Broadway Theater Review: Revisiting Cats

A Cats revival just started on Broadway (it will open July 30th) and for multiple reasons including I am an Andrew Lloyd Webber super fan, this was my first show an I was obsessed with the music when I was little I had to go check it out

Official Blurb (is it really needed??): The record-breaking musical spectacular by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages is back on Broadway! Three-time Grammy® nominee LEONA LEWIS makes her Broadway debut as Grizabella in the one and only CATS.Based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” this wonderfully imaginative show features breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater — “Memory.” Winner of 7 Tony Awards®including BEST MUSICAL, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. Featuring a cast of beautiful dancers and singers and the original Tony-winning sets and costumes, this beloved hit is still Broadway’s most unforgettable event. Experience CATS for the first time as it begins a new life for a new generation… or let it thrill you once again!LET THE MEMORY LIVE AGAIN!

My Take: Man there were a lot of Memories (pun intended) in going back to cats. Cats was the first musical I saw, and i think i had not revisited it since i was 13 in a school trip. The nostalgia was all there and it just reminded me how much i liked the songs, not just Memory. There were a lot of car trips listening to them. I have to say that I have to go back and review old choreography to really understand the difference between choreographies given the new work that was done for this production, but in general i was thoroughly impressed with the choreography,it was really good. The main thing i detected was that there was definitely more dancing than what I remembered, and larger and sharper movements. Although it was beautiful and nostalgic, i do wish the revival was not just a full copy but that there was a reinterpretation, I’m a sucker for a new interpretation, but then again I understand the reasoning: why mess with a classic, or fix whats not broken? The highlight of the show was of course Leona Lewis singing Memory. It was worth the price of admission. Is she a great actress, no, but she does not need to be. Her singing had me and half the audience in tears and with goosebumps, so her job here is more than well done. Other highlights” I loved Tyler Hanes as Rum Tum Tugger and Kim Faure as Demeter. Shonica Gooden was the only cast member I had an issue with, her Rumpleteaser was just not as great as I expected it to be or maybe it was that her voice with Mungojerri just did not mesh. In general its nice to have a classic back on the Broadway stage and my inner 4 year old could not have been happier. Score: 75