CATS

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

This CATS revival is the musical experience of the summer! It leaves you feline fantastic, and it's simply impossible not to be in awe of the highly skilled cast. It's a theatre delight!

To be honest, I would argue it is a MUST on a theatre lover's list to see at least one open-air show in the summer. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is one of London's greatest theatre venues, and if the weather allows, you are in for the time of your life, especially with this musical revival. Every year, I am taken aback by a show at this venue, and the beautiful outdoor environment can really accentuate the experience.

Before we fully delve into this review, I must disclose that this is coming from someone who hasn't seen the show before and has MINIMAL knowledge, only having heard a small handful of the songs. But, from a cat lover and now a CATS lover too.

What’s ’Cats’ about? It’s literally just about Cats, and it’s wonderful. Everything about this production is astounding; you sit there with your mouth open in awe of the feline world created in front of you… Careful not to do that too much, because you’ll catch a fly or two. Andrew Lloyd Webber's crafted score is such a rare and unique treat. Each note feels chosen for a reason and captures a cat's scatty nature and distinct personalities. It's true, they are very musical theatre-coded creatures. This revival is dance-heavy and gives you the reins to form your own interpretation of the plot; I don't think there is necessarily a traditional story; what this audience member got was that it's all the cats getting together, reminiscing, and being cats. The beauty and strength of the show is how you get to a point where you believe every character is a cat and forget that they are humans on stage playing cats. The whole cast has expert-level dance skills and has many tricks up their sleeves, especially Mr Mistoffelees. You will be wow'd. This production feels minimalistic at first, but in actuality, as the show goes on, there is so much that gets brought on stage, so many costume changes, and the outdoors adds so much extra beauty to the show. It feels modern, and the dance styles truly make sense for each character.

Let's get into the NAMING OF the CATS... see what I did there? Yes, let's talk a little about the cast and what stood out. I'd love to talk about each cast member; however, it would be a very long paragraph. Just know that each performer brought something different and had clearly put deep thought into their characters and how they move, the relationships, and reactions. It's amazing how much work has gone into each element of this show. One of the biggest stand-out characters was Rum Tum Tugger, played by Jaydon Vijn. The performance was outstanding. The moment he is in character, the audience is drawn to his charm, charisma and confidence, but also the way he moves and interacts. His vocal abilities are also enchanting! Another standout was the cover of Grizabella played by Taziva-Faye Katsande. She can really capture the audience and move them with her voice. She clearly understands the role and fully commits; however, she is very young and understanding that she is playing an older cat is difficult. You don't seem to have that same connection as you do with Old Deuteronomy, played by Melanie La Barrie, and Gus, played by Gary Wilmot. The two older cats that you want to protect at any cost- they just have this beautiful, kind nature, and you treasure each moment they spend on stage. Just like the ensemble does, they clearly respect and cherish these two characters. The way they all join together as the two join the stage is incredible to watch.

Watching this show is an incredible experience because more and more surprises are unveiled in each number. It's a gift that keeps on giving, and that's mostly because of the set, designed by Sami Fendall. There are so many hidden things with the set, which I sadly will not reveal in this review, because you all deserve to experience the me(wow) factor elements. The backdrop is basically the mood, and it sets the scene for the time of day, and I do urge you to see it for an evening performance to witness the show for its full potential. There is just something about the sun setting that makes you feel like you are a part of what is going on in front of you. Of course, there are moments when the cats interact with the audience and enter/exit through them, and this is such a great way to bring the audience into the performance and connect with the characters. There are a few objects that are brought on stage to help add to the scene, such as a train for Skimbleshanks; this creates an imaginative scene.

I wouldn't describe this show as minimalistic; whilst it is a little stripped back from the original, there is still so much that is brought to the stage, and it serves such a big purpose. It's the perfect amount to give the audience the ability to use their imagination, but not work too hard. Another stunning element is the costume and wigs by Sami Fendall and make-up by Guy Common. They perfectly complement the dancers' bodies and help accentuate the cat-like movements, whilst giving each performer individuality. They create such amazing visuals and help enhance your imagination, to the point where you truly can picture them as cats and what cats they would be. There's such a range of different textures, from ruffles to tassels, mesh and patches. Gus has one of the loveliest costumes; his wig is fuzzy and chaotic, and he wears a big blanket-like robe which has patches on it, to show he's a bit of a shaggy cat. When he puts on an eye patch, I found by self-curling my bottom lip, because I was imagining a shaggy cat with an eye patch, like a pirate and then remembered he's not actually a cat. It's just such a clever production.

If you've seen the original, I'm sure it doesn't match, but this is a revival, and it has so much individuality and has modernised the show. Gus' character has aged like a fine wine and reminds the audience that theatre does change and grow, and that it isn't a bad thing! Just like me, this modern production has brought in new lovers of the show. Whilst it is a show that I've heard is quite like marmite, I like this marmite a lot! The contemporary-style dances were so fitting to the characters, because it's a style that you have to be in tune with your body, and the stretching aspect is similar to cats, as they are always stretching! This is the show of the summer, and you must rush to see it whilst you still can. Every moment will dazzle you, and you will be blown away! What a show to tingle your theatre whiskers.