QuaxoCoricopat
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If You Could Direct CATS...If there were three things you would do/change/like to see as director in YOUR B'way/West End production of CATS, what would they be?
For me they'd be:
1) Reinstate puppet!Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. Controversial, I know, but hear me out. Bustopher gets introduced and then they decide to entertain him. Mistoffelees/Quaxo comes forward, the stage goes dim, and he begins to introduce Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, who appear out of a pile of junk, having blended in until this point. Insert cute dance much like London version here (but more marionette like), with the thieves gradually slipping from Mistoffelees' control. Fastforward to the end, with "It was Mungojerrie......." then Rumpelteazer butts in with the "AND Rumpelteazer!!" Then the duo go "And there's nuffin at all to be done about that!" Cue Chaos. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, free of Mistoffelees' control run amok, and steal Bustopher's spoon. The others try in vain to stop them, but using feats of acrobatics and just plain sneakiness, the two manage to squirm away. Finally Mistoffelees calls out to them, and with a puff of smoke (and use of a trap door) the duo disappear, but they still have Bustopher's spoon...
2) Re-insert some dialogue. Mind, I enjoy the all-music and dance aspect, but the addition of dialogue would silence the whining about CATS having no 'plot'. It does, I know, it just seems that some people need an extra hint.
3) Seeing as it is my B'way/West End production, I'd instate a huge cast with the additions of regular cats like Gilbert (Japan Cast), as well as the alternate named characters depending on production like Carbucketty, Pouncival, Sillabub, Jemima... I'm thinking it's about a cast of 40-45.... going to need a bigger stage...
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Nemi
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This is actually probably my biggest dream... I want to direct CATS on some scale of theatre... and since I'm going into directing at my university, it might work out for me someday.
So, two things I'd like to do...
1) Have Mistoffelees sing the second part of his song... but only after being basically forced to by the Rum Tum Tugger. I feel Mistoffelees is, indeed, shy and aloof, and is reluctant to brag about himself, but gets boasted by Tugger. Fun times.
2) Give the 'lesser known' cats a little spotlight. I'd perhaps replace Bombalurina with Cassandra in "Bustopher Jones," as she'd definately know all about someone like him... he's in her social circle. If there was an Electra, I'd have her be a featured dancer, perhaps in the ball.
And one thing I'd like to see:
3) Costumes and makeup designs that aren't 'copied' from one specific production. Make something about each character that keeps them from being exactly like the version of them before... a new makeup design for Tumblebrutus/Bill Bailey, Grey/Blue marks on Jemima/Sillabub instead of Pink... I don't know... just something different, to make them individual.
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QuaxoCoricopat
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| Nemi wrote: | | 1) Have Mistoffelees sing the second part of his song... but only after being basically forced to by the Rum Tum Tugger. I feel Mistoffelees is, indeed, shy and aloof, and is reluctant to brag about himself, but gets boasted by Tugger. Fun times. |
That would be so d---... well cute is the only term I can come up with right now, seeing as it's 2AM... It'd be a nice touch if Mistoffelees really started to get into it, only to realize what he'd just done... (Sorry, soft spot for shy guys...)
I think people tend to forget a lot of the comedy, in well, everything, but in CATS too. Yes, Grizabella's important, but she's only there for maybe a 1/4 of the show total? I like your idea for the Mr. Mistoffelees' number.
As a director/design student I'd also like to see a re-imagining of the costumes and set, so we can stop copying over and over from the 'original' productions. The Warsaw cast of CATS was very good at this. The characters were recognizable but different (Most of the Cats wore flared pants, which worked for me oddly...) and the set was a warehouse roof and some wire fence instead of the standard junkyard.
Number three.. ermm... six? gah, I'd like to see.. ehh more of a 'competition' for the lack of a better word between some of the CATS for the right to go to the Heaviside... Some of the cats' songs are like bids for the position, which Deuteronomy has to decide on. Gus for instance, Jennyanydots another, even Bustopher (non-serious competitors being Tugger, Macavity, Mistoffelees) and have them 'retract' their bids so Grizabella can come. Its one of the things that has always bugged me about them choosing Grizabella, they hand it to her after rejecting throughout the show, it when Gus is just as tired and sad as she is. Yes, yes it's touching that all the younger cats accept Grizabella, but it would be nice to see a more overt form of acceptance from the older cats, seeing as they remember what Grizabella did to piss them off in the first place. It'd be especially poignant, I think, between Griz and Gus, because they both deserve to go, but Gus, being a gentleman, decides to stay...
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Roxanne
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Curious....
