Theatre review: Cats
In 1968 legendary theatre practitioner Peter Brook wrote about the concept of Deadly Theatre, describing it as theatre that not only fails to elevate or instruct, it hardly even entertains.
Had he been writing 40 years later, Brook could have dispensed with the term Deadly Theatre and just referred to Cats instead.
When it first opened in the early 1980s, Cats was no doubt an impressive show but those days are long gone – it’s time to forget the memories of what it was and move on.
Lumpen, meandering and filled with interminable opera-lite sequences, Cats is a perfect example of a musical that has failed to stand the test of time. It’s not the cast’s fault; but there is only so much can be done with such a tired show.
Set, costumes, choreography and lighting are still fantastic, while the impressive opening number establishes the tone for what should be a gripping production, but what follows is an incomprehensible mess.
The plot hardly exists, the tunes (bar the obvious exception) entirely forgetful, and the singsong dialogue painful to interpret. Cats still looks wonderful but is a solid gold example of style over substance.
They shoot horses don’t they? But the question of what to do with a mange-ridden cat is a far more pressing concern.
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Author: Mike Shaw
Writer and editor. Interested in movies, theatre, comics, WWE and UFC. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeshaw101 or check out his site www.mpshaw.co.uk
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Wow, here’s a review written by someone who has no taste in theatre, knows nothing about drama or acting, probably watched the movie while intoxicated, thus the “incomprehensible” plot, which is so ridiculously obvious to anyone with a 3rd grade reading level. Crap Dude, you live under a rock?! Just Google “Cats” and any fool can see that it has EASILY stood “the test of time”. Go write a review about something you actually know about! This is totaly the wrong place for a CATS review whether good or bad anyway!:
“The Void is a fun-loving, adrenaline-rushed, entertainment-based website focusing on all things cool in the world of movies, TV, music, comedy, books, comics …etc.”
ur an ass cats rocks
Totally! Cats is the worst show ever. Only idiots like it.
errmm.. NO! cats is a good show. its one of broadways longest running musicals. it may be a little wierd but i luv it soo dont frackin diss my show because its the bomb-diggity. if u guys really understood it and watched it all the way through, you would know that ur comments are CRAP! imm a frackin 12 year old n have loved this since i was little. u have no clue whut ur talkin bout. YEA! STICK THAT IN YOUR APPLE JUICE AND SUCK IT LOSERS!
no no no cats is the best play?
/movie i have ever seen so go die in a hole
What the hell are you on about? Cats rocks. Its obvious you have no taste in theatre/ you were spoiled as a child/ you have no creative talent.
God people like you are just weird and annoying.
Cats, like my career, is best forgotten.
It only caters to the furry community and to lonely theatre geeks who are desperately clinging to the last vestiges of a style of musical theatre that went out with the dinosaurs.
kthnxbai.
Ha ha ha. Couldn’t agree more, Cats is an old-fashioned show and isn’t entertaining AT ALL. I saw it twice and hated it both times.
I just find it funny that the reviewer says “Cats is a perfect example of a musical that has failed to stand the test of time”, yet it’s been around for nigh on 30 years… I’m not saying it’s a great play, its just a collection of poems set to music with some cool costumes, nifty set design, and nice choreography. At least it’s head and shoulders over the abysmal “Movin’ Out”. Yeah, it meanders aimlessly, but it’s like a Miley Cyrus song… Catchy enough to make you tap your toes, get stuck in your head while sitting in traffic on the freeway, and make you tell everyone who’s a theater snob that it’s awful. But, it’s still fun.
Dave in LA – “failed to stand the test of time” means that its perceived quality hasn’t remained, not that it has ceased to exist. Given this, the reviewer is absolutely right.
I saw this on Saturday and I couldn’t agree more. There really was no plot. They just introduced Cat characters. That was it. It was a collection of cats. That was it. Fair enough there was dancing and it was quite original, but when you compare it with musicals like the Lion King which combines both amazing production and storyline, Cats is an abysmal failure.
What a very narrow opinion you appear to have Mr Shaw! As can be seen Cats HAS stood the test of time being one of the longest running musicals on broadway (other than Phantom of the Opera). I don’t know whether it is you have been living under a rock for the past 3 decades or you have no taste in musical theatre, the standards of Cats has not slipped – myself being one of the lucky few who viewed the very first showing. I agree Cats is not for everyone, but I do not think we have seen the last of these felines as their popularity is still strong, Asia now falling in love with the production performed by the Australian-Pacific cast.
All I can say is that you may have to see the show live and rather relax and enjoy the show as a whole enjoyable experience rather than trying to sit there and find faults.
Such is the World – please see the above, you dumb cunt.
Hector in Manchester
March 15th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Dave in LA – “failed to stand the test of time” means that its perceived quality hasn’t remained, not that it has ceased to exist. Given this, the reviewer is absolutely right.
I saw it today, and have been a fan of musical theatre for a long time.
Did not enjoy it. Music and dancing was all great, but there was no plot to hold it together…and that made it rather boring, to be honest. And why was there a pirate cat?
This is bullshit FUCK YOU, Cats rocks
I fact, it’s my favorite Broadway show dammit >8O
~Snickle
Sorry you had to read that vulgar expression of my sidekick, but we truly believe tht cats is a creative musical which inspires human thoughts and regognition through animals and music. cats is wonderful for those with imganitive minds and musical souls and had enchanted viewers for decades. we are 12 yrs. old dammit! i can fucking write like this and u 20 yr. hos r shit.
~Smichelle
What the Hades! You need to come out from under your rock, man. CATS has been popular for the past THIRTY YEARS. It’s not for everyone, true, but there is a plot. Did you not listen to the songs? The Jellicles are trying to (as they do every year) make the choice to see who will get the honor of being reborn. Old Deuteronomy makes that choice, hence his importance in the whole thing. The cats that are introduced are the cats that are trying for the honor of going to the Heaviside Layer (their heaven). It’s a play about acceptance as well. If you recall, Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, was resented by the cats in the beginning of the play; but after hearing her sing “Memory”, the cats are moved at the tale of her lonliness! So Deuteronomy chooses her to be reborn and the cats accept her into the Tribe of Jellicles.
Can’t withstand the test of time my arse.
~R
Cannot agree more; Cats was a terrible show and SO out-of date. At the end, it was really just for old people.
Cats is the best musical ever!!! I’m sure there is a good reason why you don’t like it so much.
lol Cats is bullshit – even worse than Starlight Express.