CATS

UK, 1998, 120 minutes, Colour.
Elaine Page, John Mills, Ken Page.
Directed by David Mallet.

Audiences around the world have enjoyed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. It is not an easy piece of musical theatre to translate to the big screen so this version is a filmed version of the stage performance. A great deal of care has been given to the multi-cameras and their takes on the show at large as well as to close-ups and the highlighting of particular performances. And the editing is well-paced. It is an opportunity to experience something of the impact of Cats.

Andrew Lord Webber came to prominence with Tim Rice for Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat followed quickly by Jesus Christ Superstar. There were other compositions including Starlight Express as well as Evita. Lord Webber’s impact came especially with The Phantom of the Opera – and continued for many decades.

The libretto for Cats comes from TS Eliot’s Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. (And, in the set design, there is an old car with the number plate TS 1.)

What is striking about the film is the staging, the stage itself, the rubbish tip, the night, all colourfully presented. Also striking is the costume design and the make up for such a wide range of cats.

What is important about the musical is the dancing and the choreography, all presented vividly and strikingly.

The star attractions for this performance are from Elaine Page as Grizabella, and her famous rendition of Memories. Surprising is the appearance of John Mills as Gus the theatre cat. Ken Page is dominating as Old Deuteronomy.

The rest of the cast are not well-known but are very talented singers and dancers, many with ballet backgrounds, who portray the group of cats – and then are singled out for their particular songs and as individual cats including the Mc Cavity, Mistoffeles.

This means that this version of Cats, as well as the theatrical version, is really an elaborate and colourful pageant, an example of musical theatre.

While the basic conceit is fanciful, and Lloyd Webber’s music brings the fancy to life, the audience is mainly entertained although, in the latter part of the production, there is the famous line from Elliot: to have the experience but miss the meaning.

Memories is at the core of Cats, Grizabella’s performance and the echo from the young cat, and it forms a plaintiff finale for this opportunity for those who could not get to theatre to still experience Cats.