jcstar
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FINALLY! I'M GOING TO SEE "CATS"!!After five failed attepts at seeing the show in Ottawa, I finally got to purchas tickets!!! The great thing is, they're orchestra seats just halfway ack from te stage on the right side on an aisle!!
Now, I wonder if the cats will come out into th audience like they did on Broadway?
I'm taking my mom to see it. She saw (the late) Laurie Beechman as Grizabella when she went to New York.
I'm vey excited, but sad as well. My Nanny saw CATS on Broadway twice and loved it. She always said that when the show came to Ottawa, she'd take me. Well, she has been gone since 2005. So, I really had to see the show for her in a way. Not sure if that makes sense or ot, but anyway...
YAY!!! Two weeks away!!!
Andy.
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Moongewl
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Re: FINALLY! I'M GOING TO SEE "CATS"!! | jcstar wrote: | | Now, I wonder if the cats will come out into th audience like they did on Broadway? |
It seems to vary from place to place depending on whether the theatre's set up for it. I've heard people say they just don't do it at all anymore, but I'm not sure that's true.
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Rumblepurr
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Audience InteractionYou were correct about the venue. The ability for the cast to enter into the house is dependent upon the theater's access ability. Green Eyes, the Naming, Tugger's number, and the Entr'acte (beginning of the Second Act) are all points were the cast will come out into the House. Sometimes, they also still appear briefly during the finale.
Rumblepurr 
The Writer Cat.
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jcstar
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What about the intermission? Can we meet Deut onstage?
Andy.
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Luc
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Re: Audience Interaction | Rumblepurr wrote: | | the Entr'acte (beginning of the Second Act) |
Where else would it be?? 
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Rumblepurr
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| jcstar wrote: | What about the intermission? Can we meet Deut onstage?
Andy. |
Some regional shows have allowed that, but the US Tour has not. In fact, during one show I attended, the actor portraying Old Dee wanted to interact with a little girl at the edge of the stage during intermission. Although the audience was for it, he was motioned back by the stage manager.
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.
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Moongewl
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| Mumsytype wrote: | | Perhaps Health & Safety pen-pushers have a rule in the USA that forbids it. |
Or perhaps it's a really bad idea here. I've met enough Americans to conclude that we are a pushy, rude lot, and here if we allowed people to get that close, they'd probably try to get TOO close, maybe even rip off little bits of Deut's costume as a personal souvenir. It's asking for a bad situation to crop up.
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Rumblepurr
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CorrectSafety is one of the reasons the US Tour discontinued the onstage visits. They had an accident involving a child coming off the stage, and then having to deal with all the trouble that stemmed from that incident. I agree, Mumsy, that allowing some access to Old Deut is nice - even if it takes a little away from his "meditation"... (or nap...)
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.
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OldDeuteronomy
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when VTWC,Rumblepurr, myself and a few others saw the show in Sacramento, one of the tour guys said they now have ways of doing "Green Eyes" even in theaters where the surface isn't flat leading to the front of the stage. the cast simply sneaks into the theater through side doors on either side of the stage when it's dark and does stuff in front of the stage.
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Moongewl
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Of course, that requires side doors and space in front of the stage(the last time I saw the show, I was in that space--they put folding chairs in that area).
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Reeza
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Re: Correct | Rumblepurr wrote: | Safety is one of the reasons the US Tour discontinued the onstage visits. They had an accident involving a child coming off the stage, and then having to deal with all the trouble that stemmed from that incident. I agree, Mumsy, that allowing some access to Old Deut is nice - even if it takes a little away from his "meditation"... (or nap...)
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat. |
It must have been very early in the tour that they stopped letting people on stage. I don't remember when they did.
There have been other incidents. Once the full set didn't arrive for one of the shows, but they did it anyway-without the tire.
Another time, Misto's pyrotechnics caught the curtain on fire. They stopped the show to put it out, and due to safety everyone left the theatre. Afterward, they finished the show.
I'm sure there have been other incidents since then- just like any other show or tour. Gotta love live theatre!
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Pounce
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Re: Correct | Rumblepurr wrote: | | Safety is one of the reasons the US Tour discontinued the onstage visits. They had an accident involving a child coming off the stage, and then having to deal with all the trouble that stemmed from that incident. I agree, Mumsy, that allowing some access to Old Deut is nice - even if it takes a little away from his "meditation"... (or nap...). |
I would love to know the details of that 'incident'. Honestly, too often, people don't take responsibility for their own mistakes...it's someone else's fault. 
During one intermission, I saw Old Deut leave and come back. I guess he had to use the 'litter box'. 
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jcstar
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T - three days!!!
I'm very excited! Oh man, I can't wait. After five failed attempts at seeing it live...
I am bouncing off the walls right now!
Andy.
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Pounce
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Hope you have a good cast. Tugger seems to be the hardest one to cast right. Other than the video, Stan Stanley is the best Tugger I've seen so far. Either they are too gay, too short, or not the best of singers.
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jcstar
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Less than 24 hours away!!! I'm even going to the show in a limo!!!
