Cats

Poems have long been the catylist for some well-known songs. The poems of T. S. Elliot, a favourite of Andrew Lloyd Webber growing up, were the inspiration for him to create the score for Cats. First performed in 1981 and the fifth longest running Broadway show, the poems are from the 1939 book ‘Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats’.

Each poem gives character to a jellicle cat who attends the annual jellicle ball. At the end of the ball one of the cats is chosen by the the wise and beloved Old Deuteronomy to be reborn and go to the Heavyside Layer for a new life of their choosing. Grizabella is chosen and this show gives her a very dramatic and realistic send off to her new home.

Much to my surprise I have discovered that the Heaviside Layer, or to give its correct title, the Kennelly-Heaviside layer, is a real thing. Named after its discoverers, it is a layer of the upper atmosphere about 50-90 miles above the Earth's surface. It is vitally important for long-distance radio communications as the layer can be used to bounce radio messages around the world.

In the current world we live in, a story about the power of connection, acceptance and belonging is what we need. The Willoughby Theatre Company presented these ideas with palpable love, warmth and tons of fun - each character playing its part. Talent and experience are displayed in spades throughout this show. It is not easy to become an all singing, all dancing cat who can move elegantly, climb and descend softly and smoothly, and display the amazing small cat shivers and other movements that cats do.

Every voice was excellent, but the rich strength and clarity of Gavin Brightwell’s voice (Old Deuteronomy) is hard to ignore, especially his high B in the last note of the show.

Nikole Music (Grizabella the Glamour Cat), a veteran of over 40 musicals, bared her soul as she showed us the loneliness and rejection she has experienced from the other cats. She looked appropriately decrepit in her tatty fur coat and showed us her pain through the famous song “Memory”. Nicole was also the Production Manager and Costume Coordinator for Cats.

I loved Matt Shepherd’s (Rum Tum Tugger) glam-rock performance with his hip-thrusting choreography, but one of the many other highlights of the show has to be Daniel Terrribile (Mungojerry) and Tianna Koolloos (Rumpleteazer), both new to WTC - pure playful and happy cat fun.

Every cat was captivating to watch and listen to individually. As a chorus, the cats’ harmonies were very well balanced and the high notes solid.

The choreography (Stephanie Edmonds) was outstanding - snappy and energetic when needed. There were exciting tap dancing, acrobatics and aerial routines.

The setting (Neil Shotter) of Cats is a library, which remains static throughout the show. There are virtually no props used. It is the job of the lighting (Tom French) to create the different moods and settings on stage, and this is done so well. The costumes and makeup created convincing transformations.

No musical can take place without the Musical Director/Conductor (Mathew Herne) and the talents of the orchestra who supported the singers very well, as well as the quality of the sound which was mostly excellent.

The audience cheered and clapped through the show but at the end, the enthusiastic noise was deafening as the audience jumped to its feet for a well-deserved standing ovation.

I have never been a lover of the show Cats but this reimagined show, filled with never ending energy, colour, magic, sparkle and many poignant moments has given me a reason to change my mind. Credit goes to the whole team who put this unmissable show together.

This was my first WTC show-it won’t be my last.

Shirley Politzer OAM