[TheBoogie]

Hey guys.. how are you?
I'm gonna share with you the great experience I had last night!!!
It's gonna be long... sorry...

Well, I'm just the happiest I think I can ever be!!! I saw CATS yesterday. It was amazing!! Amazing seing Cats live for the first time! The feeling of singing along (very quietly, of course) my favourite songs of my favourite musical ever was soooo good i don't even know how to describe it.

Well... Of course, the performance was very different from what I expected and I think it had it's ups and downs.... For exemple, the first verse of Jellicle Songs: from "Are you blind when you're born?" we only heard "you're born"... but that was it for sound problems.. all the rest was perfect for all the other characters...

Another thing I didn't quite like was Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.. I really don't think the actors got de essence of the characters they were playing... And in the first verse, mungojerrie is sup´posed to say "mungojerrie" and rumpleteazer to say "rumpleteazer", right? Well, it went the other way arround... She said "mungo" and he said "rumple". And it was just for THAT verse, cause the other ones they did the other way.. the "correct" way...

And, the Rum Tum Tugger left me a little desapointioned too... Not a lot, but a little... The audience LOVED it, of course... But I think I just couldn't leave John Patridge's GREAT version of him off my mind... Growltiger's Last Stand was very beautiful visually, but I personally didn't like it too much as well...

For the rest, IT WAS AMAZING!!! They coming in from the back of the theater through the audience was fenomenal! I was in the begining of the row I sat, right beside the corridor... It was fenomenalll! Those perfect outfits and makeups (which I was afraid I wouldn't find good... bah... LOVED IT) works very well for the theatre, specially for a theater as big as that (there were almost 3 thousand people watching that night.. full house!)

I tried to take some pictures and make little videos (I know it is not allowed, but that was a onece in a lifetime experience) but I just forgot about the camera the whole performance long. hehehehe

Too bad I wasn't able to get seats colser to the stage.. No more tickets like that were avaluable when I bought mine. Lucky I had my binoculars! hehehe..

Other things I loved:

-the special afects
-Grizabella's voice (amazing high notes she got there!)
-the band, that was not an orchestra, but a great band.. durring the intermition, one of the keyboard players stayed there practcing something... He really didn't care about everybode staring at him all that while... (during the intermition, everybode went to see the orchestra shaft)
-Old Deuteronomy staying up on the stage sat down on the tire for the whole intermition.. people waving at him, but he didn't respond to anything...
-skimbleshaks was amazing at his part!
-mistoffelees dancing beautifully
-those sort of christmas lights all along the theater selling
-the lightning effects that were awesome
-bustufer jones.. he was the funiest he could ever be!!! One of the kittens (can't really tell which, cause I was not near enough to do that) bites his tail at one point at the performance.. his reaction brought down the house at laughs!
-"macavity" song dance moves were actually better ther the one in the movie, I belive...

Well I think that is it! heheheh
I will surely try to go again... They are on in São Paulo until the end of August...

Just wanted to say I LOVED it!!! The post text kindda went too long.. sorry again...

hey, this is a veryyyyyyyyy small video I made of Mungo and Rumple...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ec0uAs-WXw


Pleaese, make commentss! hehehe

[Mungostoffelees]

Aww so glad you had a great time! Thanks for the short but sweet clip lol!

Things don't always live up to expectation (for the odd bits you were dissapointed with), but all in all glad you had a great (first) show!

[Pawzxx]

Ah wow! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

[Drumdraper]

There's nothing like seeing Cats for the first time live. One of the bets experiences of my life. Glad you had fun.

[littlgriz]

[FoxFireJ2]

I noticed several video monitors in your video. What were they used for?

[TheBoogie]

[Nemi]

Both times I saw the show live (Troika Tour), Rumpelteazer said Mungoejerrie's name in the beginning and 'vice versa'. It's not 'incorrect', it's just how the folks of the tour wanted to do it. It's also that way in the Australian recording. It did catch me off guard the first time, but it's not wrong.

As for that keyboard player... well, that's what orchestras and bands do-- they warm up. Warming up allows them to play everything right without having their fingers get cramped up on their jaws weak. Every tour show I've been to, the orchestra's warmed up before the show and during intermission... I can't remember if they did on Broadway or not, though... of course, in my excitement, that was the last thing on my mind. You'd think I'd remember, though, since I was sitting directly behind the pit when I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

[kswing]

SO....
Considering I was playing Rumpelteazer in CATS when you saw it at Credicard Hall, let me clear up your confusion:

a) Yes, it is correct that Rumpelteazer says "Mungojerrie" and MJ says "Rumpleteazer" in the beginning of the number.

b) The reason that Rumpelteazer says "Mungojerrie"at the top of the number is because she has been sneaking around and backs up into Mungojerrie--but she doesn't know it's him until she turns around. It could be anyone and she's thinks she's been caught, but she's relieved when she realizes that it's her partner in crime, Mungo.

