Cats at the Lyceum Theatre Sheffield Review
Cats
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
3-15 October 2016
Reviewed by Jenny Bray
This show was held at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield. The Lyceum is relatively easy to get to and it is well signposted around the town centre. The Lyceum is a lovely looking old building that feels quite modern once you’re inside. There is a bar and a snack/treats bar to purchase things from before the show or during the interval. Everything is well signposted within the building and all the staff were friendly and helpful. If you park in the local Q park then you are entitled to your first hour of parking free. You just need to ask a member of staff for a ticket to use in the car park pay machine. Despite being an older style theatre the leg space is quite good.
Cats is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on T S Eliot’s book of poems entitled, ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ combined with some unpublished works that T S Eliot’s widow gave Andrew Lloyd Webber to look through to see if he wanted to use any of it. It was originally in the West End between 1981 and 2002. In December 2014 it was revived for the Christmas season on the West End and is now a touring show. As part of the revival, aspects of the original show were reworked to bring it more up to date. In the original show Tugger, the ‘bad boy’ cat, was a rock and roller. He is now a rapper who also did a breakdance in the middle of the stage.
The whole show is based in a fantasy world around cats going to a ‘Jellicle Ball’ which will be lead by Old Deuteronomy, who will choose one of them to go to the ‘Heaviside layer’. However, I found it to be only loosely linked together rather than being an obvious storyline that follows the whole way through, which was a little odd at times as it jumps from one cat singing a song about themselves to another.
The entire show is performed by people dressed up as cats, with lycra cat suits (excuse the pun!), matching furry wigs, tails and full matching make up/facepaint. The whole show is also a musical with everything sung while dancing and is very energetic. The cast all perform cat like moves while dancing. The backdrop on stage is set under moonlight and is of junk including the front of a car, wheels, cereal boxes etc. of which various parts have hidden compartments and bits that open and close. The setting continues down the steps towards the stalls, which links the edge aisles of the stalls for use by the cast. At various points some of the cast come dancing around the stalls seating area. I was sat on the end of an aisle and I had one cast member singing straight to me while staring at me during part of one song.
The cast were all brilliant and the dancing and choreography was seamless. The cast were all full of beans, dancing and bouncing around in their lycra outfits and were clearly fit. The show must be a great workout! Regardless of this, the singing sounded effortless.
I found the show slightly surreal due to it all being people dressed up as cats but really enjoyed it. I love musicals but it’s not one that I’ve seen before so it was all new to me. I therefore can’t compare it to the original show but it mainly seemed timeless other than Tugger being a current bad boy image by incorporating a rap and breakdance, which I wasn’t expecting from a musical but worked well. I also recognised more songs from it than I was expecting to. ‘Memories’ is the obvious one, that I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t know. This was sung in part before the interval and also as part of the second part. It was a flawless performance. I felt other cast members, who performed lesser known songs, were also brilliant singers as well as dancers.
I rate it a 5/5 and would definitely recommend people to go and see it while it’s still at the Lyceum.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £27.50 to £47.50 (booking fees may apply).
Cats is at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield until 15 October 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Lyceum Theatre, Norfolk St, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000
