Cats

A pre-show announcement informed the audience who was conducting the live band. It immediately became obvious why it was necessary to tell us the band was live. The new streamlined three keyboard dominated nine part orchestrations sound in part like a backing track.

It makes sense for one of the songs updated by Andrew Lloyd-Webber – a rap version of Rum Tum Tugger – to have this highly synthesized sound. At other times for those who have seen Cats before it was disconcerting.

It is only five years or so since the last professional tour and there have been many excellent amateur productions around the traps – so the central question for me was why would I need to see Cats again?

Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s sell out revival at the London Palladium has sparked the latest round of productions world-wide and there is talk of a Broadway revival.

Those new to Cats and occasional music theatre goers will be dazzled by the choreography, the up close patting of the pets in the audience, the wonderful characters of T S Eliot and that blockbuster tune 'Memory'.

With great fanfare Delta Goodrem stepped into the role of Grizabella – the sad and lonely cat who spends her time remembering the times she was young and adored.

Looking most un-Grizabella-like, a glamourous Delta crept onto the stage in a slightly jilted manner singing a first rendition of Memory in a subdued fashion.

By the end of the first act this musical was badly in need of some oxygen.

Thankfully it arrived just in time in the second act.

We were able to relish some wonderful character acting and wizard-like dance performances. Stand-outs were Jason Wasley - very witty as Old Deuteronomy, Ross Hannaford - exhilarating as Skimbleshanks and Christopher Favaloro - a magician as Mr Mistoffelees.

Ah yes, now we remember why we loved the musical so much.

Onto the stage returned Delta. She belted out Memory the second time with gusto, bringing some of her fans to their feet and even exciting some shop worn critics.

During the curtain call the pop diva broke out of her character to wave at the audience – like they were fans at a pop concert (oops you don’t do that in a musical).

Her disciples leapt to their feet. The Cats are back on the prowl.

David Spicer