'CATS' Purrs at the Hippodrome Theatre

It's catnip for any theater-lover. If you've been depressed about recent tours of so-called musical productions, it's a relief to see such a classic return to Baltimore. Baltimore is FULL of cats this week as the Circus is playing one block from the Hippodrome (get to the theater early to assure yourself a parking space and to avoid traffic) while the classic Broadway musical Cats is packing them in on North Eutaw St.

Based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats  won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Is there a better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theater than with the magic and the memory of Cats? I don't think so.

There is a whole generation out there who may have never seen a professional production of this classic. And while the show in Baltimore appears not to be an authorized Equity production, I still highly recommend it. In my perusal of the "Playbill", there appears to be not one actor who has experience on Broadway, yet they all have incredible talent.

And you may have noticed on both WBAL and WJZ, the coverage of Baltimorean Jonathan Burke coming home to perform in his hometown. Both television stations did nice reports on the Baltimore School of the Arts' alumnus who graduated from Ithaca College.

I sat near the huge family contingent on opening night and witnessed the tears of joy and pride watching Burke strut his stuff on the Hippodrome stage. It was easy to pick him out. He is quite an accomplished dancer and one can't help notice his expertise in his role as Mungojerrie. This is his first national tour and I predict it won't be his last. His big duet in Act I "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" along with Erica Cenci is a delight.

There seem to be a few additions to the original production that I didn't recall seeing on Broadway in 1982 (yes, I still remember the experience) due to new technology. If you're in the orchestra, the show begins with cast members running down the aisles with clever lighted blinking eyes surprising the audience. The lighting also seems to have been improved.

The set, however, can't compare with the original junk-yard set. You will also notice that during intermission the character Old Deuteronomy remains on stage by himself. It's a shame that the tour cannot replicate what occurred in the original production when children were allowed on stage at intermission to speak to him. What a thrill that was for my daughter to set foot on a Broadway stage during her first Broadway show at the Winter Garden Theater.

If you've seen Cats many years ago, it may be desirable to feel the magic again. I've seen it at least four times, but I have to admit, a lot of it I didn't recall.  The Webber melodies like "Bustopher Jones", "Old Dueteronomy", "The Jellicle Bell", "Macavity", "and Mr. Mistoffelees" are all so hummable. And then there's the classic "Memory", beautifully sung by Grizabella (Anastasia Lang).

Some of the lyrics were hard to understand and I truly believe sur titles would be very helpful to the audience.

Finally, there's the dancing, the incredible original choreography by Gillian Lyne reproduced for the tour by Richard Stafford. 

I suggest if you take young ones, explain what they will be seeing and let them hear the music. This is not a typical Broadway show. It is so much more of a ballet with music.

Cats is a non-subscriber event.  This may be why I was one of only a few to give the incredibly talented cast a standing ovation. Don't wait for the final bow to show your appreciation to the hard work represented on stage.

For tickets, call 410-547-SEAT. It closes Sunday night, March 29. To learn more, visit www.myspace.com/BaltimoreHippodrome.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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