October 12, 2011 – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical Cats played 21 years in London and 18 on Broadway. It has likewise been performed around the world and translated in 20 languages. But if you have not yet seen it, here’s your chance. The show is now playing at the Ben Bollinger’s Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont, directed by Paul Hadobas, who himself performed in Cats 25 years ago in Vienna and Zurich, under the guidance of Gillian Lynne, the show’s original director and choreographer.
Cats is the most involved show the Candlelight has seen, not only due to the size of the cast, but also because of the extensive training the cast has gone through to perfect the show including their work with costumes and make-up. The stage is impressive, the largest at the Candlelight so far, a junkyard with “oversized” trash cans, bicycle tires, and an enormous moon; but the correct size to a cat!
Has anyone ever told you that Cats has no dialogue, uses only poetry for its through-line, and it’s largely told through dance? If that scares you a bit, let me tell you why it shouldn’t…
Cats is based in some poems that the famous American writer T.S. Eliot wrote for his grandchildren. The poems eventually became a book entitled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (read the poems here). Andrew Lloyd Webber set out to create music for these poems, and as he did so, he was approached by Eliot’s widow, Valerie Eliot, who gave him another one of her husband’s poems entitled “Rhapsody on a Windy Night.” (See poem here.)
The union of the poems became the storyline of Cats: a group of cats gather at a junkyard where humans (you!) happen to be. You then get to meet them – the wise Old Deuteronomy, the cool and Mick-Jagger-like Rum Tum Tugger, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the disappointed but lucky Grizabella (who gets to go to cat heaven), and many of their friends.
In the voice of Debbie Prutsman as Grizabella (also the director of vocal music at Citrus Valley High School) the well known song “Memory” elevates beautifully to take you to the point of chills. The outstanding voices of Robert Hoyt and Isaac James keep the songs “Old Deuteronomy” and “Rum Tum Tugger” as favorites, and Fontana’s Reece Taylor shines with his dance technique as Mr. Mistoffelees.
If you have not seen Cats, this is a great production to fix that. If you have, read up on T.S.Eliot and go back. The Candlelight management does a great job orienting you to the play with its “Know the Show” production notes, which are handed to you at arrival.
Cats will perform at the Candlelight Pavilion Thursday through Sunday until November 20. The theater is located at 455 W. Foothill Blvd, Claremont, CA. Tickets range $48 to $68 and include the meal, show, and sales tax. (Appetizers, desserts, beverages, and tip are additional.) Reservations are required by calling 909.626.1254 ext 1 or online at http://www.candlelightpavilion.com
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