Music Reviews

Sep 4, 1999 - Now and Forever "Cats" at the Pioneer

By Jack Neal

Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenally successful musical, "Cats," proves again that cats, especially this one, really do have nine lives. The splendid cast and seemingly inexhaustible production values of the show's current on-the-road reincarnation more than prove that. "Cats," the self-proclaimed "now and forever" musical, opened last night (9/3/99) at Reno's Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. The show's three day, five performance run is a sell out.

What isn't clear is why a show with such a weak book and merely workable music should have so thoroughly tapped into what the public so overwhelmingly loves. Lloyd Webber's collaboration with English poet and playwright T.S. Eliot lends Eliot's considerable charm to the proceedings. Eliot's eccentric collection of cat doggerel, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" (cooked up as frivolous tomes to be read by children), do make for super lyrics. Perhaps Frank Rich, reviewing for the New York Times when "Cats" opened at the Wintergarden in 1982 (it's still there and going strong), came closest to capturing what "Cats" has. Rich noted that "Cats" "transports the audience into a complete fantasy world that could only exist in the theater and yet, these days, rarely does." Even more revelatory to the show's attraction for its millions of fans is what critic Mark Czarnecki wrote about "Cats," when the show opened in Toronto: "The musical 'Cats' is to theatre what 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' is to film - a simple religious homily told with the imaginative whimsy of a child." There was an uncomfirmed rumor when "Cats" landed in New York that Lloyd Webber had conceived the work as a chamber musical. It's intriguing to think just how much more beguiling "Cats" might be, if its production values weren't so hyped as they are with this show. But hyped gimmickry is what audiences are getting and what American audiences have adored for close to twenty years. There was a broad hint at last night's opening, however, that "Cats" may be running more on thing-to-do "in"manship than total theatrical fascination. Friday's audience was unsure just where "Cats" ended and curtain calls began. The show just runs on and on and on without any particular buildup (just lots of them), climax or resolution.
What's left in the show's wake of activity is virtually everything else a hit musical needs. A fabulous cast each portraying wonderful snippets of magnetic stage action. A beautifully conducted show by David Caddick with first-rate results from orchestra and cast. A enchantingly attractive junkyard set by John Napier that works without a hitch to bring all the show's marvelous cats to vivid life. In addtion to his set, Napier's costumes capture the inventive fantasies of children. His costumes are imaginative, far out, rich and colorful. David Hersey's resplendant lighting highlights the shows ins-and-outs, ups-and-downs the way Rembrandt might have done had he been in the theater business. Trevor Nunn's extensive contribution's as director cannot be overestimated for his vision as a manager of stage business and talent for creativity, particularly his capsulation of Eliot lines into the memorable "Memory."

But where would "Cats" be if it didn't dance. The extraordinary choreographic instincts of Gillian Lynne is responsbile for the oh-so-right dynamics of a show that's more ballet than anything else. Dance, dance, dance is what these fury slinkers of the night do and they do it with soaring exhilaration. Captivating is what these daring dancers are and they are never anything less than terrific.

And how cool these cool cats are. Kevin Loreque's Rum Tum Tugger is a brash send-up of an overindulged show-bizzy cat. Jessica Dillan's Victoria cat is a triumph of high-tech form over lowbrow content. Julius Sermonia is astonishingly vigorous as the high-stepping and magical Mr. Mistoffelees. Chadwick T. Adams is a dignified and stately Old Deuteronomy. David Petro and Renee Bonadio are a roguishly charming song-and-dance team, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. The dazzling Kris Koop is great fun as an I-won't-be-upstaged Griddlebone (she's also a delightful Jellylorum), as is Kelly Briggs great fun as the droll theater-going cat, Gus. Renee Veneziale's affecting approach to Grizabella, the over-the-hill, loose-moraled cat, is haunting, besieged by a world that once was, but will never be again. Her singing of "Memory" is only at one moment strident, but at all other times, timely and poignant. Miss Veneziale belts "Memory" with desperation to spare.

Conceptually, "Cats" may not be "purr"fect, but it is nonetheless close enough to draw audiences into its bushels of fantasy night after night. It's also a marvelous way to entice children into the wonderful world of theatre. "Cats" completes its run at the Pioneer Center with performances Saturday (9/4/99) at 2 and 8 and Sunday (9/5/99) at 2 and 7. Performances are reportedly sold out, but some tickets always have a way of making there way back to the box office before curtain time. For fans dying to get in, take a chance; call 775-686-6600 for last minute ticket information. Beyond this superb production, a local point of concern needs to be made. Reno audiences, especially patrons seated in the Pioneer Center's balcony, are consistently short changed via garbled sound. Much pleasure is lost when dialog is lost and lyrics are mush, none of which is the fault of most of the productions presented at the Pioneer. The theater's woefully inadequate acoustics and sound system - all the responsibility of the Reno/Sparks Convention Authoriity which owns the Pioneer (but which seems ill-prepared to deal with the needs of Reno's premier performing arts facility) are long overdue for an overhaul.

Click here to download a sample Wave audio file, Jellicle, from Cats. Click here to download a sample AIF Macintosh audio file, Jellicle, from Cats.

Click here to download a sample Wave audio file, Memory, file from Cats. Click here to download a sample AIF Macintosh audio file, Memory, file from Cats.