[Kid]

Which part?

Anyone feel like crying, out of JOY, at the conclusion of The Jellicle Ball?

Kid

[Lady Jemima]

Even though I've watched the DVD more times than I can count, sometimes during Griz's 'Memory' I get a bit teary (this also happens once in a while as I'm listening to Betty Buckley's 'Memory' on the CD.) I never feel like crying at the end of the 'Jellicle Ball,' but occassionally I'll find myself a bit giddy with excitement by the time it's over!

[Nemi]

When I see it live, yes. Both times Grizabella sings Memory I cry. I feel very sympathetic to her character... and the two live Grizabella's I've seen have been so powerful and so... amazing.

[ShadowBalurina]

I think I cried during "Moments of Happiness" once...

And I know I cried once during "Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer"...but that was because I danced into a wall.

[Mixu]

No, I haven't ever cried. Maybe little teary eyed. And yes, from joy. Sometimes when Old D comes around, and everybodys happy. Sometimes at the end of Jellicle Ball, but the most joyful/tearful bit is the Joyrney to the Heaviside Layer. For me atleast.

[Belle]

I cry BUCKETS. But then, a lot of things make me cry... But the trigger-points are the Overture, when the "chandalier" starts rising... Jellicle Songs... then I'm generally ok until the bit in the ball when they spot Griz, and everything goes into overdrive, which seems to be the Cats proving whet they can, and Griz (and I) can't do. Then Gus often makes me cry... the chorus of Mr. Mistoffolees, as when I was 11 and first saw the show, that was the point I thought "Oh no! it's nearly finished!" so I started crying... Memory, of course, makes me cry - unless Grizabella's not on form. If she's not quite right, I'll be completely calm throughout the song, even if I've been dripping throughout Misto's song! Then the final chorus of Ad-dressing, because now the show really IS over.

Having said this... "Engine of Love" makes me cry. I'll cry at ANYTHING! But I'll also laugh at practically anything...

[Kid]

Good answers all.....but Belle.....I just LOVE your post....for three reasons.

1) I cry at the same bits.

2) Your beauty and honesty and heart are easily revealed in your posts.

3) You, like Griz....will eventually find your way back into the fold, where you've always meant to be.........I hope sooner....than later!

Kd

[Belle]

aww, thanks Kid... Griz gets to me because of the dance... I had an accident in ballet class aged 7, which has stopped me dancing, but it's something I always wish I could do. So seeing Griz being bullied, effectively, by the others showing off gets me. Also the conflict of emotions- the last bit of the ball is incredible, beautiful, but my perceived motivation for the Cats to dance it is really rather unpleasant. So I get confused... and I cry...

[Rumblepurr]

MEMORY - the final version... I have to have a powerful voice and an emotional face to really get me here. Any actress who does Grizabella has to show me that she feels the song rather than just sings it... If only the voice comes across, I shut my eyes and let the music do the rest...

The only other time I have come close to crying is when a performer does not fit the part, and they are in one of my favorite roles... But that is a different form of crying...

Respectfully,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat

[Swan]

I use to get a bit teary in the powerful moments of the show. Overture, Jellicle Ball (the second part), Heavyside Layer. I am moved by the majesty, the atmosphere, the strenght of the performers.

Oh, and when I watch the Video I sometimes drop a tear for Gus.

Swan - Italian Jellicle

[Idiosylph]

I tend to get a tad choked up, especially during the Overture. I don't know how much of this is to do with the power of the music, or simply because with the emotional attatchment I've made between CATS and the good friends I made in England.

[OldDeuteronomy]

I am almost crying right now knowing that if the "LAST CHANCE" ad on the Troika site means what I *THINK* it means then after I see the show in SF in February that will be the LAST time i'll get to see Cats on a decent scale.

[Lady Jemima]

[MrsJemimaMistoffelees]

Hm. The only time I get a bit weepy is after Jemima/Sillabub and Grizabella sing "Like a flower when the dawn is breaking...". It just gets so powerful from there.

Veel Liefs,
Jemima

[OldDeuteronomy]

[Jemima57]

Every time I've seen Cats, I cried during the overture. For the joy of beeing there seeing the show live.
Then I think the only other moment which makes me cry is during Memory, when Jemima and Griz sing together, then when Griz sings the "touch me" part. It's so beautiful.

[Clairvectra]

I cried at a stupid moment.. erm.. during the harmony in the ballad of billy mc'caw when the pirates join in with Griddlebone and Growltiger... it moved me lol shame..

[Rumpleteazer4760]

I've never cried as in bawled, but I get teary-eyed during the finale of "Memory" when I see it live. I've also gotten teary-eyed while singing the alternate lyrics to "Memory", written by Tim Rice I believe. The music and the lyrics are very moving to me.

[Smudge]

Only when it's done badly..... No seriously, the only time I cried at Cats was when I was 13 and I found out Jacob Brent was out with an injury and Chris Gatelli (who incidentally is on his way to an amazing career as a choreographer) was going on for Misto. There have been a couple Grizabellas who have given me goosebumps though. One of those is the Griz understudy for Smithtown's regional production, Margaret Kelly. She's AMAZING!

[Cassandra]

[Smudge]

[Filakatessa]

I cried and got chills when I heard memory sung live. The whole Cats experience had me on the edge of tears because I was so happy, but definately during Memory, and even a tad during Grizabella's ascention.

