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★★★★★
Even among the musical-loving crowd, Cats tends to be divisive. There’s not much of a plot, is there; the costumes are kind of scary; I don’t really know what’s going on – all vague complaints we’ve heard about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous show which opened in London back in 1981. Of course, we also have that terrible movie to blame, which scarred the psyches of many and probably scared them off ever seeing the musical for themselves. Damn shame.
Because here’s the thing: Cats is, and has always been, a fantastic piece of musical theatre. The songs, based on T.S. Eliot’s poems Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, have an undeniable catchiness and rhythm that make for perfect earworms. The sheer athleticism of the cast is stunning to witness – the Jellicle Ball is one of the most taxing dances in musicals, and that’s not even counting them having to grand jeté and cartwheel around the stage while singing flawlessly. It also gave us ‘Memory’, one of the most recognisable songs in musical theatre.
Tasteful as ever, Hong Kong has thankfully embraced Cats with open arms. The musical opened at the Xiqu Centre in early August and almost immediately had to extend its run to September 13. In this more intimate jewel-box theatre, the cast were able to add a level of immersion to their show that I had not witnessed in other productions. Try to get aisle seats if you can – at several points in the show, felines come pelting down the stairs to hiss at, stare down, and otherwise provoke audience members.
As an unabashed theatre kid, I had the grandest time reciting part of ‘The Naming of Cats’ while holding intense eye contact with a sleek cat at very close quarters (we’re talking almost forehead-to-forehead here). Sometime later, the chaotic Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer stopped their frolicking when I cheekily called them “my favourite twins”, and proceeded to take the most deranged selfies on my phone while butting their heads against me. An absolute joy and privilege, just like when a real cat willingly graces you with her presence.
For the uninitiated, Cats is set in a junkyard where the Jellicle tribe of cats have a huge gathering once a year called the Jellicle Ball. They take turns either self-introducing or putting the spotlight on fellow cats, for the chance to be reborn into a new Jellicle life.
I thank Mufasa’s star that this touring production has kept with Gillian Lynne’s choreography and the original costume designs by John Napier. I have no doubt that the cast are talented at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre's newer production of Cats, but I really cannot pretend to like their costumes. Say what you want about fresh revivals, but it’s not Cats without the fluffy leg warmers, wigs shaped into ear tufts, and crayon-like shading down the tabby cats’ sides.
Out of the cast, who are mainly from the South African production, Ché-jean Jupp was magnificent as Munkustrap, with all the steadfast, powerful authority that the narrator and Jellicle protector is supposed to exude, while King B’s Jellicle leader Old Deuteronomy is equal parts commanding and lovable. Cindy-Ann Abrahams stuns as Grizabella, an old cat past her prime who used to be a beauty and is trying to find her way back into the tribe; if you don’t tear up slightly during her ‘Memory’, you may not possess a heart. Hong Kong audiences will also enjoy when one of the younger kittens, perhaps Jemima, sings a reprise of ‘Memory’ in Cantonese.
Cats finishes its Hong Kong run on September 13, before moving on to Singapore, South Korea, and Abu Dhabi. If you haven’t caught it yet, see if you can snag the last couple of tickets left.
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