Cats (QPAC) – theatre review

Cats is a musical that tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The first performance of Cats was in 1981 in the West End, followed on Broadway in 1982.

This most recent production to come to Brisbane is again traditionally set in the junkyard, however this time with the lighting being much darker, it is much harder to see the various bits of junk and you only get treated to flashes of it at certain parts of the show.

The car boot, oven door and large truck tyre are all still very much a part of the set, although the enormous tennis racquet is now gone. The set soars at both sides of the stage to the top of the curtain and stretches out towards the stage left second level balcony. While the set looks fairly simple, it is actually quite elaborate with the discarded jetsam and flotsam of humans creating the hidey holes and perches for the Jellicle tribe, as well as items detaching to be used as props.

I am a fan of Cats, this being the third professional show I have seen as well as twice by amateur theatre groups. I have the Australian cast CD (from 20 years ago), the DVD, and the book.

This production has been jazzed up to appeal to a new and younger audience which included changing a character. I did not like this particular change at all. Rum Tum Tugger was my favourite cat. He has now been updated to a hip-hopping rapper with harem pants. While the cheekiness of the character was still there, I don’t feel this change was necessary at all. The Rum Tum Tugger of old was a sexy show off – ‘I know I look good so I am strutting’ – cat, who has all the female kittens and younger cats meowing for attention. This one doesn’t do it for me. That is not to cast aspersions on Daniel Assetta who played the part well. He has a fine voice which was evident when he sang Mr Mistoffelees and I didn’t mind the counterpointing he did at the end of that song.

Another of my favourite bits, Growltiger, was also updated. Growltiger is a ‘flashback’ for Gus the Theatre Cat as he remembers the characters he has played on stage and he transforms from the aged cat to the much younger version, swashbuckling, tail swishing pirate, Growltiger, the terror of the Thames.

Josh Piterman was superb – his voice was equal to the task of sounding elderly and frail to the strong, vibrant tones of Growltiger, and then to the dulcet tones of the Italian aria duet, he and Griddlebone (Samantha Morley) ‘caterwaul’ to each other. This number was updated, Growltiger being more piratey if that is possible, the song Growltiger’s Last Stand, was quicker paced and there as less props used. With the ‘boys’ as his motley crew, they reminded me of Fagan and his band, particularly with the cockney accent put to the song. Piterman is also Bustopher Jones, a very fat cat with white spats.

My other favorites from this show were Jennyanydots (Holly Meegan) and her band of tap dancing cockroaches in the Beetle Tattoo. The tap dancing number, choreographed by Bill Deamer, seemed to be much longer than it had before and I just loved it.

The other highlight of the show was Skimbleshanks, the railway cat (Ross Hannaford). The cast help Skimbleshanks tell his story of how he keeps British Rail running. I kept expecting to see the train materialise from the junk on stage, and then there it was. It all came together with bicycle wheels, umbrellas, a standard lamp and the very clever addition of a spotlight lantern on the front of the train, which when directed out to the audience, showed the silhouette of the train engine, complete with puffs of steam.

Grizabella, the glamour cat, is the cat who has been around the traps and now is a pariah to the cat society. Actresses Elaine Paige, Betty Buckley and Marlene Danielle have all played the part of Grizabella, either on West End or Broadway. Delta Goodrem, who plays this character in the current production, and was simply superb, can now add her name to the list. She nailed the song Memory and not many singers have given me goosebumps and caused me to shed a tear.

And last, but not least, Mungojerrie (Brent Osborne) and Rumpleteazer (Dominique Hamilton) were absolutely delightful in their duet as the two thieves, commonly thought to be on Macavity’s (the bad cat) payroll.

I thoroughly enjoyed the show, except for the rapping. The audience also enjoyed it, showing their appreciation with a standing ovation and “seven catcalls” which was well deserved by the whole cast. The choreography is fantastic; the costumes are sublime, and the singing marvellous.

Venue: Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
Season: 29 January-14 February 2016
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au or 136 246

Eric Scott
For more of Eric Scott’s writings on theatre, check out Absolute Theatre