Cats! The musical...

Bought the ticket since last October, when it first started selling. It's the 2nd run in Singapore, the previous one was in my early days of teaching, I think it's more than 10 years ago! Did not watch although heard lots of good comments of the musical... for a simple reason, I don't like animals (oh yes, including furry ones like... cats!). Oh yes, talk about animals, especially cats, YL will know what I mean... hahaha... those cats at RECSAM!

There wasn't any beautiful and impressive props for the show... the backdrop was more like the backstreet of some old buildings... ah! Garbage area - that reminds me of those similar to Oliver! or even Les Miserable. Nevertheless, there wasn't much change to the it...

From the start of the show, I enjoyed! A surprise to myself! hahaha... Human beings - men and women dressed like cats! Each carried a tail - either long or extremely long! Perhaps, because of the nature of the animals, the bodies and faces became very expressive! Wah! I like it... The wildness! The exaggerating moves! The expressive faces! and the interaction with the Cats! hahaha... showing off their paws to the audience! (oh yes, sitting at row J and near just beside the walkway)...

The show helps to contextualise the songs that we heard from the CD - though bought the musical's CD but could not quite make sense out of it till today! So, seeing is better than hearing :D

A few interesting characters that livened up the show:

• Jennyanydots ('The Old Gumbie Cat'), a large round tabby cat with a long black tail. Ha! Can see the layers of 'fat' that made up the round body :D She "sits and sits and sits" all day. How she made her appearance? She actually rolled out from a compartment!
• Munkustrap - The show's de facto narrator. A black and silver tom who is storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He doesn't look attractive, but his voice is captivating! Good voice! and his every swing and move are full of strength!
• Rum Tum Tugger - The ladies' tom. I would associate him with Elvis Presley! Ha! So charismatic! On the other hand, also very vain cat! haha... But I really enjoyed his dance very much! and his voice! Ha! That powerful voice!
• Mr. Mistoffelees - A young tom that dressed in black, with magical powers. His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn," twenty-four fouettés en tournant. One observation - it's the only cat that does not sing.
• Grizabella - The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. It's the one that sings "Memory"

An unexpected scene - the Siamese soldiers that hold a 3 point-fork! It looked so funny.

More info at wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical)