Music
My Top Five Songs from CATS
The strange thing about me not having seen CATS until now is that I’m a big fan of T.S. Eliot (I can’t wait to see what Andrew Lloyd Webber does with ‘The Waste Land’).
But I didn’t get the chance until January this year, when I took my grandma to see CATS at the Regent Theatre. She was all about ‘Memory’, which was fair enough. I, however, wanted to see the musical interpretations of some of my favourite Eliot poems, and here are my top five.
In chronological order, because it seemed fairest:
1 The Naming of Cats
If you’re so inclined, you can actually listen to T.S. Eliot reciting this himself (below). It’s a very true poem—I have three cats and only one of them (Toby) ever answers to the name we gave him. The other two, well, Pippin’s not the brightest boy, and Ruri only answers to the rattle of dry food in her dish. But the CATS ensemble were far from napping when they performed this number, moving as a beautifully synchronised group to explain this secret side of feline life.
2 The Rum Tum Tugger
My grandma said she wasn’t a huge fan of the reimagining of the Rum Tum Tugger as a streetwise, dreadlocked urban tomcat, as she was used to the older style. I, having no basis for comparison, thought he was utterly fantastic. Daniel Assetta’s performance was excellent, and no wonder given his rapid rise as a star both as a dancer and a choreographer. He looked fabulous; the costume and makeup department did an excellent job for the entire cast, but the Rum Tum Tugger was outstanding. As for the transition from poetry to music? Excellent. The poem itself has a marvellous rhythm, and rendered as a song it’s an irresistible beat.
3 Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer
I was so impressed by these two! Cheeky and thoroughly clever, Brent Osborne (Mungojerrie) and Dominique Hamilton (Rumpleteazer) both have backgrounds in dance. Brent in particular brought his wonderful acrobatic skills to the performance. Dominique follows in the paw-steps of her mother Laura, who performed the same role in the original Australian production of CATS, 29 years ago. The accompanying music is a slinky, catchy tune that will get you tapping your toes.
4 Macavity: The Mystery Cat
MACAVITY! The audience gets treated to sneak peeks of Macavity’s mischief throughout the show, and his grand appearance drew a lot of cheers at the performance I attended. James Cooper brings his vibrant dance style to the role, and the costume department excelled again in bringing this ginger tom to colourful life. But you must pay close attention, because he’s a sly beast—as the song says, “But I tell you once and once again, Macavity’s not there!”
5 The Ad-Dressing of Cats
This final ensemble song wraps up all we have learned of cats, giving strict instructions on how to speak to them: respect is the key. And respect is what you’ll surely have for this cast after this stunning performance. They all give 100%, throwing themselves into the show body and voice alike, and bring the stage to life with their antics. By the end of the show, you’ll surely have found your own favourite cat.
CATS opens at Crown Theatre in Perth on Saturday April 16 until to Sunday May 8. Click here to purchase tickets now.