I'm very much enjoying reading your answers. They're not the normal fangirl 'I'd be Rumpelteazer and Tugger would be so sexy and I'd have it in the junkyard 'cause that's best' kind of answers. Much much more interesting and original. =P
I haven't got any strong desires of my own, but by all means, other people keep responding.
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Idiosylph
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First off, new costume designs! I agree with Nemi here. Keep some things to keep the characters identifiable (ie: Victoria should be more or less white), but do something to make them new. Personally, I'd like to see influence from more distinct breeds. Perhaps making the twins blue point siamese or something. The Japanese production is a great example of re-design, and I'd like to see more shows doing that.
I'd like to see more of the spoken dialog returned as well. I espeically loved how the London Munkustrap would try and calm the tribe after the early Macavity scare (Stop! Wait! Maybe it isn't Macavity!).
I also like Nemi's idea of getting some solo bits for more background characters.
Let's see... Do I have an original idea?
I might set the show in an old theater. It would be a great place to find a ton of props for kitties to play with.
I would also see about getting new choreography. While I love the current dances for the show, it might be interesting to see something new.
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Drumdraper
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During the Rum Tum Tugger song, I would have a young female kitten trying to upstage Tugger by stealing the lyrics out of his mouth before he can sing them. During the whole song she would mock Tugger and Tugger would do everything he could to get rid of her in. In the end they would have a singing stand off: Tugger would sing "There's no doing anything about it" and then the kitten would sing "There is doing something about it" . But in the end she would relent and both would finish the song singing Tugger's version.
I would delve more into Grizabella's past and maybe during the Jellicle Ball have a younger Grizabella in a red sequinned dress join in the dancing or have a greater part in the singing.
Then I would focus on the romance between some of the cats, possibly pairing them off more or something like that.
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pkitty663
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| Drumdraper wrote: | During the Rum Tum Tugger song, I would have a young female kitten trying to upstage Tugger by stealing the lyrics out of his mouth before he can sing them. During the whole song she would mock Tugger and Tugger would do everything he could to get rid of her in. In the end they would have a singing stand off: Tugger would sing "There's no doing anything about it" and then the kitten would sing "There is doing something about it" . But in the end she would relent and both would finish the song singing Tugger's version.
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LOL I would enjoy seeing that.I can't help but make see that kitten be etcetera.
Let's see..I think I'd have more interaction with the audience...you all basically said everything I wanted to but I really would like them to interact with the audience.
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OldDeuteronomy
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if I were directing the show here's how i'd do it:
Set Design:
EXACT copy of John Napier's design sorry folks NO cutting corners w/ a CLASSIC.
Costumes: Designs based on various productions. Costumes would be made by VictoriaTWC (AKA Christine)
The show would remain mostly entact from Broadway w/ the exception of using the Original London version of Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer .
for the FIRST TIME EVER the ENTIRE* show would be Audio recorded LIVE *from the opening note of the overture to the last note of Memory @ the bows. & I would go through whatever legal hoops I have to get the OK to do it the recording would then be mastered & given to people who signed up for it.
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TR_Wolf
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My only change would be what so many people, including my parents, expected to see at the end but didnt...
...Grizabella being shown as a younger cat again, but clearly dressed as the "non shabby" version of her stage costume, or as a new kitten born or something.
Most people I spoke to expected Grizabella to be shown "reborn into a better life" etc.
Also, perhaps Tugger could get a little attention from some of the Toms too... just to show that *EVERYONE* crushed on him 
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Belle
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I've been thinking about this, and I'm surprised how little I'd change from the later london version! Normally, no matter how much I love a show, there's things I'd do differently, but not Cats.
I'd not have the "Matinee" script lines, Cats don't speak to each other, but they do speak to humans.
I'd like to have the swings on for Jellicle Songs and the Ad-Dressing.
Ideal costume designs would reflect real Cats more closely - but NOT breed Cats, I'd want to research by visiting a few rescue centres. These are in majority very normal pet Mogs, and some feral street cats, some half-way between. Seal-Point Siamese they ain't!
Otherwise all I'd change from late london would be to have everything - tech, performers, costumes - as bright, clean, and fresh, on the ball as possible. (ok, maybe not clean set - it is a junkyard!) But I'd have everything running as near perfect as possible, as sharp as possible, as good as possible!
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QuaxoCoricopat
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| Quote: | | Otherwise all I'd change from late london would be to have everything - tech, performers, costumes - as bright, clean, and fresh, on the ball as possible. (ok, maybe not clean set - it is a junkyard!) But I'd have everything running as near perfect as possible, as sharp as possible, as good as possible! |
Good luck with that one. Part of theatre is coping with Murphy's law: Anything that can happen, will happen. I was working on a production where every single night, no matter what we did, something went wrong with the stage lights. If it wasn't someone flicking a switch that froze the house lights, it was melted controls (literally *melted*) that the manufacturer didn't believe was possible. Another show one male, whose clothes were especially tailored for him, by an excellent seamstress, split the back of the pants *twice* during the two week run, always five minutes before he had to go on.
