What more could you say about "Cats," the 1982 Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice dance musical that has had more lives than any feline ever dreamed about?
You could say it's a lively, energetic, well-danced, imaginatively rethought and articulately sung production in its regional theater debut at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista this month.
One of the longest-running musicals in theater history, the Tony Award-winning "Cats" shows renewed spirit in this well-cast production directed by Steve Glaudini and choreographed by Carlos Mendoza.
"Cats" has never gotten much respect from critics, nor from some fans, who find the virtually plotless show about jazz-dancing felines on the silly side. But the show has endured for decades because ---- when cast well ---- it can be an eye-popping showcase for top triple-threat performers. Until now, "Cats" could only be seen locally when national tours stopped through San Diego (or in a youth-cast staging this past spring in Fallbrook). So, there was the question of whether Moonlight could attract the same high caliber of singer/dancers you'd see in a tour. The answer? Yes.
Glaudini's cast is excellent, particularly as singers. This is notable, since "Cats" is primarily known as a dance show, and the crystal-clean articulation and powerful voices of these singers makes the show's lyrics much easier than usual to understand.
Glaudini has made many smart changes to the show that are a plus for those not initiated into the world of "Cats." The musical is based on T.S. Eliot's 1939 book of poetry "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," which details the human qualities of a pack of London cats. The musical chronicles the annual junkyard gathering of cats at the Jellicle Ball, where each year Old Deuteronomy, a wise old feline who has lived many lives, selects just one cat to be born again to a new life. One by one, the cats take the stage to make their case for rebirth in song and dance. These include the tomcat Rum Tum Tugger; the athletic Mr. Mistoffelees; the fat and lazy Jennyanydots; Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat; Bustopher Jones, the chubby society cat, and on and on.
To help audiences understand the show's genesis and characters, Glaudini created a short film with pictures and lines from Eliot's book that plays during the overture. And in the spoken-word chorus at the beginning of the show, he and musical director Elan McMahan have coached the singers to articulate the confusing "jellicle cat" story slowly and clearly, which eliminates some of the show's head-scratching mystery.
Glaudini has also edited the show here and there. Cut from the score are two often-excised scenes: the "Pekes and Pollicles" battle (a story/song about an epic London dogfight between Pekingese and poodles) as well as the shorter song about the noisy Rumpuscat. By cutting these two songs sung by the show's male lead, Munkustrap (beautifully sung and danced by Robert Pieranunzi), his part is reduced dramatically, leaving the Elvis-in-Vegas-inspired Rum Tum Tugger, played with hip-swiveling swagger by Elijah Reyes, to take the show's lead and romp away with it. Included in this production is the often-cut scene "Growltiger's Last Stand," a longish comic operetta that succeeds largely on the comical performance of David Beaver as Growltiger.
In style and form, Mendoza stays very close to the original choreography of Gillian Lynne (which I'll admit I've seen a hundred times, thanks to my teen daughter's youthful fascination with the DVD). Standout dance scenes include the opening number, the cockroach tap dance and the Jellicle Ball scene. The synchronization is excellent and the movement graceful and balletic. It's probably the best jazz ensemble dancing I've seen at the Moonlight since "West Side Story" (which, no coincidence, was also choreographed by Mendoza and directed by Glaudini).
A number of performers stand out in the show.
As the haggard glamour cat Grizabella, who sings the show-stopper "Memory," Debbie Prutsman puts a lot of emotion into her heart-tugging performance. The stamina award goes to Nick Lorenzini and Courtney Evans as the cat-burgling team of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, who dance and tumble effortlessly through their wordy, lung-busting duet. Michael Skidgel has a gargantuan singing voice as Old Deuteronomy. Aaron Lloyd Pomeroy turns perfect pirouettes as magical Mr. Mistoffelees; Susan Stuber is the comic tap leader Jennyanydots; Stephanie Burkett Gerson has an especially lovely vocal solo as Jellylorum/Griddlebone; Rachel Scott and Karla Ruth Gilbert offer up a fine, sexy duet as Bombalurina and Demeter, respectively; and Natalie Emmons has a girlishly sweet voice as the kitten Sillabub.
Leading the dance/vocal corps are Zane Gerson as Skimbleshanks; Analilya Fortin as the tiny white Persian kitten Victoria; lanky Dustin Ceithamer as the scrappy Macavity; Danielle Levas as sleek Cassandra; John Nettles as Tumblebrutus; Kaylyn Hopkins as Tantomile; Kenneth Ramos as Pouncival; Mark Velarde as Coricopat; and Daniel Smith as Alonzo. The "Cats" chorus includes Angel Castellanos, Stephen Knoll-Gentry, Olivia Schulenburg and Lisa Staab Shadburn.
Conductor Kenneth Gammie leads a large orchestra in a near-perfect (except for some horn mishaps here and there) rendering of the complex score, with some hearty kudos to the keyboardists and reed players. The cluttered, oversize junkyard set is beautifully detailed, though Christina Munich's lighting was sometimes so dark it was hard to distinguish who was singing isolated solos and to see some of the cats toward the back of the stage.
Only the rented costumes disappoint. The wigs are OK, but the painted leotards aren't nearly as elaborate as the homemade costumes created last spring for the Fallbrook Players youth production.
"Cats" runs 2 hours, 30 minutes, with intermission. The musical closes Moonlight's first season in its new stage house, and the near-record ticket sales achieved this summer are certainly something to purr about.
"Cats"
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays; through Sept. 26 (no show on Sept. 23)
Where: Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista
Tickets: $22-$44
Info: 760-724-2110
Web: www.moonlightstage.com.
