[Heavylove]

Since this was the show I felt in love with I am not much of a rewiever but I thaught it would be fun to run some ups and downs (if any?) of this swedish version of Cats.

The set and most of the team was originated from the Gothenburg run in 2006 and the stage is set around a winterclosed tivoli rather than the original junkyard and overall the set designer have done a very good job and is even alouded to smash in some very succesfull changes from the original set/acting. More on that later.

Costumes is very good and fresh looking, basicly variants of the cloths less feline costumes thats tends to be the standard thoose days. Make up and costumes is said to have been influated by Japaneese Manga style and it works surprisingly well.

The casts perfom well and I couldnt see anyone doing a bad. Gus the Theathre Cat did a splendid work and he even got some well deserved applause towards the end of his part as himself (Could that sort of things be expected by the director?) and then he surprised turned back at the audience... brilliant! (Gus is played by a well known swedish actor, Per Myrhberg)

Most of the cats strolled down from the audience isles in the beginning (I understood thats a part of the participance thaught) and it worked well except for some cats being a bit to eager to hit the stage for my taste. Two cats (the acrobatic team) was ropeling down from the roof and that was a real hit, as one guestbookwriter puted it "The feeling for a 8 year old to get a cat on her head was undescrible!"

I dont know if this is the "standard" but this version showed a wall as a curtain that after the first song was rolled away to show the rest of the setting. I liked it and I especially liked the cat lying on that wall for a few minutes before the start of the show looking at the audience as theyre took theyre seats. I dont know how many percent of the audience that noticed that but for me it was a real hit and start of a love story that lasted the entire show...

The rest of the numbers followed at good tempo and there were hardly no slow or dead moments. Mixed in the shows and dancing were the acrobatic team doing a splending job taken the show to a new height and using the entire setting (from floor to sky) to a new level.

Maybe there were some weakness during the later part of Macavity number cause I lost the story part where Macavity kidnaps Old D and Mr Mistoffeles magical way off geting him back (Learned about that later) and that part was a bit confusing for me. (By the way Old D is called Profetikus in sweden for unknown reason)

One off the changes from the original is that they use rollercoaster cars for the train part rather than having cats turning train parts and for me that worked fine. Shimbleshanks is even kissing the lokomotive at one point and I especially liked that image since its telled everything about his dedication to the train.

The translator had done a very good work and overall it was a very successfull evening for me. If I found my way to one off the tours Id love to see it just to see how the original worked. Five Cats of five possible!

[Heavylove]

I just saw this show for a second time (I know I am addicted^^) and I didnt think it was possible to beet my last visit but it turned out to be more than possible... It turned out to be magic, and not only from Mr Mistofelees but from the whole cast.

Maybe a bit to much since Munkustrap (I think it was) slammed into my legs while running on his four down the row I sat in. Talking about close encounter of first degree... (I should have looked better but didnt expected a cat coming that way and I do have long legs... )

The rest of the show was magic and they really got the audience contact part much better this time (or if I had a better seat, I dont know^^)

When they were standing (or sitting down or whatever) at the edge of the stage I think I had them something like half a meter/yard from me and I even have to look at other cats than the closest one from time to time not to embaress them....

I say that that seat is the best I ever had in a theathre and if you really want to see all the little details in, costumes, make up, acting and stuff a front row is invaluable. I want to see it a third time, please? (But then I shall avoid close contacts with Munkustrap, I think...)

[Heavylove]

Okej now I settled down a little and had a chanse to think a bit off all the little details in sundays magical experience...

First Cassandra was the cat lying on the wall this time and she did a splendid job so she is one off my favorite cats for the moments (If it matter she turned up to be my closest cat when they where closest to the audience and that helps abit^^) She doenst have the traditional wig looking head either so she stays out (in a possitive way) as one off the most interesting Cats design around.

Rum Tum Tugger jumped a couple off steps in my favorite list. I mean I am a reasonable straight guy but that guy was creepy hot in that leather outfit. And I could tell he had a way with the womans he flirted with during his number^^

I loved the way they solved the Growltiger scene. They had two big white "sails" coming down from the top off the stage and skiped the small boat thing all together so it would be an excellent solution for future production off that scene. And Gus/growltiger ruled this time to.

As for wigs Mungojerrie/Rumpleteaser is a favorite (and theyre number was excellent apart from that i missed the "double windmill" of other shows but I guess you cant have it all^^ Another favorite is Exotica/Tumblebrutus blue wigs, theyre so cute...

It was also fun to watch all the details off the make ups. One thing that struck me is how different each cat, or in some times each par off cats, looked. Some one said it was due to make it easier to see what cat is who in mass scenes and it worked. I had no problem following the cats I watched out a bit extra, such as Munkustrap (who did a splendid work and is a great singer!)

Gaah! I want to see it another time!

[Heavylove]

Back from my third and last visit (due to it was theyre closing show!) so time for another rewiev.

This time it all started with Munkustrap walked into my front row and greated me (after a quick thankyou for the last time from me^^) with the cat greating (if you know what I mean!) and that was the perfect start for this show. And I even had the chance to great a couple off the other cats standing close to me during the opening number. More off that!

It was theyre closing show and I really must say that I feelt it from the start to the end due all the special things they do to eachother (off course without interupting the show!). It was touches, greatings, head to head greatings (lost the word for that) And bombularina even had "fun" with one off the toms during the ball. I dont know if its any difference between the early and the late show or if it was cause it was the last one.

The sad thing off having 3 visits to paradise this autumn is that I already feel something off an emptyness now that its over for good and not even the everlasting cat can bring this autumn back.

This autumn will definately be counted in my moment off happiness list... Where and when will I find this magic again? Is it even possible?