All-singing, all-dancing librarian at your service!
All-singing, all-dancing librarian at your service!
Member since:28.03.2001
Reviews:77
Members who trust:23
I'll be honest: Cats is my very least favourite musical ever. I am a big fan of musical theatre, and even of much of Andrew Lloyd Webber's output, but Cats is dire. And now they've gone and filmed it.
This is a scaled-down version of the show (which at least means that some of the score is missing - hurrah!) featuring a collection of performers who've been in it on stage. Unless you've already fallen in love with Cats, or simply must own everything connected with Elaine Page, then don't watch this video. My reasons:
The Score - it's quite simply awful. The lyrics are excellent, but that's because they are taken from T.S. Eliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' - a wonderful collection of humorous poems. But the music is not really that hot. The big tune is Memory, which seems to be universally adored, but I really can't see why. We've all heard it hundreds of times by now, and I truly hate it. Over the top, meaningless rubbish. There are some fun moments in the score - Mister Mistofelees and Macavity are entertaining songs, but I really and truly don't think you could ever class any of the songs as 'good' rather than 'fun'.
The Plot - there is no plot. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I always look for plot in a musical, or any other film or theatre presentation. What happens? Lots of cats tell us their names, one of them gets kidnapped for about two minutes and then for no apparent reason one of them walks up into some strange cat heaven. None of it makes much sense - it would be OK if they didn't try to have any plot at all and just created a revue, but that wasn't the intention and so we have a plot-show with no plot.
To be fair, I can see why people might like this (which is why I've been very generous and allowed it two stars rather than just one): lots of people running around in skin-tight costumes; lots of energy; and catchy, repetitive (though to me irritating) tunes. The opening is, I admit, very clever, and draws you in, but the whole thing nose-dives from there. The choreography is also very same-y, as similar actions are repeated time and time again to the point of over-familiarity. Yes, the dancers are very talented and do things which you can't really believe the human body can do, but they deserve a better vehicle than Cats to show off their talent. In the words of the Evening Standard reviewer for some time: Cats is now 'mangy' and really ought to be put down.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
In response to Trampus' comment: I don't think Cats was all that innovative really. I view
it as a vastly inferior version of A Chorus Line (six years earlier) which also featured a bunch
of characters telling you how they were followed by an incomprehensible selection process, but
with better music and much more coherence. But there you go, we all think differently (thank
goodness!)
jambo5678 15.05.2001 19:50
v good op, i never saw the attraction of cats either! its kinda weird!! I like then way you write, thanks for the read
This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons ... more
in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than US$2 billion in ticket sales. Now thatCatshas finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons ... more
in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than US$2 billion in ticket sales. Now thatCatshas finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid ...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Cats the longest running musical in West End history, the show that changed the face of ... more
modern musicals - now as you've never seen it before... and as you'll never see it again! This ultimate edition of the Oliver and Tony award winning classic boasts ...
Advantages: Recorded for posterity, great performances, access to the show at all times. Disadvantages: No atmosphere, might stop people going to see live theatre.
Advantages: Recorded for posterity, great performances, access to the show at all times. Disadvantages: No atmosphere, might stop people going to see live theatre.
![Cats - Ultimate Edition [DVD] [1998]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78525037.jpg "Cats - Ultimate Edition [DVD] [1998]")
May 15th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