[RainyCrystal]

"Grizabella the Glamour Cat" and the two "Memory" scenes usually bring me to tears easily. And when I saw the show live in Boston in Feb., I was in tears after the 1st "Memory", and nearly cried my eyes out during the second. The actress did such a wonderful job singing, that watching it was simply heartbreaking.

~Sissi

[Roxanne]

As with many others, Memory often gets me. But only live. I really don't find Elaine Paige on video very impressive (though no doubt she's quite touching live). And Seaside was...different. XP But I've heard some pretty good Griz's on the N'tl Tour. Is it bad that my favourite's name escapes me?

Maybe I'll remember later. >.>

Yeah, though, Memory.... if it's well presented. Most especially the first run of it (after the ball), when it's so obvious that she wants to be a part of everything so very badly, but she can't have it no matter how hard she tries.

[Cassandra]

[RainbowJude]

I didn't cry when I saw Cats but I was giddy with excitement when I saw the show. You just can't compare seeing this show live with watching the video or listening to a cast recording. It works amazingly well as a completely electric theatrical experience and I gained a newfound respect for the show when I saw the production performed live.

Later days
David

[littlgriz]

yes all the time sepechaley win grizabella cums on and oldduterronamey to

[Eponine Poe]

When I saw CATS live for the first time- it was the summer after I was in sixth grade- I sobbed my eyes out during the first and second-act parts of 'Memory'. I had been familiar with the show before that, b/cause I've been listening to my mum's old cast recording since I was a little kid, and I saw the video in fifth grade, but the stage version was so much more meaningful. That was when I became obsessed, too. ^_^ I don't usually cry during the movie, though. I cry during the movies of Phantom, and Godspell, and RENT especially...

[Alonza0]

I'm definatly a crier. I used to cry alot during the movie: When Gus ended his song, when Grizabella tried to dance, and yes, for joy at the end. Now I only cry during Gus's song. I mean, Sir John Mills is such a good actor and he died, Gus's story is so sad, and if you think about it, Sir John Mills could really relate to Gus. What's not to cry about there?

[Pounce]

First time I saw the show during the Overture, the music, lights, and UFO were such a beautiful sight. And it's not easy to move me that way by sheer beauty!

During one run of CATS on the US Tour (2003 I think), when the tribe accepts Grizabella back, instead of switching to Heaviside Layer, they continued playing Memory. In my opinion, that change should be made permanent. It was VERY moving with an effect that the music Heaviside Layer can't do. I'm sure some of you here have seen that version? In the theater, people all around me, including myself were a mess! Devastingly moving! Most moving theatrical scene I've seen yet. I've never seen it done that way since which is always a disappointment for me because I know it can be done better.

[pkitty663]

Well when I first saw it, I was shaking when the lights went out and the show started. I was just so excited. Then the cats came down the asiles and I got hissed at by Jennyanydots and it made me so happy I almost cried if it wasn't for my brother,his gf and my mom laughing at my big grin.

For the rest of the first act, I mostly focused on Misto,played by the adorable cute McCree O'kelly, and I think it was the Jellicle Ball that had me going "Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god" but Grizabella the glamour cat was sad...and I scolded misto for hissing at her. I never saw him hiss at her...I thought it was cute and funny of the actor to do that.

Memory before Intermission got me a tad emotional. Gretchen Goldsworthy really sang it beautifully. It depends on the actress for me. If they put a lot of emotion into it then yeah I might cry. But this one did such a beautiful job.

The second act I focused on mostly misto until he disappeared and his number got me all excited and then Memory made me emotional and then I cried because the show was over...and I had to be dragged out of the theatre...literally.

So to answer your question...Yes I do cry.

[Etcetera Kitten]

I've seen Cats live only once, and I remember crying when the lights were turned off and the music started. It was very loud and I was shaking with excitement, thinking "I'm there! I'm gonna see it!" Lol... and they were tears of joy.

I cried at Memory, because the actress that did Griz just impressed me, and I cried at the Heavyside layer part for two reasons:
1- It was beautiful
2- The show was almost finished

Then I did my best not to cry in the car while driving home because I knew I would probably never see Cats again, and my family was there.

And when I watch the DVD, I get teary eyes when the show starts because I remember exactly how it felt to see the yellowish eyes ligth up in the dark. Wonderful! Other than that I cry at the strong moments of the DVD, from time to time, depending of what mood I am in and how nostalgic I get.

Its weird for me to say it because I very very rarely cry in real life. I'm the kind of person that cries at the murders of animals or watching World Vision, because other than that I'm hard to get to cry.

EDIT: PKitty: I just read your post since it was over mine and went all OMG! We felt the same thing at the beginning of the show! So I bet you know what I mean heh!

[pkitty663]

Oh yeah I do...Believe me I do ...the dvd never really got me emotional...live version was so much more powerful and stronger too.

[forevaeva23]

I think that the music for Memory is so beautiful and powerful. It usually makes me teary eyed watching the last reprise before the heavyside layer in the movie. Especially when Jemima and Griz sing together. Occasionally I'll get teary while listening to Betty on the OBCR.

Also, right after moment of happiness when the entire cast sings memory and stands up, including Gus. Or when he doesn't even recognize Old Deuteronomy or Munkustrap.

Just this morning while listening to The Ad-Dressing of Cats I started crying. When they hit one of the notes. I'm a sap, I realize this.