Magical and Majestic

Cats

It’s said that every cat has nine lives. Well, that must be true because Andrew Lloyd Webber’s whimsical musical from the 1980’s seems to continually get a new life. And the flamboyant feline fantasy has once again been reborn in Chicagoland. Filled with excellent singing, exceptional dancing, extraordinary feats of magic and exhilarating acrobatic and aerial work, this 1983 multi-Tony Award winner bursts onto the Paramount stage for a second time. By the way, this is the only show that Paramount has ever presented more than once. But even if theatergoers have seen CATS before, including Paramount’s exciting original presentation eleven years ago, this new production will absolutely amaze and delight audiences of all ages. It’s truly unique and far, far more spectacular than any I’ve ever seen. And, like all of Paramount’s musicals and plays, this reimagining of CATS is as professionally produced and performed as anything on Broadway. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber found inspiration for his unique all-singing, all-dancing musical from his favorite childhood book, T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The show is based upon this collection of poems. When it opened in London in 1981 the musical became an unstoppable hit that played “Now and Forever.” It was so groundbreaking and unusual, a musical that only offered a suggestion of a plot. It was more like a dance concert, featuring anthropomorphic mousers of varying ages, talents and temperaments all performing beneath a full moon. 

The musical is set at the only performance of the Jellicle Ball, performed by Le Cirque du Chat. The story revolves around a kind of competition in which an assortment of felines sing and dance their stories, vying to be the cat chosen to be reborn to the Heavyside Layer. Old Deuteronomy, an older, wiser and much-revered cat makes the Jellicle Choice. Who’ll be given the chance for Enlightenment based upon each kitty’s sincerity? Who possesses the desire to begin life all over again? In wise old cat’s decision, the musical perpetuates the belief that cats do indeed have 9 lives.

CATS is the musical that Casting Director Trent Stork has been wanting to bring to the stage for a long time. This talented Jeff Award-winning Director of KINKY BOOTS, whose recent shows at Paramount include FROZEN, BILLY ELLIOT and LEGALLY BLONDE, can boast their artistic involvement with 26 of the Aurora productions. Their new, re-imagined vision for this older show is matchless, magical and majestic. It’s also the purrfect show for theatergoers who have never enjoyed a Paramount production.

Trent is assisted by a large team of incredible theatre artists. CATS is Musically Directed and Conducted by the gifted Kory Danielson (NEXT TO NORMAL, FUN HOME). His rich, full-sounding, 10-member pit orchestra is astounding. Working together, Choreographer Kasey Alfonso (TITANIQUE at the Broadway Playhouse) and Circus Choreographer Sylvia Hernandez (CIRCUS QUIXOTE, LOOKINGGLASS ALICE) have created a pageant of movement and syncopated swing for the entire cast, whether onstage or soaring through the air. 

Every single member of this cast is incredibly multitalented. Lorenzo Rush, Jr, a professionally trained veteran of so many Chicago musicals (AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, SOPHISTICATED LADIES), astounds vocally and dramatically as Old Deuteronomy. Holding the audience in the palm of her hand is lovely Emily Rohm (MARY POPPINS, FUN HOME, RIDE THE CYCLONE). She wrings every ounce of sorrow and hope from the aging Glamour Cat, Grizabella. In her long, tattered dressing gown and smeared, tearstained makeup, she teeters down the aisle an across the stage, rejected by the younger cats, while begging for just the tiniest bit of compassion. In the musical’s final moments, Ms. Rohm stops the show with her passionate, heartbreaking power ballad, “Memory.” The surprise staging of this beautiful song will leave audiences breathless. And Chicago favorite Gene Weygandt (WICKED, COME FROM AWAY on Broadway, and ANNIE and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Paramount) passionately portrays three very different characters: Peter; Gus, the Theatre Cat; and Bustopher Jones, the Cat About Town.  

Other standouts in this fantastic, fun family-friendly musical (especially for enthusiasts of dance, voice and spectacle), are Kara Brody’s lovely white cat, Victoria; Allison Sill’s expressive Jellylorum; Donovan Hoffer’s Mick Jagger-inspired Rum Tum Tugger; and Christopher Kelley’s exceptionally performed Magical Mister Mistofelees. Assisted by an agile Munkustrap, portrayed by Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Kat Hoil plays an acrobatic Old Gumbie Cat, Jennyanydots; Michael Lunder and Dani Goldberg make a great musical and acrobatic team—Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer—backed by beautiful Tiffany Topol, as Bombalurina and Alexandra Palkovic, as Demeter; Macavity the Mystery Cat is played with an otherworldly aura by Matthew Weidenbener; and Anakin Jace White as Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat, takes the stage aboard a colorful circus cart. The enormous ensemble of captivating kitties in this feral colony includes Shaun Dennison White, Sophie Liu David, Matthew Millin, Matty Bettencourt, Liam Bradley, Emily Scinto, Emma Ogea, Brian Bandura, Evan C. Dolan, Hayley Larson, Kat Harvey, Ryan Huemmer, Selena Robinson, Nellie Shuford, Joe Giovannetti, Emilie Lynn and Brian Hupp.

A standing ovation is well-deserved for a large, tremendously talented technical team, all of whom make this mythical musical come to life. The wildly imaginative Jeffrey D. Kmiec, whose artistry I’ve long admired, creates through his Scenic Design a gigantic, colorful circus tent, depicted with forced perspective. At the top, a huge opening gives a view of the fog, moon and clouds, thanks to Projections Designer, Paul Deziel. When a storm approaches, Lighting Designer Greg Hofmann and Sound Designer Adam Rosenthal team up for the wild special effects. Properties Designer IvyThomas meets the challenge of creating Big Top Properties for her clowder of cats. Costume Designer Izumi Inaba’s textured, technicolor togs add so much to each character, beautifully enriched by Katie Cordts’ Wig, Hair & magical Makeup Designs. And, of course, Illusion Consultant Benjamin Barnes, Flight Director Tracy Nunnally and Flight, Stunt & Intimacy Director Max Fabian add their own special skills to this production, as well.

When I heard that Paramount Theatre was going to remount another production of CATS, I was baffled but somewhat intrigued. Would this be a carbon copy of the first presentation or would it be different? To call Trent Stork’s new vision “different” simply doesn’t do it justice. It’s grandiose, groundbreaking and glorious. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s homage to the personalities of various Pussycats, as inspired by T.S. Eliot’s poetry, is a unique theatrical experience that blends the skill and artistry of Cirque du Soleil with the pomp and pageantry of musical theatre. The result is an amazing, must-see amalgam that’s both incredibly magical and majestic. Don’t miss it!       

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 30-June 15 by Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Paramount Theatre box office, by calling 630-896-6666 or by visiting www.paramountaurora.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.