Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Show-stopping music
Cats” is the Tony Award-winmusical that has been preed in more than 30 countries in 15 languages. It tells the y of one magical night each when a tribe of cats gathfor the Jellicle Ball to decide ch cat will be reborn. The y is based on a poetry collecby T.S. Eliot. he cats gather in a junkyard first explain to the audience different cats are named. nkustrap, the show’s narrator, the audience that on this t, wise leader Old Deuteronwill choose one of the cats e reborn. As the cats tell their s, the audience meets tabby Jennyanydots, cat-about-town topher Jones, fickle Rum Tugger, railway cat Skimblenks and magician Mr. Mistofes. ongtime fans of the musical notice this national tour rns Grizabella’s role to the w’s roots. Fuller will first ear as a young, vibrant Grizla — “Baby Griz as we call — in the opening number. later returns to the stage as aging, faded Grizabella, who unned by others of the tribe. It really gives the sense of a circle,” says Fuller, “that she d to be part of this tribe and d to be loved. Through choiche made and others made, she onger feels part of the tribe.” uller emphasizes the cast y is an ensemble, and believes iences will see that cohesive.
There is no part more importthan the other, because what es this show work is the emble nature — the fact we telling the story of a tribe and are a tribe throughout the re production. There are only two or so times that the entire company is not onstage together.”
That company includes 32 performers, 22 of them onstage cast members. The tour travels with its own musicians, company management, stage management, hair/wardrobe/makeup teams and backstage crew — about five dozen people.
The junkyard set is “quite extensive” she says, filled with an oversized mishmash of items that have been thrown away: clothing, bicycle wheels, newspapers, books, a random shoe.
Those who saw the recent film production of “Cats” shouldn’t dismiss this Jellicle Ball. There’s a reason that “Cats” is the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history.
“The difference is night and day because there is nothing on the screen that will compare to a live production with live actors baring their hearts and souls,” says Fuller, who has seen the film.
“You weren’t able to tell from the film the athleticism this show requires from everyone involved. These dancers are athletes. The emotion this production evokes when you see it live — it’s like you are transported to a different world. That’s really special. So while the film is a great piece of work in its own right, I personally feel the way to experience ‘Cats’ is live.”