[milamber_alw]

I finally managed to see the Swedish productions of Cats, so I will share my fresh experience (sorry if it is too chaotic, I don't know where to begin )

As was written in some older topics, the amusement park stage design is really original and although it looked a bit strange at the beginning I got quickly used to it.
In the beginning there is a big gate into the Cats world which opens after the Jellicle songs (sorry for out of focus, I did not have a tripod of course). If it was of better quality you could read the signs like "Dogs not allowed" etc.

The funfair environment is used very intensively for original appearances of cats. For example MJ&RT drive and fall from the roller coaster, Skimbleshanks arrives in the complete roller coaster train etc.

Even though I couldn't get familiarized with some characters, I liked them. I cannot judge the make-up, because I couldn't see details from the second balcony But there were several very noticable cats - e.g. Grizabella (or "so called" Grizabella). This affectedly acting and singing creature with the horrible thing on her head had nothing to do with real Griz - so I simply took this production as Grizabella-free Or the Swedish new character "Shakespeare" looked like a big wasp without the antennae

Misto's number seemed a bit chaotic for me (and for the rest of the audience obviously too as nobody knew if they should applaud or not). Besides that his dancing was quite poor

Interesting moment was during the Ad-Dressing when Old D. let sing Munkustrap one of his parts...

If there was something really fantastic, then it was the acrobatics - especially from Tantomile & Coricopat, but from many others too. They were really awesome! Sometimes I worried about them as their saltos looked really dangerous - but they survived

It seemed like the music composer for this version knew that I am obsessed with violins in Cats, because they were used very frequently and made the show sound really great. Polish Koty have heavy competition . It was only a pity that the trumpeter hadn't his day and he was quite false sometimes

If I should mention available merchandise, it is not as good as I expected. But I am also spoiled by the Dutch programme Swedish programme is of very strange format, with parody back and quite poor graphics inside. But there is one interesting think - each actor has his/her photo "before and after". We should see this more often

Overall - if I do not think about "missing" Griz etc. I was satisfied with this show and it was worth the money I have invested into the trip to Sweden. You may disagree with me, but it is much more interesting when somebody makes the Cats production in very original way - not like "everywhere-the-same-stage-costumes-etc" (*awaiting lynching*).

So, that is all that I can write now - I am sure that I will recall many things after posting this message

PS - I HATE that bloody woman sitting next to me who didn't switched off her cell phone Burn in hell!!!

[milamber_alw]

And *cough, cough* here is one small and short proof of Tantomile's and Coricopat's brilliance.
And one reason why do I LOVE violins

I apologise our moderators for this post and await its deletion, but I simply had to present you the brilliance of Swedish Cats.

[Pawzxx]

OMG....*squeal*!!!!

That looks and sounds absolutely and utterly amazing!!! Your soo lucky! Thankyou for such a great report!

Skimble arriving on a rollercoaster train!! How crazy and brilliant is that??
The sets look fantastic! It's so colourful! I wasn't sure if i'd be into the whole amusement park thing but after seeing your pictures it has me converted!! I love it!

It even makes uk and us tour cats seem a bit tired out. (plz no one kill me for saying that..thanks XD)

Thats it! I'm saving up and going to Sweden! Colourful things excite me!Anyone coming? lol

And the violins sound absolutely amazing! That clip is brilliant! Your right, Koty does have competiton!

Ohh and I love the programme dog parody thing! It's so quirky! (and it also explains where I got my avatar image from lol - been wondering about that!)

I'm just brimming with questions!! You probably know whats coming when I ask this, but how was jellicle songs? Did you enjoy the singing? Ohh oh, and can you tell me about the Rum Tum Tugger number? Did he come out into the audience?

In fact was there much audience interaction? And what were the kittens like?

Lol sorry, I'm bombarding you with 101 questions here. It looks great and I hope you had a fantastic time! XD

Thanks again for the report- u made my night! *grin*

[Pawzxx]

Ohhh dear god!!! I just downloaded ur vid! It's amazing!

I'm in love with cats in sweden!

Cori and tant are absolutely fantastic!

Thanks again... thats totally brilliant! (ohh too much excitement for one night...my poor fingers are in a typing frenzy lol)

[Swan]

[milamber_alw]

Pawzxx wow, I didn't expect so excited reaction
The Jellicle songs were fine, they were changed a little - there was no boot falling onto the cats, instead of it Victoria was screaming something (I didn't notice why). And just before the saying "There's a man over there with a look of surprise..." you could hear some woman's voice screaming and wishing the cats to stop meow. After that a big flowerpot fell before them

There was not much interaction with the audience, but I might not have seen it (I didn't see much of the stalles). Tugger didn't come to the audience - he jumped from that mouth-like tunnel and other cats were catching him. It was the same as in our production.

I cannot comment kittens much. They were fine during Tugger but soon I have forgotten who is who (I should have taken some binoculars )

Swan I don't care about strict observance of choreography. The most important is the final result which was very good

[Pawzxx]

Yeah, lol, sorry if I suprised you with my over excitement. . I've just been desperate to hear about Swedish cats, they look so quirky and different.

Lol, and I just love that a flowerpot fell instead of a boot! Little differences like that I find really nice and refreshing..

I think its great that Cats is evolving into new and exciting productions over the world, (however I still maintain that even though koty have one of the best soundtracks, the costumes are terrible - sorry, just preference here ;P) because then it's capturing a whole new audience! And then the memory does really live forever....and ever...and ever (lol sorry)

Thanks for answering my questions XD

[MrsJemimaMistoffelees]

The set looks amazing! The big gate at the beginning made my mouth drop in awe. So cool!

Thanks for the pictures and reviews, milamber_alw!

Veel Liefs,
Jemima ^_^

[mistocopat]

I LOVE the gate!
What a cool way to start off the show!
I really want to see the Swedish Production now!

[Pounce]

[Swan]

[milamber_alw]

[Natasha]

The Swedish production is totally awesome

I like to see the way CATS is changed in different countries. The Russian production was a copy of the Lonodn production, and I think that's good in some way, but it's so exiting for me to see how CATS can be very different, like in Polish, Swedish production, etc.

[MsMungojerrie]

This production looks great. Thanks for sharing your experince.

[littlgriz1]

[littlgriz1]