Jellicle cats delight

What a great show! The costumes were wonderful, the make-up was fabulous, the music was quirky and enjoyable, and the performances by all were exceptional.

Before the show CATS started we were delightfully graced with the ‘cats’ coming out interacting and engaging with the crowd. Their actions were those of every day domestic cats; purring, climbing, chasing and wandering around us all. The children there were fascinated and actually so were my guest and I!

This was my first musical and I found myself excited to see the curtains open. Unfortunately, the excitement was replaced by agitation during the first half of the show, as I was distracted by constant tapping on the back of my chair.

However, in the second half of the show my focus was back and I began to understand the narrative about what the Jellicle cats represented and why they were on this journey.

The felines were reuniting for the annual Jellicle Cats ball, where ‘Old Deuteronomy’, the wise old leader – the father, grandfather and uncle to most of the cats – was to choose who would be reborn to a new life.

Some of the dancing was ballet style and some of the music was operatic – this was incredible and left me with an appetite to see more. What stood out for me was when ‘Grizabella’ (the old Jellicle cat who was shunned by the other cats after she left years ago to explore the outside world and then returned) sang Memory. It made me gasp and sent chills down my spine. It was hauntingly beautiful!

I had to chuckle to myself as when I first heard the start of it, I was reminded of how my boss sings it on a daily basis, out of key at the top of her voice.

Overall, I loved the show and would now relish the opportunity to see other musicals.

(Jannine Malcolm)