Cats the Musical

So once again, thanks to the Youtube Channel The Shows Must Go On, I am now able to watch the popular Cats, a musical based on the poetry of T.S. Eliot. I first encountered the poet via his nightmarish epic poem The Waste Land, a critique of modernity.  The cool thing about the poem is how Eliot used different languages in some lines, which I am a bit unhappy about because somebod beat me to it. But then, given the richness of cultures and languages in Asia and Africa, for certain many obscure poets have done it before, too.

Cats had a movie version in 2019 and was shown in Philippine cinemas early this year. The day before my brother's wedding, I was locked up in our hotel room, trying to watch a highschool play version but I ended up just sleeping the afternoon away, seeing that there is little plot. One also does not expect much from the production but then again, considering that it a HS play, it's already achieved quite a lot in terms of aesthetics.

Cats is about cats of different types and different personalities. Old Grizzabella who is shunned by the other cats. There's this other old cat whose name is Deuteronomy, who selects a cat who will be sent to Heaviside Layer. The cats gather is a Jellicle ball and that is where the selection will take place. For the most part in the beginning, I was rather bored because of the many dances and songs with very little progress in story-telling. The dance choreography are good, but then for someone not into dancing, it's not something I am super interested in.

If there is some merit to this musical, it's got some of the best catchy songs. My favorite aside from Memory, is Mr. Mistoffelees, performed by John Partridge as the curious cat Rum Tum Tugger. (Yes, I really searched for the actor's name because he is so damn good!) The singer-actor playing this character is super awesome. I also enjoyed his namesake's song in Act 1. It's something that you'd definitely want to sing along to, or to have some buddy to sing along with. And of course, who doesn't love a black magical cat, like the famed Luna from the massively popular shoujo series Sailormoon? Without this very important character, the selection will never happen; it was Mr. Mistoffelees who brings back Old Deuteronomy after the latter was abducted by the mischievous and mysterious Macavity. And then just as quickly he himself disappears! If there is any motivation for me to see this musical performed live, it is to see for myself how they make Mr. Mistoffelees suddenly disappear after bringing back the old cat leader.

And so, the old glamour cat Grizzabella is chosen to be reborn. Before that, she sings another round of Memory. And while she sings, our favorite magic cat can be seen at the back. He must have found it worthwhile to stay for the Jellicle Choice! In the end, she is seen together with Old Deuteronomy on a rising tire, old D delivering her to the golden stairs as the other cats look on.

It seems that after this, "Jellicles can and Jellicles do" will probably play nonstop inside my head for at least a week. 

Oh! Well I never! Was there ever a play so clever as magical Cats the Musical!