What's the dealio with <i>Cats</i>?

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After mentions of this musical on the epic Buffy thread, could someone tell me what they see in it? I'm not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely interested in what makes it appeal to people.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

OHwelliNEVerwasthereEVeraCATsocleverasMAGicalMIStermisTOPHeleeeeeeees!

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

(I hate it too. Much rejoicing in Casa Ewing when it finally ended.)

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

A bunch of kind of funny but very frivolous poetry mangled and distorted into some kind of pseudo-profound 'journey' type metaphor of an ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER MUSICAL with really really stupid costumes. Gives dancers opprtunities to prance about doing their horrible emotive movement thing. Dreadful, simply dreadful.

People like it because...it's about kittens? And the stupid costumes are skin-tight.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

1) "Memory" is a good song, Barbara Streisand's overplayed rendition aside.
2) The costuming is fantastic, as is the blocking/movement.
3) "Macavity" is also a good song.
4) The "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" is one of the few modern musical numbers that can get away with egregious time signature wankage.
5) Bonnie Langford was in the London cast. GO RUMPLETEEZER!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

It is the worst thing evah, and therefore the diametric opposite of OMWF

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cats" has been shown to be highly annoying to the smugly cynical, the self-satisfied and people who have never aspired to be in musicals (longevity = potential job when you get your big break).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

'Memory' is a horrible trivialisation of 'Rhapsody on a Windy Night', which isn't even _from_ 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'. How can you go from

"Memory!
You have the key,
The little lamp spreads a ring on the stair.
Mount.
The bed is open; the tooth-brush hangs on the wall,
Put your shoes at the door, sleep, prepare for life.”

The last twist of the knife."

to some old load of tosh about nostalgia for being a sexy young cat-girl, without simply _weeping_ in frustration?

Yuck Bonnie Langford, the wizened gurning ginger mannequin.

I apologise for bitterness, but it really sucks as far as I'm concerned. I kind of liked the songs when I was young.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Cats has dated awfully but as dance musical theatre it literally broke the mold. Three okayish songs (Memory is triffic) and skintight outfits made it the show it was okay for Dad's to like (at least until Chicago came back).

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

The Hidden Paw!

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

U R ALL GAY

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

He's a master criminal who can defy the law!

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

In the very beginning of the Cats insanity, photos of the cast in costume and make up were banned. "Oh, they're just like real cats--you'll be amazed." That was a good situation because at least you didn't have to see the idiots make stupid cat gestures...

Now, the photos are everywhere. Revolting. Even worse the quote I read somewhere, "we had to close it so we can open the revival!"

― Skottie, Tuesday, 18 March 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't even understand it as a concept.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

It sucks. It's horrid.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Taking sides: any random production of Cats vs. the animated cartoon of Heathcliff.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I *hated* Heathcliff.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

What the hell are you trying to do here, Ned?

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Could've been worse. At least no-one's mentioned Ga*fi*ld.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

What the hell are you trying to do here, Ned?

Trying to figure out the Scylla and Charybdis of cat culture at its worst.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Scylla and Charybdis lend a nice tone to the proceedings, but I think Dumb and Dumber are the two ends of the spectrum re: Cats and its ilk.

― Skottie, Tuesday, 18 March 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

2) The costuming is fantastic, as is the blocking/movement.

How so? The costumes make them look nothing like cats. Instead, they look like demented mimes in bad makeup who like showing off their bulging genitalia.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

they look like demented mimes in bad makeup who like showing off their bulging genitalia.

Sorry, and you're asking *Dan Perry* why he likes it??

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

True, too true.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

For him to have truly loved it that way, the name would have to be Pussies.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I SHOULD TOTALLY REWRITE "CATS" AS "PUSSIES"!!!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Will you include Mrs Slocombe's pussy?

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Mrs Slocombe's pussy
Is a droopy old thing
It's just a little gassy
And it flops on everything

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Now that would be a good musical.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you Being Served? - *The Musical*!

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

(Yes Lara, I am experiencing maximum FEAR.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I love music.
I love cats.
I don't care for Cats.
Do I hate fun?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I think any cat-lover in their right mind would loathe Cats.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

CATISTS.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Which Ilx-er is fey enough to play Mr Humphries?

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

What have I wrought?

(Never seen Cats and I only know "Memories" from it, so I am indifferent.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

(DAMMIT I wish Fred Solinger still posted so I could say, "FRED SOLINGER IS THE JERSEY MR. HUMPHRIES" and revel in his indignation.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The amorous Humphries' plugged jersey, what?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

He looks like Prince now!

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Fred, that is. That's why the Humphries comparison would be even funnier.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a new picture of Fred? Is he dressed Dirty Mind-style?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

That's fantastic on SO MANY LEVELS! I should email him a transliteration of Prince yelps.

I've realized that Mr. Humphries should be played by our resident thespian L'IL NICKY D.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

With beard of course.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

This all fits in to this weird theory I came up with yesterday.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

What would Mr. Humphries be without his beard?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

But of course, young Master Perry.

If Nicole has an N. = Fred = Prince theory my head will hurt. I will however be entertained by the idea that Nicole will now no longer be able to listen to Prince without thinking of N. She'll have to think of him acting the lead role in Purple Rain, singing "Kiss" and "Alphabet St." to her, gyrating accordingly, etc.

Oh hi Nicole, no please put down that knife, no not in my chest ARGH!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Nicole has visions of N. and Fred in ass-out pants!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Licking curly yellow guitars at that.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

58 posts and NOT ONE KITTEN?! This can only mean the end of ILX.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 93 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

it has rap??!

