SHOTTS OPERA HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

It was a bold and ambitious decision by St Patrick’s Amateur Opera Group to stage a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic spectacular musical Cats.

And the Shotts group proved themselves able for the challenge, as the response from the audiences at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston last week demonstrated.

There were impressive performances from the principal cast members Matthew Coulter as Munkustrap; Anne Marie Totten as Jellylorum; Rachael Barnes as Demeter; Lindsay More as Bombalurina; Paula Kane as Jennyanydots/grumble Cat : Bryan Shallow as Rum Tum Tugger; Findlay Cook as Mungojerrie; Mhairi Steel as Rumpleteazer; Marie Doyle as Grizabella; Joe Totten as Bustopher Jones; Brian Traynor as Deuteronomy; Ray O’sullivan as Gus/growltiger; James Brown as Skimbleshanks; Gillian Coulter as Jemima; Shevonne Cullen as Griddlebone; Ewan Ferguson as Mr Mistofolees; Mairi Aitken as Victoria; Lee Heraghty-white as Rumpus Cat; and Brendan Strang as Mccavaty.

All brought the varying characters to life with excellent singing and dancing in a junkyard, wonderfully created by members of the group with lights shaped as cats’ eyes shining through, which gave an added appeal on stage.

Producer and choreographer Judy Brown and musical director Fraser Wilson can be proud of this successful production.