IM GOING TO SEE "CATS!" Oh boy!
(I wish my Nanny was here....  )
I hope I can sleep tonight.
Andy.
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catmom
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Andy -- How was the show? I've been anxious to hear your report.
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jcstar
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REVIEW COMING SOON!!
Andy.
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jcstar
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REVIEW:
ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE SHOW:
"Cats will be coming into the audience, so keep walkways and aisles clean and clear. Since cats don't like abrupt noises, please turn your cell phones and pagers off. Also, opening candy wrappers is very loud during a performance. So, if you MUST eat candy during the performance... please do so with the wrapper on. Enjoy the show."
Overture:
Munkustrap (Justin Huebener) was right beside me! The green eyes were very cool. He even pointed around the theatre as if to say "Look at my friends."
The whole cast was solid... with the exception of Deutoronomy (Seth Lerner). He didn't give me the wise old cat that I want Deut to sound like. Vocally he was very weak and wasn't big enough for the role.
My mom evenm commented that when she saw it on B'way, Deut had a voice that sounded so big that you could feel it in your body.
Gumbe Cat (Cara Michelle Fish) was astounding in her number. The tap dance was awesome to watch.
Tugger (Schnoover) was very good. He danced with a girl in the front row and gave her the "Call me!" sign during the outro.
Griz (Tricia Tanguy) was very good. She played the role really well. I enjoyed listening to her. "Memory" in act 2 made me cry. The high C brought the house down.
Quaxo/Mistofilees (Chris Makenthun) almost stole the show from Griz. What a performance! Unbelievable what he could do.
Gus/Growltiger/Bustopher (Christopher E Sidoli) was amazing! Totally differernt for each character. His old man voice for Gus was excellent and the way he transformed into Growltiger was cool.
There were several miscues that I found out about later. But the one that I noticed was during Growltiger's aria where the spotlight totally missed him and stayed on Griddlebone for the first verse... and then moved to Growltiger.
I still can't figure out where the orchestra was. I kinda figured that the two TV monitors onstage were so the conductor was being filmed so the performers could see him.
During the bows, Demeter came out to where was sitting and "talked" to me.
I really want to see the show again.
The only disapointment was Deut. Other than that, an excellent show.
Andy.
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angelofdreams
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cats was the first ever musical i've seen
the efects then (talkin over 10 years ago) were something i stil have in my mind,
its second on my ist of best shows
x
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Reeza
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| jcstar wrote: |
The whole cast was solid...Other than that, an excellent show.
Andy. |
I'm going next saturday. Can't wait now!
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lesmisboy
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I saw Cats last night at the Liverpool Empire and thought it was the most incredible show from beginning to end.....and Chrissie Hammond as Grizabella was absolutely phenomenal!!! It really was a wonderful evening.
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jcstar
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I can't figure out why they cut "Peeks And Pollicles." They also changed some words in the text to make CATS politically correct.
Grrrrrrr.
Andy.
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CATSMC
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I saw the same one in Toronto in October, and I was really disapointed that they cut out The Pekes and the Pollicles, it was an awsome song. Overall though, the show was incredible. I cried so much at the end and I was the only one up for the standing ovation for like 30 seconds and I was front row so EVERYONE was staring at me haha. Anyways, I sang every word with them so it was pretty awsome.
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Pounce
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| jcstar wrote: | I can't figure out why they cut "Peeks And Pollicles." They also changed some words in the text to make CATS politically correct.
Grrrrrrr.
Andy. |
Yeah, I thought everyone knew about the PC stuff by now.  And all those little cost cutting measures are annoying but if it keeps it on the road I guess it is for the best.
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Moongewl
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| jcstar wrote: | I can't figure out why they cut "Peeks And Pollicles." They also changed some words in the text to make CATS politically correct.
Grrrrrrr.
Andy. |
I'd bet it's the cost. As I understand it, they don't even use the solid set anymore--just the inflatable set--because it's cheaper to transport. P&P requires a lot of extra props, and between transportation and maintenance it would probably cost a fair bit.
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Flash Kid
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| Moongewl wrote: | | jcstar wrote: | I can't figure out why they cut "Peeks And Pollicles." They also changed some words in the text to make CATS politically correct.
Grrrrrrr.
Andy. |
I'd bet it's the cost. As I understand it, they don't even use the solid set anymore--just the inflatable set--because it's cheaper to transport. P&P requires a lot of extra props, and between transportation and maintenance it would probably cost a fair bit. |
1. Pekes and Pollicles were cut because of time and money.
2. Yes, the set now used is inflatable. Hence why Jenny dosen't come out of the car, Skimble arrives sleeping on the hat Bustopher sits on, and it goes on. Still the set is pretty neat.
FK
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darkmage
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Actually Jenny never came out of the car in the US Tour version, always the oven on the left. The car is a UK thing IIRC.
As for the hat, same thing...the main difference between the inflatable and the hard set is that Mistoffelees comes in through the back w/the soft set. If he comes in on the rope that's a dead giveaway they're using the hard (Tour IV) set.
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