BWW Reviews: CATS Plays Limited Engagement in Cincinnati
Despite the snow outside, Cats made a brief stop in Cincinnati this past weekend and it was a thoroughly enjoyable show.
Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes. The musical tells the story of a group of cats, the Jellicles, as they prepare for the annual Jellicle Ball in which the leader, Old Deuteronomy, will choose a new cat to be reborn into a new life. However, Old Deuteronomy must be saved when the mischievous Macavity captures him before he can make the announcement.
Philip Peterson was a superb leader of the cats as Old Deuteronomy. The most well-known song of the show, "Memory," was performed beautifully by Anastasia Lange as Grizabella. And Rum Tum Tugger, the "tom cat" of the tribe, was played by Adam Steiner, stole the show with his smooth moves and voice.
The costuming for this show is remarkable, allowing the actors to become very cat-like especially in their movements. My favorite aspect of this show is always the choreography. The infusion of ballet dance with cat-like movements make for beautiful work, especially with a talented cast with dancing ability. While Cats was only in town February 5th and 6th for a limited presentation, make sure to check out http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com for future dates and cities.
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