Cats at Birmingham Hippodrome Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Catherine Brown
A ‘purrrfect’ performance of ‘Cats’ is currently bringing magical mystique to Birmingham Hippodrome as part of a UK tour. The original Andrew Lloyd Webber award-winning musical was based on T.S Elliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’. This delightful version is just as enchanting as the original show I watched over 30 years ago.
The story revolves around an eclectic group of cats living in London known as the Jellicle cats who gather under the light of the Jellicle moon. They are vying to be chosen by Old Deuteronomy (Kalisha Amaris), an ancient figure supposedly with 99 lives, in order to be reborn into a new life. As the cats prepare for the Jellicle ball each one takes their turn in the spotlight in order to impress their leader with their talents and life story.
Each cat has their own unique personality which is matched to the dance, music and song they perform. One of my favourites was the feisty ‘Rum Tum Tugger’ played by Jaydon Vijn. His confident provocative character shone in the rock style music he danced to with attention-seeking swagger. Another character who gained lots of giggles from the audience was the greedy Bustopher Jones, who described feasting on winkles and shrimp at luxury gentlemen’s clubs.
There was a change of pace with the introduction of Grizabella (an outstanding performance by Louise Dearman). Originally appearing to be an old frail cat, she is unrecognisable as the glamourous high-society cat she once was. The other cats are fearful of her and shun her from their tribe. A dramatic entrance came from the master criminal Macavity, played by Diante Lodge. His aggressive leaps and sharp claws cause the other cats to retreat in panic. Coming to their rescue is the magical Mr Mistoffelees (Jet Yau) whose breakdancing and spins were admired by the audience.
I really enjoyed the way the costumes, tempo of the music and changes in lighting gave hints to the character of the cat being introduced. The challenge of the show is that it is told almost entirely through song with minimal dialogue. Hearing discussions at the interval this appeared to be challenging for some audience members who knew nothing about the premise, so maybe young viewers in particular would benefit from some background understanding.
The director and choreographer Drew McOnie has brought an iconic piece of theatre to life with a new twist. I was mesmerised from start to finish and almost didn’t want the show to end. The lengthy applause Louise Dearman earned after her final spine-tingling rendition of memory was testament to her amazing vocals and stage presence. All of the cast were extremely talented with their use of subtle, and sometimes exaggerated, movements giving a feline feel. This was enhanced by the clever use of acrobatics and balletic agility.
‘Cats’ is being performed Wednesday 28th October – Saturday 7th November
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB
Tickets can be purchased from £26 at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling the Box Office 0121 689 3000
Rating: 4/5
Cats