What Did She Say

Although there is the impending release of CATS the Musical the Movie (in theatres December 20), we’re going to chat about CATS the Musical the Musical here.

CATS is enjoying its current run at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto until January 5, 2020. Not only are the cats running loose and wild on stage, they’re also throughout the audience – so close you could touch them. (Please don’t actually touch the cats). It was incredibly enjoyable to be in the orchestra seats with the kitties running, dancing, and singing in the aisles.

Who knew a musical about cats would endure through the decades? It premiered in London 1981 – where it won best musical and ran for a record-breaking 21 years – then Broadway in 1982 – where it also won the Tony for best musical and ran for 18 years. (Both cast albums won Grammys, too). There’s a reason this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical has so many more than nine lives. CATS is such a delightful, fun musical and is a spectacle for the senses – the songs, the choreography, the set, and of course the costumes. Oh, those costumes!

For me, it was also a nostalgia trip – bringing me back to dance class in the 80s (there’s video of that somewhere on a VHS tape), as well as a Broadway trip with my mom in the 90s. All she wanted was to see CATS. My early-20s theatre-snob self was such a brat and made snide remarks to the point she apologized for ‘making me go’ to CATS. Sorry Mom!

My date for the night was a friend who, when she was 8, recorded a televised performance of CATS and watched it over and over and over. She was vibrating with the excitement of finally being able to see it live on stage.

What is better than cats? Just ask the internet. The answer to that question is nothing. CATS is everything. It’s as if a cat meme was brought to life, slapped on some legwarmers, and danced and sang just for you for a couple hours. Kudos to Andrew Lloyd Webber for making a wildly successful musical that’s basically about one cat after another introducing themselves to us.

Of course there’s the showstopping hit Memory, which was belted out with such strength, passion, and talent by Keri René Fuller’s Grizabella it was met with wild applause, complete with hoots and hollers you’d expect at a rock concert. Our Canadian restraint and theatre etiquette kept us from leaping from our seats, I’m sure.

What made this extra fun watching was picking out what celebrities and actors would be playing what parts in the upcoming film. It was a good ‘memory’ refresher. I’m excited to see the movie when it’s released next month and compare it to the stage production. CATS doesn’t have many folks who fall in the middle. It’s a love it or hate it kind of thing – and either way, whether you love it or hate it, it makes for some fun entertainment.

As an added bonus, Mirvish has just announced rush seats for CATS! From the Mirvish website:

A limited number of rush seats may be available at only $39 each (regular ticket service charge will be applied for online sales). Location is subject to availability. Tickets go on sale online at 9AM the day of the performance, except for midweek matinee performances – which will be available Tuesday at 9AM. Tickets will also be available by phone and in-person at the theatre box office. Note: the phone room opens late on weekends and the box office opening hours vary by day. Check here for hours.

• Limit of two (2) tickets per person, per order, per performance.
• Tickets are subject to availability.
• Note: Multiple orders will be cancelled.

This run of CATS is great timing for the holiday season and the movie release. Go and enjoy! I hope you have as much fun as my friend and I did.