Why do you all hate Cats? — Page 2

And you wanted me to defend my position. I have done so through my questions throughout the forum? heres' a synopsis

1)great music
2) great staging
3) Interesting social examination of the human world
4) The creative process is ingenious in and of itself.

All of these have many subcatagories.

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You didn't offend me. I'm just wondering why we're the ones answering all the questions.

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Updated On: 11/22/05 at 12:43 AM

You tell 'em ALWrules!

Like what kind of shows?

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These are the only cats I like.

As for the show, I found it to be silly. Yes, I understand the deep metaphors it stands for and the poem it is based upon, I just did not like the show. A show does not have to have deep meaning to be of value, but it needs to connect on some level to me for me to enjoy it. For me, Cats did not connect. For you, it did.

People have different tastes. Some like Cats. Some like cats (as pets). Some are just allergic. Some don't like Cats or cats.

Updated On: 11/22/05 at 12:52 AM

lol You want it When????

But exactly WHY didn't you like the show? I'm not trying to be a nag, but just curious

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I LOVED CATS. I am not against it.

Ya know, I loved The Producers (saw it three times with the OBC) and enjoyed The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, Spelling Bee, Altar Boyz and many other shows from the past few years that I wouldn't describe as particularly deep or meaningful or substantive. But they were all well put together, featured characters and stories I found interesting, most had a certain amount of wit and cleverness, and they all relied more on good solid writing and well-developed characters to entertain than on lighting and special effects and choreography (which struck me as ploys to disguise the shortcomings in the other aspects of the show, notably the score).

If you love the show, fine. Good for you. But I think I've explained in great detail why I don't. It has nothing to do with not liking non-deep shows -- I just don't care for superficial and inane productions that don't seem to have any reason for existing to begin with other than flash and spectacle and that lack some resonant human quality in its core. Perhaps you see one in this show -- all I saw was a a theme park ride.

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Updated On: 11/22/05 at 01:16 AM

Memory is probably one of the most overrated show tunes in my opinion. My major problem with Cats is that it creates an illusion using physical elements of theater such as the great make-up and costumes to hide the fact that it is a show about nothing, it's kind of a revue with a less than stellar score, and with a semi-story that when you look at it, it's kind of absurd. I'm an English major and love T.S. Elliot, but these poems were written for kids, this is not Wasteland. I also resent the fact that ingenious shows such as Passion or Follies could never dream of making it past two or three years on Broadway.

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Cats traumatized me lol. I wasn't clapping when I saw it and a Cat came over and grabbed my hands and made me start clapping (I was about 6) The set and costumes are definitly impressive I remember walking into te theatre and being amazned, but it was one of the most boring experiences of my life. I that was just because I was 6, i saw it 3 more times after that, all the foreign relatives had to see Cats. I'm an ALW fan and I do think Cats has some catchy tunes but I don't get the hype. To be honest I feel that way about a lot of shows: Rent, The Producers, Avenue Q, Spamalot were all over hyped for me and I'm sick of hearing about them, same with Wicked which I originally loved but am now bored to death with, and I think this feeling may attribute to some negative feelings from people who may not have seen it. but having seen it i can say i didn't like it.

I am just going to throw a big ditto back to Margo since everything has already been covered.

But, let me just add, Cats was the only Broadway show that has ever put me to sleep.


Edit: Haaaa...put me to sleep. Unintentional pun.

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Updated On: 11/22/05 at 08:31 AM

Out of curiosity, Margo, did you like Starlight Express? I personally hated CATS (admittedly only saw it on TV, but still found it thoroughly boring) but love StEx.