The Playhouse Square touring production of ‘CATS’ is musical theater purr-fection

It began as a song writing exercise by Andrew Lloyd Webber in late 1977. Webber had challenged himself to see if he could write music to predetermined lyrics. The book chosen was T. S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” which had been a childhood favorite of the composer. The results were performed privately for friends which might have been the end of that.

After his song cycle “Tell Me on a Sunday” was televised by the BBC, Lloyd Webber decided to further expand “Practical Cats” as he had deemed it. At the 1980 Sydmonton Festival a concert was performed with Eliot’s widow in attendance who gifted Webber with a collection of her late husband’s unpublished cat-themed poems that included “Grizabella the Glamour Cat” which gave Lloyd Webber the theme he was looking for to launch a full-scale musical.

Following the Sydmonton Festival, Lloyd Webber set the unpublished poems to music and composed an overture as well called “The Jellicle Ball.” Analog synthesizers were used to create a unique electronic sound. Cameron Mackintosh was recruited as producer who brought in Trevor Nunn to direct. Nunn hired Gillian Lynne to choreograph the show as well as set and costume designer John Napier. After the advertising agency submitted their design for the poster (a pair of yellow feline eyes with dancing silhouettes for the pupils set against a black backdrop) the title “Practical Cats” was shortened to simply, “CATS.”

In spite of this group’s best efforts, funding was difficult to say the least. Mackintosh struggled to raise the £450,000 ($1.16 million U.S) in order to bring the musical to the stage in London’s West End with major investors skeptical of the show’s earning capability. Lloyd Webber ended up taking a second mortgage on his house in order to make the down payment for the theater. The remaining capital was raised from 220 individuals through the use of newspaper advertisements. Those who took the chance saw a return of over 3,500%.

With previews slated to start on April 22, 1981 and a scheduled opening of April 30, 1981 Nunn revealed that there was no finished script. In spite of this rehearsals began on March 9th. Richard Stilgoe (known for his ability to improvise lyrics on the spot) was brought in to pen the opening song. His song “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” sets the opening tone. There still was a need for an “emotional center” and it was well into the previews that Nunn finished the song “Memory.” Much of the story line was thought up out of thin air through improvisation sessions during the rehearsal phase. The resulting London production ran 21 years and 8,949 performances with the Broadway production running 18 years and 7,485 performances (4th in all time). CATS is said to have started the mega-musical phenomena that we still enjoy today.

The show begins with a black stage and lively overture as a tribe of cats known as the Jellicles gather. Breaking the fourth wall they explain how different cats are named. The cats have gathered for the annual Jellicle Ball where the cat patriarch, Deuteronomy, will announce which cat has been chosen to be reborn into a new life on the Heaviside Layer.

Each cat in turn then performs in hopes of being chosen. First up is tap dancing Munkustrap, a large tabby who sleeps the day away but at night teaches the mice and cockroaches activities to keep them busy and less destructive. She is followed by Rum Tum Tugger who is very fickle “for he will do as he do do, and there’s no doing anything about it.” Grizabella enters but is spurned by the other cats for “The Glamour Cat” has fallen into disarray. The music changes to a lighter beat as Bustopher Jones “The Fat Cat” brags about his appetite and wide girth.

A loud crash empties the stage as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are introduced as a pair of mischievous petty burglars. Old Deuteronomy enters but is interrupted by another loud crash, presumably from Macavity, The Mystery Cat, who is found not to be there at all. The Jellicle Ball celebration begins as the cats show off their dancing skills. During the ball, Grizabella reappears but is once again shunned. She tries to dance along but her age and condition prevent her. She then introduces the song “Memory.”

There are many elements needed to pull off a successful touring Broadway production. This show has them all. The casting is absolutely brilliant with several standouts including Hank Santos (Rum Tum Tigger), Tayler Harris (Grizabella) whose second act rendition of “Memory” is a show stopper), Michelle E. Carter (Jennyanydots) whose tap dancing solo is fantastic, John Anker Bow (Asparagus the Theater Cat) who really knows how to spin a tail, Sam Buchanan (the very energetic Mystery Cat), John Zamborsky (Railway Cat) who is an absolute delight, Cameron Schutza (Deuteronomy) whose tremendous baritone is perfection and Yuka Notsuka (Victoria) whose ballet interpretation is flawless.

The scenic and costume design by John Napier is phenomenal to say the least. The split-second lighting design by Natasha Katz is flawless. Lastly, the choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne) is energetic, beautiful, lively and full of gymnastics to wow the crowd. The show is directed by Trevor Nunn.

Cleveland is truly blessed to have shows of such high caliber visit us for extended stays. This is London West End and Broadway at its best. If you only see one KeyBank Broadway Series production this year, then this is the show to see. It is purr-fect.

“CATS” will be on stage in the Connor Palace Theatre at Playhouse Square through November 20, 2022. For more information and tickets go to https://www.playhousesquare.org/or call (216) 241-6000.