Hope that helps you out.

-Molly Winter Stewart (Kitten Swing...Rumpelteazer while in Brazil)

[Nemi]

*gasp!*

A new castmember in out midst?

Welcome! Thank you for giving your professional and personal insight on the character! I'd never though that that could be the reason for the line switch... I'd always thought of it as an 'introduction' of sorts!

Welcome again! I do hope you stick around.

[Jemima57]

[TheBoogie]

[Pounce]

[TheBoogie]

[Cassandra]

[VictoriaTWC]

Troika is now down to only

5!



Purrs,
VTWC

[pkitty663]

...Woah...hold on a sec yo I have a question if anyone can answer it...Was the 4th national tour a troika production along with the other ones?...if it is..maaaan they're starting to just give up. I've heard better reviews from the last productions than the fifth. Not to sound offensive or anything but they've cut back on so many things. Interaction, though I know why they do it, is a big one. At least regionals have the cast run around between numbers n stuff...I fell in love with FCLO Tumblebrutus...I so flirted near the end haha...>3.....okay you know what...I'll just shut up now....so yeah...was the 4th national tour a troika production as well?...ahem

[darkmage]

The Fourth National was a full on Equity tour. It was around before Troika. Troika has had the touring rights from the Broadway close on. Frankly, I wish whoever ran the Fourth National would take it back over and do the show properly again. I'm no fan of cutting costs like they have, or shortening runtime. Hey, if your kids aren't old enough to sit still for two and a half hours, *leave them at home.* Period. And considering that Troika is charging MORE (like 50%) than the Equity tour used to for tickets their costcutting to such a severe degree is inexcusable. It smells like they're trying to milk it for all it's worth before their rights expire next summer.

And I don't think RUG should have released the regional rights--EVER--but that's another story for another day.

[VictoriaTWC]

*Agrees with Darkmage totally...*

4th National was managed by Nina Lannan Equity and the Shubert Org, I think. At least back in the glory days of the 80's and early 90's when money wasn't a problem like it is today.

Cost cutting is EVERYWHERE today.

Just came back from Vegas, and they are RAPING the consumer there on the Strip literally. My husband's drink: 8.00 bucks, my Coke 4.00 bucks. Almost a gallon of gas! WAHHH???

Tix to CATS? From Troika?

Front Row or Orch: 62 bucks? in Colorado?

I got my Row C tix in CA for only 41, hey, a bargin? Just like in the days of 4th National, and without the cuts, and balloon set and teenage performers too!

Hector and I were talking about Broadway a few days ago and were just reminising about those days and suffering thru withdrawals, Bway CATS withdrawals. Hee hee. Its been 6 years! 6 years! My how times have changed...

Purrs,
VTWC

[Matthew]

sounds fantastic!

[darkmage]

[Matthew]

Troika=

VTWC...are you going at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center...and if so what night?

[Pounce]

In Atlanta, Publix grocery store has 1/2 price coupons for some shows and that includes CATS but it is rarely offered for the current Broadway shows. So I can get great seats for about $27 each as long as I go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. But I always buy my tickets at the box office to avoid Tickemaster's junk fees.

Normally, in Atlanta, the shows cost about $45 to $60 depending on the day and unfortunately RUSH tickets are rare.

[VictoriaTWC]

Future_Mungo Im going to Cerritos on Sat. 2pm matinee, on May 12, 2007!

Gotta wait a Lonnnnnnngggg time for it!

Purrs,
VTWC

[Matthew]

i was going to see it then...but openning night seemed better for me!

[FoxDeimos]

I'm going to see the performance on August 26th (i think their last performance will be in August 27th)... it's drawing closer, and my excitement is building up really fast! I will try posting my thoughts on the show here after i arrive home... i got my seats on the VIP section.. not very close to the stage, but not too far either...

so kswing, you're playing Rumpleteazer, right? I'll be highly antecipating your performance, because Mungo & Rumple are my favourite cats from the play, and it's also my favorite number

[Yeahyouthinkyouknow]

I always thought it was the theater who set the prices and not Troika. I know they prob have something to do with it, but I believe it depends on what the area can afford and then the theater is then in charge of what the cost of the tickets. And on another note i heard that the new cast is amazing!!!!!!! I cant wait to see it.

