A PUUUURFECT REVIVAL IS SERVED
“Get your life!” says the pre-show announcement as the lights dim in the Perelman Performing Arts Center before last night’s opening of this much talked-about revival of Cats.
The Cast of CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
That phrase might sound out-of-place in a Broadway musical’s pre-show announcement; however, when you step into the John E. Zuccotti Theater for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, you will instantly realize that while you are definitely watching a musical, you are certainly not watching a typical Broadway production. Gone is the now-familiar audience etiquette page in the Playbill (“no talking or singing along”) — audience members are encouraged to react, sing, call out, and generally “Get your life!” anytime. (You still have to stash and silence that cell phone.)
Sydney James Harcourt and The Cast
CATS: The Jellicle Ball is fueled by the vision of directors Zhailon Levingston and PAC NYC Artistic Director Bill Rauch (former leader of Oregon Shakespeare Festival), who interpret the musical via ballroom culture that cultivated in New York City’s queer communities of color in the late 1970s.
The Cast
Ballroom was where drag performers of color could show off their style, moves, and intimacy without fear, judgment, or harassment. These runway-strutting contests of dance and attitude were an oasis of acceptance in the city.
When the gay rights movement was struggling for early victories — such as the establishment of Gay Pride Day after the Stonewall Riot in 1969, and homosexuality being declassified as a mental disorder in 1973 — ballroom offered community and creative expression to gay, non-binary and transexual city dwellers of color in a time where such spaces were few and far between.
André De Shields and The Cast
The original 1981 sung-through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber is mostly based on English poet T.S. Elliot’s collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. If you’ve seen it and don’t understand what it’s about, it’s about cats. More precisely, a tribe of cats, the Jellicle Cats, and the once-a-year event where the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy, announces the cat who can now be reborn and come back in a different Jellicle Life — but only after the cats spend time introducing themselves and their fellow cats through catchy songs. Love it or hate it, Cats opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater in 1982, running for an unprecedented 18 years (7,485 performances).
Xavier Reyes and Emma Sofia
But what exactly has been done here? When Cats made its splash over 40 years ago the costumes were unmistakably feline and the dances were inspired by our whiskered friends’ grace. What more can be done? Well, Cats: The Jellicle Ball has largely the same engine, but now this constantly revived vehicle has been transformed into a confident and powerful muscle car with a ballroom evening built on top. While the contests, with their dueling performers vying for the judges award in categories like dress, dance and presentation, are a departure from the score of the show in the strictest sense, the production’s music team masterfully blends them into an exhilarating revival of a musical whose original iconic staging still lives in the “Memory” of theatergoers of all ages, not an easy feat. While leaving the book and lyrics nearly completely intact, Cats: The Jellicle Ball — with an excellent cast made up of theater veterans, ballroom performers, and considerably amazing dancers — offers an exciting introduction to ballroom culture in an inspired mash up.
André De Shields
The ballroom interpretation leads to some clever uses of the show’s familiar characters like The Old Gumbie Cat reimagined as a drag act, and André De Shields’ Old Deuteronomy conceived as a fierce ballroom judge. It goes without saying that De Shields owns his moments as he accomplishes not one, but two show-stopping entrance applause breaks. Deuteronomy stalks the runway and mandates respect with but a glance; he judges ballroom contests and awards trophies with authority. As Gus the Theatre Cat, influential ballroom elder Junior LaBeija (Paris Is Burning) charms with a sentimental tune about days of theater past and memories. Keep a lookout for Emma Sofia Caymares as Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat; New Yorkers will undoubtedly enjoy her new digs.
Junior LaBeija
The unique spectrum of performers move and groove as one on an almost precognitive level. This cast’s energy is infectious as they strut, saunter and sashay up and down the runway that serves as their stage. Unquestionably, they are an ensemble that can and does go toe-to-toe, move for move, with the best Broadway companies performing in midtown eight nights a week. Choreographers Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles deftly balance tight coordinated group dances with the seemingly chaotic vogues, swishes, and dives to which the distinctive performers add their unique style. Rachel Hauck’s spartan set keeps the focus on the ensemble, where it belongs.
The Cast
Costumes by Qween Jean display each performer’s individuality, and sparkle under the kinetic lighting design of Adam Honoré. And Hair designer Nikiya Mathis delivers one of the funniest theater wig moments in years. Musical Director William Waldrop, beats arranger Trevor Holder, music mixer DJ and ballroom consultant Capital Kaos create an impressive sonic mix with the cast and booth singers, adroitly handled by sound designer Kai Harada.
Come for the catchy songs, stay for the ballroom extravaganza, and remember that while the cast may be extravagant and constantly one-upping and over-the-topping each other, it’s not a feature or a bug, it’s the whole point.
"Tempress" Chasity Moore sings "Memory"
production photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
poster photo by Jai Lennard; model Jodi Mugler
The Cast
The company also includes Baby (Victoria), Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie), Tara Lashan Clinkscales (Ensemble), Shelby Griswold (Understudy), Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger), Antwayn Hopper (Macavity) Dava Huesca (Rumpleteazer), Dudney Joseph Jr. (Munkustrap), Dominique Lee (Understudy); Robert “Silk” Mason (Mistoffelees), “Tempress” Chasity Moore (Grizabella), Shereen Pimentel (Jellylorum), Primo (Tumblebrutus), Xavier Reyes (Jennyanydots), Nora Schell (Bustopher Jones), Bebe Nicole Simpson (Demeter), Kendall G. Stroud (Understudy), Frank Viveros (Ensemble), Garnet Williams (Bombalurina) and Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub).
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Perelman Performing Arts Center’s John E. Zuccotti Theater
World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, 251 Fulton Street
two hours thirty minutes with intermission
ends on July 14, 2024 EXTENDED to September 8, 2024
for tickets ($68-$309), call 212.266.3000 or visit PAC/NYC
find Alex Simmons @ohalexsimmons on all social media (X/Twitter, instagram, tiktok.)
