Composer - Andrew Lloyd-Webber
Lyrics - Poems by T.S.Eliot
Opened - 1981
Main characters - Deuteronomy, Grizabella, Gus, Bustopher Jones, Skimbleshanks, Macavity, Growltiger, Munkustrap, Jennyanydots, Mistoffelees, Jemima, Rum Tum Tugger

Plot - Cats doesn't have too much of a plot, but is more a collection of songs for a number of special cats. Once a year all the cats meet for the jellicle ball and the oldest cat, Deuteronomy, decides which cats will rise up to the heaviside layer (a sort of cat heaven). There are songs about many of the cats, including Grizabella the glamour cat. She has not led a life worthy of going to the heaviside layer, but she sings the song 'Memory' to win her place. Also we hear about the Old Gumbie cat, Jennyanydots, the troublesome Rum Tum Tugger, the ancient cat Deuteronomy, Gus the theatre cat, the play about Growltiger and the siamese, Skimbleshanks the railway cat, Macavity the mystery cat, and Mr.Mistoffelees, the greatest magician of all time. The show ends with Deuteronomy telling us how we should talk to our cats.

Songs (With marks out of 10) -

1.Jellicle songs for Jellicle cats (9)
2.The naming of cats (7)
3.The Old Gumbie cat (9)
4.The Rum Tum Tugger (9)
5.Grizabella (9)
6.Bustopher Jones (7)

Munkustrap

7.Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer (9)
8.Old Deuteronomy (10)
9.The Pekes and the Pollicles (7)
10.The Jellicle ball (10)
11.The moments of happiness (8)
12.Gus: The Theatre cat (10)
13.Growltigers last stand (10)
14.The Ballad of Billy McCaw (7)
15.Skimbleshanks (10)
16.Macavity (9)
17.Mr.Mistoffelees (9)
18.Memory (10)
19.The journey to the heaviside layer (8)
20.The ad-dressing of cats (8)

(Average - 8.75, Overall score - 306)

Favourite song - Memory

Favourite cat - Rumpleteazer

Favourite quote - The whole of 'Memory', my favourite ever song:

"Midnight. Not a sound from the pavement. Has the moon lost her memory? She is smiling alone. In the lamplight the withered leaves collect at my feet, and the wind begins to moan.

Memory. All alone in the moonlight. I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was. Let the memory live again.

Every street lamp seems to beat a fatalistic warning. Someone mutters, the street lamp gutters, and soon it will be morning.

Daylight. I must wait for the sunrise. I must think of a new life, and I mustn't give in. When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too, and a new day will begin.

Burnt out ends of smokey days. The stale cold smell of morning. A street lamp dies, another night is over, another day is dawning!

Touch me! It's so easy to leave me all alone with the memory of my days in the sun. If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is. Look, a new day has begun...."

- An alternative line from 'Memory':

"Sunlight through the trees in summer. Endless masquerading. Like a flower as the dawn is breaking, the memory is fading..."

Comment - Cats is simply a collection a wonderful songs. It doesn't have to tell a meaningful story, this is pure entertainment. The cats are very likeable characters, and the brief glimpses into each of their lives is very rewarding. A sense of place for where each cat is comes across strongly, and I particularly love the story of Growltiger and Griddlebone set in the far east. Cats has the fun and mischief of cats playing at night, but also touching moments like Gus reflecting on his acting days. The world of cats could not have been brought to life any better.

In November 1998 the Cats video was released. It's become one of my most treasured possesions, and I seem to enjoy it more each time I see it. Getting closeups of the Cats is wonderful, and also you can go back and watch what all the cats are doing in the background which is so nice. I would recommend this beautifully made video to anyone.

West End review