Why do you all hate Cats? — Page 3

Jon---Love your analogy of Starlight. Bravo!

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People here already hate Wicked and Rent.

Well, it's not so much that we hate these shows as it is that we hate that these shows have been co-opted by people who don't understand thing 1 about the form (nor do they care to learn anything beyond how great idina is, or how cool la vie boheme was last night).

Cats is a wonderful show -- but when people who don't understand or care to understand write trite comments, our lives are not improved. We hope that by talking down on the shows, it will inspire them to research what it is they like about the show -- and have an intelligent discussion.

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

The issue is that is a completely subjective analysis. You think it is "great", "interesting" and "ingenious," that does not make it fact however. Why should everyone conform to your opinion?

Some people like it, others don't, there are valid arguements for both sides, its a matter of personal taste.

If you are trying to make the arguement, that it is a flawless show beyond all reproach then you're going to have to provide a much more intricate analysis then the word "great"...

If however, you are only trying to prove that it can be enjoyable, then you've done it,some people DO find it enjoyable. You just have to allow for the fact that some people don't enjoy it as well.

The end by blucat500

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Proclaiming something is great, is just as vague as proclaiming something is bad...


"4) The creative process is ingenious in and of itself."

Explain this statement. What about the creative process? What aspects of the creative process? And what made it so different than that of others show that opened on Broadway? What are your feelings on Sondheim's creative process?"

When you were asked to elaborate on why you like the show you simply ignored the request...

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I dislike "Cats" just because it really seems to serve no purpose. It's not that I don't like shows that are 'light-hearted' entertainment. I love the Producers/Spelling Bee/Avenue Q/DRS/etc - there is nothing wrong with just wanting to be entertained. However, the difference between those shows and Cats, in my opinion, is that I can connect with them in some way. The Producers' tremendously funny statement about the entertainment industry, Olive's relationship to her self-serving parents in Spelling Bee, etc. - not the most profound statements ever made, but they have a point.

Cats just seems like meaningless excess. Sure, the costumes, sets, and lighting are neat - but to me they only try to hide how little substance the show has.

And please don't whip out the 'you don't understand T.S. Eliot's poetry' argument. I'm an English major/Eliot enthusiast - not to sound pretentious, but I like to think I have a general understanding of poetry. And while the poems used in the show are certainly charming and clever, as other have said, they are by no means as profound as some of his other works. They were written for children. But we've beat that dead horse ...

I don't see anything in Cats - there is nothing particularly entertaining about it and I see no point to any of the spectacle. It's humorless, shallow, and the music (which can sometimes save a show from a bad plot/book/etc.) runs the gamut from okay-to-terrible.

But that's just my opinion. If you like the show, then it is perfectly fine with me. I certainly don't think less of anyone who does. People are always going to have different tastes. You can't expect your arguments to hold much water with other people, just as I can't with mine.

And I hate cats (as in the pets) ... so maybe I'm biased.

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Updated On: 11/22/05 at 11:42 AM

I can't say I'm a big Cats fan, but it was one of the first shows I visited, and that leaves a soft spot. The great thing about Cats was that I was in a theatre with my parents and my grandparents and we ALL liked it. After seeing a lot of children's shows this was the first time we all saw the same show and all enjoyed it. I do not consider Cats a masterpiece, but it was THE show that made me LOVE musical theatre. I never dared to return, but next year it's coming back to Holland, so I might give it a try again (and I have been known to sing the Jellicle Cats song OUT LOUD.....)

Updated On: 11/22/05 at 12:01 PM

I'm back.

Firstly, in answer to the question about the creative process. On the cats DVD there is some very interesting matierial of how the show was made. Firstly, about Webber, who read the poems, heard a meter and was able to compose a diverse score based on some poetry Eliot had written. Then comes the journey that the story took. It was originally intended to be a journey of humans into the world of the cats until that was changed. Than the story of the set design that Napier came up with, and the directing by Trevor Nunn that created the show. It is a very interesting process.

And to the response that you can't convince people your arguments hold water if you disagree, I say this is completely wrong. I think that someone convince that they have a well thought out view point that I disagree with. I don't think people are fools for hating Cats, but I am perplexed and want to know why. The only reason I have gotten is that it doesn't send a message and all musicals should send a clear and deep message. I feel no one has given me a good warrent for that claim. I want to know why Cats doesn't affect you and it does affect me, not just that we have different opinions so I should drop it. Imagine how our world would work if that is how debate functioned.
And I do think a lot of the people in the theatrical community have a bias against Cats and more specifically ALW. Again, I want to know the warrent behind the claim.

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I saw the Original Los Angeles Production. I was rather young and I was dazzled by the theatricality. I couldn't wait to see it again. Three months later I did see it again. I was bored ****less. I wanted to leave after about 20 minutes. I've never had that kind of experience with a show before.

umm i dont hate cats persay but i mean i like things with plots and storys.... the music is good and i like the poetry but if i want poetry go to a coffee house... although some lyriccs are like poetry.....hmmm the dancing is fun good music i jjust want story

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ALWrules, I think people have answered your question, you just want to argue. People, for the most part, have said it's just not their taste, accept that.

I don't hate it, but I do find it cloying, cutesy and I'm annoyed by the cat movements. I liked the score (especially the British cast recording) when it came out but over the years some of the songs have worn on my nerves. I liked the dancing, but it did get a little tired over the years when the cast members started having trouble even faking the energy.

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"Cats" was just great back in it's day, You weren't expecting a major revival anytime soon were you? Maybe we can get Faye Dunaway in as Grizabella, You could try something like that.

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Disliking the story or the music ARE valid reasons, I just want to go one step further and ask WHY the story and music are disliked.

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