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Aspects of Love was really good, though. Actually it was beautiful and the production I saw was mounted entirely in white and had the hottest onstage chemistry.... ma-rowr....!

And I kinda liked Phantom for 15 minutes in 1989 but then again I Was A Teenage Goth.

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"underneath the whimsical silliness is a beautiful metaphor about God, man, and life that anyone will notice if they give the show half a chance."

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

haha is the reviewer a hippy?

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Evita rulez all.

― El Santo Claus (Kingfish), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

OK who is going to help me stage a revival of Starlight Express?

― Allyzay, Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Evita is the most overrated musical of all time.

― Allyzay, Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I will Ally!

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Please don't wear those clothes or anything like them. Actually an all-nude Starlight Express is the only way I could be persuaded to go and see it.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

rap - no
country - no
classical - no
digital - if they mean bad 80s tech, then yes
punk - fuq no
hard rock - nu-uh

Actually, Starlight Express was written for gospel and blues-stylee voices. It was part of ALW's wanting-to-write-musicals-starring-the-Ike-ettes-phase. Now all his stuff sounds like it was crafted with Hayley Mills in mind.

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I would only attend an all-nude production if the audience was nude as well.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Evita with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin is grate. the stage version I saw was shite. And I sat next to Donny Fucking Osmond, who Didn't Get It.
Jesus Christ Superstar with Dennis DeYoung was pretty kickass too.

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

does protective gear count as clothes in this all-nude version? 'cause I mean you gotta keep the roller skates.

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

You are a very odd fish, Ned Raggett.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Practice safe stage.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha no the costumes are totally the only reason why I want to revive this musical, people.

― Allyzay, Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I do like Joseph quite a lot. That Potiphar song is brilliant.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Then keep the costumes and get better music! Have the costumes crossed with pirate outfits for an Adam Ant musical along the lines of that Mamma Mia thing done for Abba songs.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned that's a horrible idea. Why don't you go make your own musical instead of ruining ours? Hint: it should be involving Kraftwerk, now go!

― Allyzay, Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

That would have the best choreography ever! I wouldn't have to move at all.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

You know why Cats is good? there is a PIRATE CAT! meAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned just really likes going to musicals in the buff.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

What, you don't?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

"The unspoken message is clear as a bell, and is used as a canvas to paint a wonderful picture in London. The Brits still do some things right and Theater is one of them - If you are ever in London - you must see the show!"

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

How come no-one ever stages "Chess" anymore?

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 11 December 2003 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Common sense?

― Allyzay, Friday, 12 December 2003 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I WAS POTIPHAR

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 05:52 (twenty-one years ago)

They oughta revive Cats using the Famous People Players. Tell a bunch of retarded kids to act like felines and I think you have yourself a winner. Hell, it wouldn't even require costumes.

― may pang (maypang), Friday, 12 December 2003 06:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Potiphar had very few cares
I was one of Egypt's millionaires
Having made a fortune buying shares in pyramids...

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 06:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Pick my best musical role from high school:

Jacob/Potiphar (Joseph)
Action (West Side Story)
Max Detweiler (Sound Of Music)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 06:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Action! I have an almost unreasonable love for West Side Story.

― El Diablo Robotic (Nicole), Friday, 12 December 2003 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Potiphar, for it is the most amusing name.

My opinion on Cats remains unchanged: it sux u r all phurri3s

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Singing the lead in "Gee Officer Krupke" is probably the highlight of my "stage career".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

IDON'TBELIEVEINFREELOVE

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

That was the second highlight of my "stage career".

The sad thing is that Detweiler/von Trapp/Elsa have a couple of trios in the stage version of "SoM" that aren't in the movie which are FUCKING GREAT ("No Way To Stop It"!) but no one knows them.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Obscurity is your fate there, I'm afraid.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Your inscrutability leaves me inconsolable. I am in an abyss of dread.

― Dieter (Dan Perry), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:18 (twenty-one years ago)

NOW YOU DANCE. Or is that 'danz'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.shoppingtelly.com/forum/images/avatars/spider.gif

― El Santo Claus (Kingfish), Friday, 12 December 2003 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Song in the stage version getting cut in the movie version shocker!!!

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 12 December 2003 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Strange thread.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 1 October 2005 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

Indeed. I remember seeing the Toronto production when I was 13 or 14 and wanting to like it, but not having one sweet clue as to what was happening plotwise.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 1 October 2005 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

The Fred of your body covers me.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 1 October 2005 19:19 (nineteen years ago)

You should cry now, cause you'll be lucky if you'll even be able to cry after I destroy you.

-- Nicole (nicolew1...), March 19th, 2003. (Nicole)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 1 October 2005 19:19 (nineteen years ago)

She never made good on that.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 1 October 2005 19:26 (nineteen years ago)

Don't taunt her, Ned!

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Saturday, 1 October 2005 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

*senses looming vast power of desecration arising over the Midwest*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 1 October 2005 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

Dessication, shurely.

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 2 October 2005 00:56 (nineteen years ago)

Unquestionably the best thing about Cats were those huge show posters in the subways, the ones with the jolly rotund cat man touching fingers with a little Asian girl (presumably from the audience). In the WTC PATH station, someone had added a Sharpie speech bubble in which the, like, 7-yr old girl said "I love you, Cat Husband!!". Somewhere there's a digital photo of this.

― Laurel, Sunday, 2 October 2005 01:02 (nineteen years ago)

hee hee hee

― kingfish superman ice cream (kingfish 2.0), Sunday, 2 October 2005 02:24 (nineteen years ago)

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What's the dealio with Cats?