What's with the hatred of Cats?

I've noticed for a while that there seems to be a large number of people that hate Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. I've seen a recent production of it in my county and I thought it was wonderful. But it seems like a lot of people have a bit of a "love/hate relationship" with it, and I've always found that strange. I've personally never understood the whole hatred that many people have for it. And now that it's coming back to Broadway, I've noticed many people on a recent thread discussing it appear to be moaning about it coming back. I know a lot of other people love it as well, but the hate seems to be spreading well. So what exactly is up with that? Would anyone mind giving specific reasons as to why it's widely hated?

Many people do not like the fact that it has a very thin plot line.

I, for one, find the show very enjoyable. It is not one of my favorites, but the music is good and it's an evening well spent in the theatre.

I can understand why some people hate it but I enjoyed it. Definitely not my favorite show of all time but I can think of much worse shows that could on Broadway right now. Some people like it and some don't. It's just a matter of preference I guess

Maybe I can shed some light. I hate cats. The score is OK but I just feel it's so stupid. It's literally cats running around for two hours trying to compete to get to kitty heaven. So strange. I respect it as being a huge entity in theatre but I just don't care for it at all.

Like broadwayboy said, it's just a bunch of cats running (dancing) around onstage for a couple hours for absolutely no reason, so you feel kind of ridiculous watching it. And the fact that so many people love such a thing makes it seem that much weirder. To me, it's like the Donald Trump of Broadway shows: it's absurd in the first place, so then you detest it even more when a lot of people like it.

I don't like cats. As in the animals. I'm a dog person. Give me a musical Dogs and I'm in.

I don't hate it. Just couldn't keep my eyes open watching the show.

broadwayguy2 said: "Cats is not a terrible show. It's a solid concept review and the original had impressive production values, whether the massive Broadway production or the far more intimate and notably different original London production (and the very low budget version that initially opened.) the original staging is beyond iconic and I am very grateful.

That stated, shows that run as long as Cats did usually become dusty, terribly maintained and horribly tired.

I strenuously disagree with your assertion that long running shows become dusty, terribly maintained and horribly tired. I worked at Cats for two years and spent three years at Phantom. I saw each of these shows eight times a week over the span of those years as new people came and went....Long running shows have the same problems new shows have. Good night. Bad nights. Good performers. Bad performers.

I'm not sure what you're basing your statement on. Have you ever worked on a long running show?

The greater issue for me was always the type of audience that is attracted to a show such as Cats. I'd gladly see the show in a regional or stock house of any size and appreciate the show for what it is, and I have. But on Broadway, in a commercial setting, the audiences that gravity to Cats make me MISERABLE.

"

This revival is going to really help people reassess CATS, one of the most beloved children's shows since Uncle Floyd. Rediscover your happy place with Missy Grenades, the prostitute cat, Obladonger and Twizzeltwats, the prolapsed anal cats, again. For the first time.

Can't. Look. Away.

Whose panties are in a bunch? When mine get particularly bunched up I turn them into a scratching post for my kitties Mr Boom Boom Room and Vadgey.

I don't get the use of the word hate or hater or hatred. Just because someone my not care for a show or a performer or a director does not make them a hater. It's misused like awesome, which once referred to a religious experience and is now applied to a pair of shoes. I know that these words are largely used by young people but still. Hate, especially, is a more weighted word than some may realize.

Shortly after the show opened in New York, I remember watching Randy Newman - of all people - telling some tv host - Tom Snyder I think it was - how much he hated it. And adding that the only thing he enjoyed was the experiential absurdity of paying a whopping and up to that point unparalleled $45 top ticket price to see it. $45 dollars! If we can even imagine that by today's standards.

I don't think it's a bad show. But overexposure can certainly demonize anything, especially a musical that's foreign, big on production, allegorical, quirky and seen by many as thin (and by some as shallow) with pretensions to grandeur... and, all together now, about cats.

Updated On: 1/22/16 at 08:19 AM