How is the current CATS tour?

[MikeInTheDistrict]

I couldn't find a thread for this. Would anyone who has seen the tour so far care to share their thoughts?

It's coming to D.C. this September and my brother and his family have expressed interest in seeing it. I'm not a huge fan of CATS, but I have a good memory of seeing it on Broadway in the late 1990s and being impressed in particular with the dancing and the immersive set at the Winter Garden.

[ainsleybelle22]

Saw it last night in Seattle. First time I’ve ever seen it and I went in with a basic knowledge of the story and had heard like two songs. I was pretty impressed considering how much some people hate it. It was definitely more of a spectacle than anything. The choreography was great (I’m a dancer) and the lights and visual affects were amazing. I was in the orchestra pit seating (the live orchestra must’ve been somewhere else) so I was very close. I thought the music was ok. Definitely not the best I’ve ever heard, but some were better than others. I only had one understudy for Bombularina (and a Swing went on for one of the more minor characters after intermission) and I definitely thought the whole cast was great. I would definitely see it for the visuals alone. Some of the best I’ve ever seen. The Cats also would often come into the audience which was a nice touch. I can’t comment on any changes to the score or script as this was my first experience. Overall I did enjoy it. There were parts I found weird or out of place, but the dancing and visuals made up for it. If you want to see it, I’d say go for it. If you have anything specific your wondering I can try and answer it, I just wanted to try and give an overview.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Thanks, ainsleybelle22! I'm glad to know the spectacle is still there. I know they had drastically scaled down the physical production for previous tours, so it's good to know that and the dancing are not disappointments.

[Alexander Lamar]

Is this tour using the inflatable sets?

[ainsleybelle22]

Alexander Lamar said: "Is this tour using the inflatable sets?"

Not sure. They were dancing on them so they seemed pretty solid. It appeared to be the classic junkyard scene. Again I don’t a ton about other productions so I’m not the best to comment on past things. 

[CATSNYrevival]

The set is inflatable. It’s the same production that played at the Neil Simon. “Growltiger’s Last Stand” has been cut and “Pekes” has been moved to the second act to replace it, minor unnecessary changes abound and Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreographic contributions to Gillian Lynne’s original work continue to stupefy. It’s not the same Cats you saw at the Winter Garden.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Thanks, CATSNYrevival. That's disappointing. I don't really understand the trend of productions that are "almost the same as, but worse than" the originals (Les Miz, Phantom, now Cats apparently).

[CATSNYrevival]

It’s still enjoyable if you don’t have a good enough memory of the original to cringe every time there’s a step that deviates from Lynne’s original choreography but it’s not the same.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

I will most likely see it. My nieces won't have anything to compare it to, so I'm sure they'll enjoy it. It looks at least much better than the last few tours, judging by pics.

[Babe_Williams]

We are going in a few months. I showed my kids clips of Cats on youtube and both seemed really interested. I saw it in the 90s on tour, so I know what we are getting into  

 

Has anyone else seen the tour recently?

[morosco]

The set is inflatable. 

Are you 100% sure about that?

[CATSNYrevival]

morosco said: "The set is inflatable.

Are you 100% sure about that?"

Absolutely. 100%.

[DiscoCrows]

Saw this in Austin a few weeks ago. I'm new to CATS and I thought it was great, given how opinionated people are over it. I don't know much about the history of the show and how much it may deviate from it's original run at the Winter Garden/Neil Simon, but if you go in with an open mind it's just a fun, weird-a** spectacle. It's an Equity tour and I definitely thought the production value was great.

There was no staircase that descended from the fly at the end of the show, they just hooked Grizabella up to some wires and she floated off to wherever. It was just so much fun to watch.

[TravisOKC]

Saw it in OKC last week or the week before (can't remember), but the sound was really off. Couldn't understand what was being sung, which made it difficult to understand what exactly was going on.  The 4 other people I was with didn't like the show so we left at intermission.

[Islander_fan]

CATSNYrevival said: "morosco said: "The set is inflatable.

Are you 100% sure about that?"

Absolutely. 100%.

"

I know that a few years back, when they were doing the never ending non equity tour, they did use the inflatable sets. Could that have changed now? Seeing as this is the equity tour of the revival that played on Broadway? 

[CATSNYrevival]

Islander_fan said: "I know that a few years back, when they were doing the never ending non equity tour, they did use the inflatable sets. Could that have changed now? Seeing as this is the equity tour of the revival that played on Broadway?"

I saw it with my own eyes when I saw the show. And “NAP 11A” is the license plate for the tour. That photograph is of the current tour and you can clearly see the inflatable set behind the car.

[Babe_Williams]

Saw the tour this week. Enjoyed it, a really fun time. Thought the sets looked fine. Memory was beautiful, Mr Mistofellees was a lot of fun. Show had great energy.

[VotePeron]

Saw the tour the other week, and enjoyed it as well. The cast is just as good as the Broadway revival, and it's in great shape. They're missing a couple of effects here and there, but overall I was impressed by the stature of the production. They even went out into the house constantly to interact.

Keri-Rene Fuller as Grizabella sang the best rendition of Memory I have ever heard live. She's super young, but besides that, just..wow. I was blown away. 

(My other favorite being Heather Headley - I mean come ON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_A6DalQUc)

[MikeInTheDistrict]

I'm seeing this in a few weeks, so I'm glad to hear the good reports. BroadwayCom's Youtube Channel just posted this video of Keri-Rene Fuller performing "Memory." I still think they've been casting Grizabella too young lately, but she sounds absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see her live:

Watch CATS Tour Grizabella Keri René Fuller Belt Out "Memory"

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Ugh. Cat actors in the audience.  Theme park move.

[CATSNYrevival]

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Ugh. Cat actors in the audience. Theme park move."

It’s been that way since the show opened in 1981.

[Babe_Williams]

CATSNYrevival said: "BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Ugh. Cat actors in the audience. Theme park move."

It’s been that way since the show opened in 1981."

Right? i remember this happening on the tour in the 90s. 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

CATSNYrevival said: "BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Ugh. Cat actors in the audience. Theme park move."

It’s been that way since the show opened in 1981."

 

My statement remains the same.