Cats - Why did it run for so long?

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:10am

I don't understand what was so appealing about it. "Memory" is the only song I like from the show. Cats closed before I became interested in musical theater, so I can't begin to comprehend why this show was popular.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:27am

It was truly spectacular when it opened. The way they transformed the Winter Garden was worth the ticket price alone. I still think it is one of the nicest sets I've seen, ever.

The idea of musicalizing poems about cats seemed ridiculous to many, word of mouth seems to indicate dozens turned down the chance to produce it (the character Maxwell Sheffield was given this a recurrent joke in the TV show The Nanny). Gillian Lynne's choreography proved to be very effective for the time, and this cantata mixed with modern dance proved to be a groundbreaking spectacle and hot ticket. As such, its lack of depth has made it to be considered by many as shallow and pointless.

You can attribute the length of its run to the tourists. The thin narrative line and flashy numbers makes it a very accessible show and an easy sell for everyone.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:28am

I don't know if it's true, but it's been said part of its durability can be attributed to the fact you don't really need to know English to get the show.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:31am

I don't know if it's true, but it's been said part of its durability can be attributed to the fact you don't really need to know English to get the show.

Well, even if you don't know English - there is nothing to get.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:32am

I tried seeing it once but the Latinos were just too loud so we left after the big litter box number.

Updated On: 3/21/12 at 01:32 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:45am

It looks pretty and it was the first show that I saw. Bit of a gateway show. and since it was the first show I saw, I have to see it EVERY TIME is comes through here now for Nostalgia sake. Last week was my 3rd time in 13 years, probably a bit too much.

The cast is still somewhat strong, but one thing grated my nerves. Gumbie Cat is a tap number, it's obviously a tap number, the tour has no tap shoes. The effect is just lost and it shames me because it is one of my favorite songs in the show, but to see them awkwardly "tapping" and hearing no tap is inexcusable.

Not to mention one of the ushers came through and had to tell everyone the show wasn't canned which for the most part I sincerely doubt. You could here the MIDIs they're using on the keyboard. And the blow up set. UGH!

Though I was delighted to see their Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer do the two person cartwheel which I just f***ing love.
Updated On: 3/21/12 at 01:45 AM

[Idiot]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:47am

Gatos: Ahora y Siempre

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 2:47am

TheatreFan,
to be fair on your statement, I must specify that the tour doesn't have entirely canned music. I am not sure what the current musician count is, but the tour has a small band combo (last I read, 6 pieces) augmented by a digital music system, as is standard with many non-union tours, especially when playing split weeks, one -nights and small towns without easy access to adequate local musicians.
As far as the inflatable set goes, if it is still the same set up, the tour has two sets - the standard "hard" set and the inflatable set. Depending upon circumstance, either set might be called into play, but it varies. The inflatable set may be assembled VERY quickly in a tight turn around or having to walk local crew through set-up and it can be fit through a standard doorway if the loading dock is unavailable. Occasionally, it might even be called upon as a jump set if needed, in use in one theatre while the full set is on the road or indisposed.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 3:00am

How exactly was the set built out into the Winter Garden? Was the entire theatre transformed?

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 3:17am

Yes, pretty much the whole theater (all walls, ceiling,some rows removed for ramps, etc.) It will always be impressive, but in the 80's it was really jaw dropping.

[Sean2]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 4:07am

Double-post Updated On: 3/24/12 at 04:07 AM

[Sean2]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 4:11am

The theatre was so transformed that the original budget had to include something like $3m to restore the theatre to its original form. They had to change the load structure for the actual building.

The set was EVERYWHERE. The entire theatre, all the way up the sides of the walls, out to the dress circle... I first saw it from one of the boxes, and I practically had a cat in my lap for most of the show. It was wild. Betty Buckley really did make you forget that the rest of the show was as silly as it was. I remember reading in the Time magazine review that 'Memory' was going to be one of the greatest theatre songs ever written, and that's certainly been the case. Ending such a silly piece of fun with this dark, passionate ballad was a brilliant idea and made the show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 4:15am

For it's time, it was innovative, maybe even groundbreaking. It was different from anything else b'way had seen. I remember being totally entranced by it as a young college student. It was spectacle at its most grand.

I think it got the bad rep that it did, was because while it opened the door for so much, it was so quickly outpaced by what it inspired.

It was also a running joke on a sitcom called Caroline in the City starring Lea Thompson. Her neighbor/best friend (Amy Pietz) was a b'way dancer in Cats. (BTW it also starred the newcomer Malcom Gets)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 6:33am

I tried seeing it once but the Latinos were just too loud so we left after the big litter box number.

^ LMFPRAO!!!!

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 7:02am

It was the first big musical to hit the West End and Broadway where it became possible for anyone to see theatre together. 5 to 95, any nationality could get cats and watch it. With the first of the mega marketing musical it became an event to see a show and started how we now produce and market shows. Cats though a mould away that was crumbling in the 70s with the demise of the golden age and took commercial theatre to a new way.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 7:50am

Cats though a mould away that was crumbling in the 70s with the demise of the golden age and took commercial theatre to a new way.

Huh?

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 8:57am

When I saw 'Cats' at the New London theatre, several times, it was staged on a 'thrust' stage, when I went to see 'Mamma Mia' at the Winter Garden the venue had a traditional proscenium stage, for 'Cats' did they rip the stage out and build a modern thrust stage?

[newintown]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:06am

It was the original triumph of spectacle over substance.

Well, not the original triumph; just one of many. Spider Man continues the long tradition.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:11am

It was also a running joke on a sitcom called Caroline in the City starring Lea Thompson. Her neighbor/best friend (Amy Pietz) was a b'way dancer in Cats. (BTW it also starred the newcomer Malcom Gets)

Haha, I remember that! I remember her following Caroline's cat around so she could emulate Salty's walk (I can't believe I remember the cat's name lol). I also remember the episode where she was auditioning to be Julie Andrews understand/stand by in Victor/Victoria. She got the audition by kidnapping Julie (hijacking her limo).

[AnythingGoes23]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:26am

*threw not through... typo!

[Patash]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:28am

Why did it run so long? Because like real cats, it takes a helluva long time sometimes to cough up and get rid of that hairball!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:29am

Andrew Lloyd Webber made a deal with the devil.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:51am

It attracted a large international audience. It was pure spectacle and understanding english was not necessary.

Personally I found it god awful. The score is sooo bad. but I did love Laurie Beechman and sat through it just to hear her sing that song. I don't miss Cats, but I still miss Laurie.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 11:19am

An evening at the theater can sometimes just be fun and not much else, and for millions of people for almost 20 years CATS filled that bill. Do I think it was a great night at the theater- not entirely, but it had its moments.

And for everyone who loves to pound the 80's and the era of the mega musicals let us not forget that the creative field in NY took a major hit at that time because of the terrible epidemic that was HIV/AIDS and there was not a whole lot of new musicals being produced... it is well discussed in "Broadway The American Musical". Shows like CATS played because they had spectacle, they had a big song that people knew before they even went into the theater, much like Les Miz & Phantom, and these shows played around the world in every language imaginable- so tourists came to the city and it was a very safe pick for them.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 11:21am

For every person who didn't "get" Cats, there were 20 who did.