Feline Happy? (Cats)

Member Name: karenuk

Product:	Cats
Date:	20/09/04 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: entertaining, great songs

Disadvantages: a couple of weaker songs

INTRODUCTION

I have always loved musicals, since I was a little girl. I was brought up on TV showings of Calamity Jane, The Sound of Music and the like and Mum took me to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the theatre. Now, through Ebay, I am amassing an impressive collection of musicals on CD, video and DVD. My daughters share my love too, which often means there are two or three different musicals being played in various rooms at the same time!

Today, I am celebrating it being the first day of a new school term by listening to the musical Cats and letting you know what I think of it. I actually own two versions of this on CD – the Highlights From Cats (one CD - 15 tracks) and the two-disc set with 22 tracks on it. I’ll b e reviewing the latter here.

For those that don’t know, Cats is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on T S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Most of the songs are the poems from the book set to music, but some use Eliot’s other work. Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe are credited with writing the additional material.

As with all long-running musicals, they go through various cast lists in their time. Being a Bonnie Langford fan, I specifically wanted to buy the CDs featuring her. This set stars the original London cast from 1981, which includes Wayne Sleep, Paul Nicholas, Brian Blessed, Elaine Paige and Sarah Brightman as well as Bonnie herself. Seeta Indrani features too. She went on to play PC Datta in The Bill.

THE MUSIC

The CD begins with the overture and prologue, both of which contain instantly recognisable pieces of music. The first song is Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats. This is one of the best tracks and easily one of the most memorable. After only one hearing, my eight year old was singing the chorus.

She was also asking me what Jellicle cats were! I guess I’ll have to buy T S Eliot’s book at some point, so I can show her where the ideas come from. Apparently, Jellicle cats are pretty amazing things as the lyrics tell us how they can do pretty much anything.

Eliot’s poems are very observant of cats and their characteristics. Add the stirring musical score (and the costumes and dance routines from a visual point of view) and each type of cat really shines, displaying its personality (purr-sonality?) through each song.

The second cat we are introduced to is the Old Gumbie Cat called Jennyanydots. She is lazy by day, but an avid organiser by night. The lyrics to this song (poem) are excellent and very witty. I think I’d choose to be a Gumbie Cat actually. She ‘is deeply concerned with the way of the mice’ but instead of chasing and eating them, she teaches them good manners, music and crafts. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of my favourite pieces of music and I think it works better as a poem myself.

Most of the tracks introduce us to a cat or cats and tell us about them. I won’t review each one, as that would end up as a dull read, but I will pick out some highlights and anything worth special comment.

The Rum Tum Tigger is performed by Paul Nicholas, who has a really good voice. This song is quite rocky in a slightly dated way and explains how curious this cat is and some of the exploits his curiosity gets him into.

The music fits the characters of the cats very well. Grizabella is a slower track with quite a sinister feel to it, while Bustopher Jones is much lighter and rather cute. Gus The Theatre Cat is delivered with love but some sympathy, as he is rather past his best, ‘for he isn’t the cat that he was in his prime’.

Brian Blessed’s deep booming voice is very recognisable. He performs more than sings, but has a lovely tone of voice bordering on the operatic. He plays Bustopher Jones and Old Deuteronomy. I don’t know how flattered Brian will have been to have been chosen to be a fat cat and an old one!

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer is a duet by Bonnie Langford and John Thornton and is one of my favourites. This is a very jazz influenced song, one that calls you to move your body along in time to the music. In fact, I find that my daughters often dance to the whole CD, when it’s on. It is definitely a catchy musical score and one that you feel like performing to.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat is another light-hearted track, with Bonnie Langford’s voice having to cope with some complicated almost tongue-teasing lyrics. One thing to note is that the lyrics of the musical are usually very clear and audible, which allows you to appreciate Eliot’s poetry skills.

I think if you asked people to name a cat from T S Eliot’s book, most of them would say Macavity. He seems to be the most famous and memorable. He’s the mystery cat and has appropriately shady music for one able to hide himself so well. Another of the highlights of the soundtrack, the vocal whispers and quiet percussion build up to a loud chorus which you can’t help but sing along to.

Mr. Mistoffelees stars Paul Nicholas and Wayne Sleep and this one also has an excellent chorus, which is very memorable and sing-a-longable. Another tale of a delightful cat with unique characteristics.

The most famous song from Cats is surely Memory. Sung here by the excellent Elaine Paige, it does seem slightly out of place, as though it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the musical. Perhaps that is because it isn’t overtly about Cats (coming from another of Eliot’s works of poetry).

It is one of my favourite songs though and is truly beautiful with haunting lyrics and a wonderful melody. It’s a song I would really love to be able to sing, but it is very difficult as it has both very low and very high notes. (Doesn’t it cross two octaves or something?)

Memory actually crosses both CDs. A verse of it concludes the first disc, then it is reprised partially and finally in its entirety on the second CD with Sarah Brightman joining Elaine Paige.

OVERALL

Cats – like all theatre productions – is a very visual experience. The costumes and make up which turn the actors into the cat characters is stunning and beautiful. To get the full experience of Cats, I would suggest you see it in the theatre. But the music itself can be enjoyed and appreciated on its own.

This is also one for all the family to enjoy – no swearing or adult themes here, of course, being based on a children’s book. Kids will also delight in the wonderful names of the cats and their often naughty, child-like behaviour.

Although Cats isn’t my favourite musical (That honour goes to Les Miserables!), it is one I enjoy listening to and play fairly often. For any fans of this genre, Cats is one CD you really need to have. And that’s my purr-sonal opinion ;-)

Summary: