BWW Reviews: Paramount's CATS Offers High-Quality Entertainment

The felines prowling the stage at Aurora's Paramount Theatre have truly been given the five-star treatment. On a perfectly polished (and monstrous) set by Kevin Depinet (along with projections by Michael Stanfill), they are given plenty of room to jump, climb, and play. They are donned in those iconic (expertly designed by Theresa Ham, with wigs and make-up by Katie Cordts and Lauren Cecil) leotards and furry hats. And, most impressive, they have been lit in brilliant colors by lighting extraordinaire, Jesse Klug. The aesthetic appeal on the Paramount stage is top-notch and one of the main reasons this production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" is as fully satisfying as this musical gets.

The other main reason is, of course, those felines themselves; or, rather, the talent-packed performers portraying them. Director Shawn Stengel has assembled Chicago's top triple threats who seem to have everlasting batteries running them. Rhett Guter, who is quickly making a name for himself after giving excellent performances in this year's "Gypsy" at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and, most recently, in Goodman's "Brigadoon," could not be a better fit to lead us through the night's proceedings as Munkustrap. Guter has a cool and confident aura onstage, with the dancing and singing chops to back it up.

Not to be outshone, however, is everyone's favorite cat, Rum Tum Tugger, portrayed here by a leggy, sassy, and suave Sawyer Smith (last seen on the Paramount stage in this past spring's "Rent," as a brilliant Angel). Smith's Tugger and Guter's Munkustrap provide a dynamic duo together that is a joy to watch.

There is not a weak link in this cast, including Jonny Stein and Laura Savage's acrobatically skilled Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser,, Amber Mak and Kristen Noonan's electric "Macavity," and Lauren Villegas' strongly sung "Memory". Although the cast never seemed to find perfect synchronicity in the large group dances and, in turn, never reached the desired bravado intended in those moments (namely during the marathon dance segment of "The Jellicle Ball"), I've no doubt that will straighten itself out with time.

But, of course, "Cats" has become the international hit it is much because of the dancing and Harrison McEldowney's choreography here doesn't disappoint. McEldowney gives a feast for the eyes, providing entertainment everywhere you look, with many impressive acrobatic tricks along the way. Aided by the dynamic set, McEldowney certainly utilizes the stage's expansive space to its fullest. Perhaps the only err in the choreography comes with the addition of a couple aerial tricks. One of the bits, despite being a visually appealing aerial silks performance, feels out of place and purposeless (even within a musical that lacks nearly any plot structure), inserted during a transition. Another, involving performers hooking up to bungee cords that are lowered from the ceiling, ends up only being a disappointment when the dancers look awkward and inhibited while connected to the cords and seem to have a more limited range of motion than those dancers without bungees. If you can't live up the inevitable expectations the audience will have when they see the performers getting hooked in (I, personally, was hoping for some swinging over the audience), the moment would be better off without the bungees.

In Stengel's direction, the show flows smoothly along, inserting some clever and funny bits to elevate the otherwise senseless material. However, there is a missed opportunity in a lack of actual magic during the magician cat, Mr. Mistoffelees', number. At opening, Mistoffelees was impressively played by the understudy, Terrance Martin, which perhaps could be the reason more tricks weren't in place during Saturday night's performance. If that's not the case, however, it would have added a nice contrast to the dancing and singing entertainment of the rest of the night that, despite all of its energy, can grow tiresome as the night draws on.

It's no secret that "Cats" doesn't have much to it: You won't leave the theatre deep in thought or with a new lease on life (although, you will likely leave humming one of the many catchy tunes). It's nearly impossible for any production of this musical to provide more than just a night of fun songs and impressive dancing. But, if it's that pure talent and unadulterated entertainment you are looking for, Paramount Theatre's polished and aesthetically beautiful "Cats" delivers in spades.

Photo Credit: Liz Lauren

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