint, next to the radical reimagining from CATS: The Jellice Ball. Don't get mean wrong, not every production must be some amazing new twist on the original...but it's interesting to see the differing attempts, and if those attempts may (or may not) enhance the material.

Updated On: 5/14/25 at 10:13 PM

[rabymon10]

Posted: 5/15/25 at 1:03am

TheatreFan4 said: "See, don't get me wrong; this absolutely looks fun, but is it just re-heating the last Pippin revival's Nachos? Complete with hoisting your elderly character into the air on a Trapeze?"

Funnily enough, there was an RUG production in Australia back in the 90s/early 2000s that was circus tinged and toured in an iconic black big top with cats eyes - Cats - Run Away to the Circus. The press release refers to it as the largest scale musical tour in the world by that time. 

 

Updated On: 5/15/25 at 01:03 AM

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/15/25 at 9:41pm

Chris Jones says he didn't enjoy it that much

Chris Jones Cats Review

I'll be seeing it next week.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/15/25 at 10:23pm

rabymon10 said: "TheatreFan4 said: "See, don't get me wrong; this absolutely looks fun, but is it just re-heating the last Pippin revival's Nachos? Complete with hoisting your elderly character into the air on a Trapeze?"

Funnily enough, there was an RUG production in Australia back in the 90s/early 2000s that was circus tingedand toured in an iconic black big top with cats eyes-Cats - Run Away to the Circus. The press release refers to it as the largest scale musical tour in the world by that time.

"

Oh yeah, they did a short documentary about it that I watched a few years ago!

https://youtu.be/ZHgBlIrCK2s?si=8eB7IdB6pkleIGRn

 

Also, they uploaded a few individual song clips on their YouTube and I'm sad to say that I was very bored. Old Gumbie Cat with just a contortion bit instead of a Tap number is boring...

They also ripped off Jellicle Ball by giving Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer Jersey accents...

https://youtu.be/r6AE5r7Zek8?si=_NTYQKSil8Fer-kK

And they added more physical comedy fat jokes to Bustopher Jones...

Updated On: 5/15/25 at 10:23 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/2/25 at 9:45pm

Another production of Cats with a "Theme", but seemingly no reason why...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photos-Jackie-Burns-and-More-in-Country-CATS-at-Casa-Maana-20250602

[Kad]

Posted: 6/2/25 at 10:28pm

Jellicle Ball seems to have opened a whole can of cats, I guess. 

Updated On: 6/2/25 at 10:28 PM