Cats musical review, Regent’s Park: Purrrfectly exquisite nonsense
Cats review and star rating: ★★★★ The unnervingly bad 2019 movie did nothing to dispel the creeping sense that perhaps Cats is a little too strange. We were willing to suspend our disbelief for all sorts of nonsense in the 1990s, including this, a musical with loose at best narrative direction that spends 80 per [...]
The review for the Cats musical at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre received a ★★★★ rating and was described as "exquisite nonsense." The production, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, deviated from the film adaptation and offered a more naturalistic and sexed-up experience. The ensemble of felines, each given an individual song and dance, were praised for their intuitive and endearing movements across Sami Fendall's moon-shaped set.
The Jellicle Ball, a significant event, brought together a variety of characters such as Rum Tum Tugger, Macavity, Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, and Grizabella. Grizabella, played by understudy Taziva-Faye Katsande, received commendation for her performance of the famous song Memory, albeit with the note that her age might have hindered the portrayal of the character's wisdom and nostalgia.
The production also received praise for its subtle yet profound connection to T.S. Eliot's original poetry. Despite some casting choices that were deemed odd, the musical managed to capture the strange, abstract wisdom of the source material, making it a purrfectly delightful experience until September 19th.
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