[pkitty663]

[littlgriz]

[TheBoogie]

Yeah..
I kindda missed more musicians/instruments on the Jellicle Ball...

But if there really were only 5 musicians, then they did a great job!!


And... something everybody got sad about were the sound problems... too many of them..
Some people I've talked to even felt embaressed for them. Some other even asked for their money back (don't think it is a reasonable reason for refund)

[licakitten]

Hi

I watched the show last saturday (08.26.2006) and it was great. There was no sound problems. It was the first time I saw Cats, so sometimes I fought with the subtittles (even thought I did understand a lot without needing them).

I really loved the show. It was brilliant. I was amazed! Grizabella has an amazing voice. I really liked Tugger, Old Deutoronomy and (I guess) Munkustrap. But one of mine favorite acts was The Old Gumbie Cat, because it reminded me of a little cat I know.

The only bad thing was my seat - toooooooooooooo far from the stage, but there was nothing I could do, I bought my tickets in a travel agency and they only had those.

I was really impressed with the make up too.

Now, I'm searching for the DVD. I'm addicted =]

[FoxDeimos]

Ok, let me get started.

I went to see the show on August 26th, and i must say I can't remember the last time i felt so happy and amazed by something as I was with this show. Here's a list of things that i liked/found interesting and/or worth commenting:

- The cast wearing those glowing glasses and walking through the theater during the Overture.
- I really liked most of the costumes, almost all of them were really good. I just didn't like Rumpleteazer's unitard that much... it had just too much white on it, and looked much different from Mungojerrie's (In my opinion, they're supposed to like similar, so that the family would actually mistake one cat with the other).
- Although Rumpleteazer, Mistoffolees and Cassandra were undestudies that night, they did a really good job.
- As our friend The_Boogie told us, Tugger got one of the girls in the front row to dance with him during his number.
- Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer were amazing, although a good portion of their music was cut. (such a shame, because it's one of my favorite songs)
- During the interval between the 1st and 2nd acts, i talked to the maestro (well, not much for talking.. just helping a girl who wanted to know if there was any chance of getting autographs after the show, but didn't know how to speak english)... he told me that it would probably be very difficult because of the little time they had between their presentations... so sad... i wanted an autograph.
- Growltiger's Last Stand was trully aewsome, and they had Una Teppida Notte instead of the Ballad of Billy McCaw! I personally prefer the aria. both Growltiger/Gus and Jellylorum/Griddlebone had excellent voices.
- In the end of the show, Bombalurina had her revenge on Tugger! This time, SHE was the one who rejected him, then she let him fall to the ground and walked away, stepping on his chest!

some things that i didn't like that much:
- Rumpleteazer's unitard (read above).
- Old Deuteronomy stayed on the stage for the most part of the interval, but he just stared at the audience most of the time and didn't reply to anything.
- Tugger's voice was pretty good, but he didn't seemed to control it well... but it wasn't half bad either (he did a better job on singing Mistoffolees song than his own.)
- I couldn't get any autographs, neither get closer to the cast (your only chance of getting to see them real close was if you were sitting in the front row or near the middle of the theater, where the cast would sometimes walk through.)

Well, I think that's all i can remember right now.. the rest of the cast had really good singing and dancing abilities, and most of the numbers were REALLY aewsome. Although it was great being able to see it live for the first time, i think i'm gonna miss it... i really want to see it again, but God knows when another oportunity like this will rise again...

[joanagil]

This is my first time in this forum and i´m not a good english writer, but i´ll try. I hoppe everybody understand me and i´m really sorry about my mistakes (i know it i´ll be a lot)

Well, i watched Cats 10 times when i was 12 years old, in New York and i loved all Cats, but there was one that i couldn´t forget.
Today was the last day of Cats here in Rio de Janeiro and i love so much this musical that i watched 5 times here.

The reason i´m writing is to say how i loved and to ask if somebody know one Cats name and her real name.
The cat i´m talking about is the Brown and white one. She looks very snob, very cold. She is different from all others cats. She didin´t sing, just dance and her head´s hair is very short.
If somebody knows her name as a cat or as a woman, please tell me!!
Kisses!!

Joana

[Belle]

This Character? Her name is Cassandra. When did you see the show? If you have the date I'm sure people will know the name of the actress.

[FoxDeimos]

i'm looking at the brochure i got when i went to see it and, assuming she was not played by an understudy the night you saw it, her name is Kristyn Dayus... if that's not the case (as it was when i saw it), i think she might be Amanda Bay (i think that was the name of the one who played her that night.. but my memory is kinda weak, so forgive me if i got it wrong.)

Hope that was of any help

[Pounce]

[joanagil]

[Cassandra]