CATS

[Diane CBPFC]

I am taking my daughter to an amature production of CATS this weekend it is said to have 100 actors.

I had no idea what the show was about so ordered in T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats from the library - not many of them seem very practical to me and I've had to learn the meaning of new words such as terpsichorean and Jellicle.

So many (39!) cats names and characters to read up about on Wikipedia for the actual musical - I will never get them all sorted out by the weekend. 

Anyone been to see CATS - do you enjoy it more if you know which cat is which?

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

Spookily enough, Cats is on in Edinburgh at present and as part of a Xmas pressie for the good lady, I bought tickets to go and see it. Being a naive male, I didn't realise that it would also involve shopping (well it isn't often we go through to Edinburgh), some lunch (that'll be credit card number 1), a nice evening meal (that'll be credit card number 2), and an overnight in a hotel (that'll be busking, stripping, or the offering of strange services for paper money of any denomination).

I've never actually bothered reading the book, and to be honest, unless Elaine Paige was going to jump out and start serenading me, I probably never will. I enjoy it as a musical, and that's enough for me. "Memory" always brings me out in goosebumps...what a song!

Do let me know how the show goes, I'm sure it will be excellent. At least it is in one bloody part...Peter "3 parts" Jackson , take note.

 

[Diane CBPFC]

You should have packed a few tins of tuna along with you and told her it was part of the experiance.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

I'm taking old shoes to throw...

[Diamond Lil]

I saw the show many years ago.  One of those last-minute decisions which involved snapping up the few remaining seats and then needing oxygen to climb to them in the upper, upper circle.  Given my dislike/fear of heights, I spent most of the show trying to remain calm so it didn't much matter which cat was which.  I remember enjoying the staging and music though so hope you have a good day out.

[Jack]

I've often thought that musicals would be great, if it wasn't for all the singing.

[Diane CBPFC]

We will have a good time, a day out in the city – drop off a few pies at my son’s dorm and do a bit of girly shopping too.

You have to remember that over 100 people have been working for months to put this play together as volunteers and most of them wouldn’t normally be out in public wearing spandex cat suits – very brave and dedicated amateurs. 

[Jack]

I especially like the way you said that only MOST of them wouldn't normally be out in public wearing spandex cat suits.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

We will have a good time, a day out in the city – drop off a few pies at my son’s dorm and do a bit of girly shopping too.

You have to remember that over 100 people have been working for months to put this play together as volunteers and most of them wouldn’t normally be out in public wearing spandex cat suits – very brave and dedicated amateurs.

100 am-drams in spandex catsuits? Please tell me you're taking the camera with you. 

[Diane CBPFC]

Cameras are not allowed but they did post this photos of a sample of their kitties on the internet - not too shabby for non-model type people.

[Diane CBPFC]

Personally, I would have preferred seeing real cats but that would take a lot of training... and the smell would be awful.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

The backdrop is amazing, how did their set designer come up with that?   

[Diane CBPFC]

CATS  was a wonderful experience. I was surprised that there was a live orchestra and delighted that the kitties interacted with the audience during intermission allowing people to take photos, the cats made a special effort to have fun with  children in the audience of which there were not that many. The dancing, the singing and the set were all far above what I expected from “amateurs” – I was thoroughly enchanted and not ashamed to say I had a little cry in parts.

The SPCA missed out on a re-homing opportunity as I’m sure many people would have been happy to leave the show with a cat under their arm.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

Glad you enjoyed it, Diane. Not sure why you were surprised at the "live" orchestra mind you, I've always found them far superior to the "dead" type. 

[Jack]

You clearly never heard our school orchestra then.