Theatre Under The Stars opens its 2024 season with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats, playing in repertoire until August 23rd. Appropriately climaxing with perhaps one of the most well-known works of musical theatre, Memory, this dazzling sung-through musical leaves you with lasting memories.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s book of poetry “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”, CATS tells the story of a night in the life of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles, introducing the variety of cats to the iconic Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s hits including ‘The Rum Tum Tugger’, ‘Magical Mister Mistoffelees,’ ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat,’ and, the legendary, ‘Memory.’
Director Ashley Wright, Choreographer Julie Murphy and Music Director Sean Bayntun have crafted this TUTS production of Cats into a tight, energetic (Jellicle) ball. Filling the Malkin Bowl stage the company of two dozen performers move with the grace and agility of a cat, slowly stalking the perimeters only to burst forth with explosive energy. Veronica Phinney as Munkustrap acts as ring leader of this evening of Jellicles, then one by the one a host of featured cats are introduced.
Rum Tum Tugger is a vain, curious and fickle cat, performed by Colton Bamber who’s presence commands attention of the cats and humans. Bustopher Jones, played by Isaac Aaron Johnson (who also plays Gus, the Theatre Cat) is a regal ‘Cat About Town’ living in the lap of luxury. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer played by Haley Allen and Jenna Lamb bring dazzling acrobatics to their vivacious choreography contrasting with Sarah Lane’s Grizabella, a slow-moving withering former glamour cat.
Skimbleshanks (Holly Collis Handford), The Railway Cat bring everyone together for a rousing ride on the rails while Macavity (Jaren Guerreiro), The Mystery Cat has everyone on the run. Standing tall and wise over all the Jellicles is Old Deuteronomy, the honoured cat played by Janet Gigglioti, is kidnapped by Macavity, but October Penningroth literally leaps into the spotlight as the crowd favourite, Magical Mister Mistofolees, the original conjuring cat is able to bring back Old Deuteronomy in time for the wise old sage to choose which cat will ascend to be reborn, giving Sarah Lane a shining moment as Grizabella, all alone in the moonlight, puts herself forward as she remembers the time she knew what happiness was.
As a sung through musical, CATS allows the music to tell its story, and each of these characters and performers bring their own to this epic production. While the music is always epic, a previous big budget version of the musical didn’t have nearly the energy or enchantment as this production. So even if you’ve seen it in the past, see CATS at Theatre Under The Stars and let the memory live again.
Theatre Under The Stars’ CATS plays at Malkin Bowl in repertoire with another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, School of Rock, until August 24, 2024. Visit tuts.ca for details and tickets.