Review: GARFIELD THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE! at Chapel Off Chapel

Reviewed by Josh Martin

It's time to take the kids to Garfield The Musical With Cattitude! this school holidays for a fun-filled, feline farce. Stage Art's production at Chapel Off Chapel has lots of energy and will keep the little ones entertained, with some great audience interaction and a chance to meet the cast afterwards.

The musical has a book by Michael J. Bobbitt and Jim Davis, the original creator of Garfield and music and lyrics by John L. Cornelius II. The show, as the title suggests, is based on the comic strip of the cheeky lasagna loving cat Garfield, also well known from successful tv and movie franchises.

The musical is based around Garfield's birthday which does not start out well for the sassy cat. It is on a Monday, his least favourite day, his friends have all forgotten his special day and to top it off he is expected to eat only normal cat food... a travesty!

Garfield is joined by an all singing cast of his well known friends, the pink and sexy Arlene, Odie his puppy pal, self proclaimed cutest kitten Nermel, and dorkey human owner Jon.

While in this production the weak book and score is not helped by a lacking set or the characterisation and slap stick comedy of Lachlan Graham as Garfield not always working, the kids in the audience do not care. They are transfixed by the characters on stage and seem to love every moment and let the actors know with some comical heckling, adding to a great theatre experience for children of all ages.

The cast does feature some strong supporting performances, Callum Warrender is charismatic and brings oodles of energy onto the stage as the lovable Odie. Grace Browne as Arlene and Laura Greenhalgh as Nermel also excel in dancing Madi Lee's strong, solid and succinct choreography which really brings life to the musical numbers.

Your kids will love Garfield The Musical with Cattitude! which is on to Friday the 13th April.

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