You could prepare and prepare, but something will always come up and kick you in the teeth at the worst moment.
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Jemima57
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You all gave some very interesting answers. I don't have much ideas, but I'd love to change some parts of the choreography. Not completely, but some little touches in every songs, to give something new to to the audience but to stick with the "old" choregraphy.
Like Nemi, give a little spot of the lesser known cast, giving them some more lines to sing or a better place in the choreography. Just like in Düsseldorf, with Electra dancing most of the ball instead of Sillabub. Not my favorite choice as Sillabub is my fav character, but it's great to see more of Electra.
Add more interaction with the audience ! That's something which is part of Cats to me.
For the costumes... the gorgeous Broadway style that has now disappeared 
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Flitterbug
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(This topic intrigued me so much I joined just for the sake of adding my opinion. )
I dont know how it would go over exactly... but I'd like to make the whole thing creepier. Changes in the costumes to make something not quite 'right', changes in certain parts of the choreography to make the characters look more like puppets, even a few changes in the music to that end.
The idea of a "Creepy CATS" just strikes me as something that could be really fun to play around with...
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RainbowJude
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| QuaxoCoricopat wrote: | | One of the things that has always bugged me about them choosing Grizabella, they hand it to her after rejecting throughout the show... yes it's touching that all the younger cats accept Grizabella, but it would be nice to see a more overt form of acceptance from the older cats, seeing as they remember what Grizabella did to piss them off in the first place. |
You don't think that if you were a cat, young or old, that you'd be won over by "Memory"?
Later days
David
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QuaxoCoricopat
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| RainbowJude wrote: | | You don't think that if you were a cat, young or old, that you'd be won over by "Memory"? |
Oh, I don't doubt their sincerity in reaction to "Memory", but it all seems to quick.... "We're going to treat you like you're contagious, let you sing a pretty heartbreaking song, and now we're all pals tralalala...go up up up past the Russel Hotel, Grizabella! Whoo! We're good cats!!!" I think there needs to be a small bit of hesitation from the older cats... after all they know what she did that was so awful to get kicked out in the first place. I'm not saying that they aren't moved by "Memory" and aren't sympathetic or forgiving, but it just doesn't ring true this instant acceptance after the last refrain of Memory. Its too easy as it stands; either Grizabella did something that was really awful or the Jellicles are bratty snobs for them not to reaccept her.
Maybe, in my production, I wouldn't have Grizabella go up to the Heaviside at all **flees CATS cannon lynch mob**. Maybe I'd send Gus up instead, and just have Grizabella reaccepted into the tribe. She'd be getting "a new life" that way too... Certainly surprise a lot of people the first night anyway...
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RainbowJude
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Grizabella | QuaxoCoricopat wrote: | | Oh, I don't doubt their sincerity in reaction to "Memory", but it all seems too quick.... I think there needs to be a small bit of hesitation from the older cats... Its too easy as it stands; either Grizabella did something that was really awful or the Jellicles are bratty snobs for them not to reaccept her.... |
Well, I think there is an element of snobbery in the tribe. I think that the main obstacle between Grizabella and the other cats is that until the action of the play occurs, nobody has really bothered to look beyond the external image that she presents and it really is for a lack of trying.
As for it being too easy, I don't think that it is, given the context of the play. Grizabella, through her actions throughout the play as a whole as well as according to the idea(l)s that govern the tribe, really earns her trip to the Heaviside Layer.
The issue of hesitation is about acting - for some reason, though, I remember everyone being hesitant until one cat accepted her. Then everyone else came forward. And I think that's pretty realistic in terms of a group dynamic.
Later days
David
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QuaxoCoricopat
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| Quote: | | The issue of hesitation is about acting - for some reason, though, I remember everyone being hesitant until one cat accepted her. Then everyone else came forward. And I think that's pretty realistic in terms of a group dynamic. |
Yes they all rush to accept her, but mneh.. maybe its because I've never been a good member of the group dynamic, but more "realistic" to me would be to have the kittens accept Grizabella first (as is cannon), getting behind her as their vote for the Heaviside, and have the adults stand in a bit of quandry for a few moments, sort of confrencing with Jenny, Jelly (standing in for Gus), Skimble et al. After a short discussion, they agree to reaccept Grizabella, as shown their wrongs by the mouth of babes...
I suppose I'd like to see Grizabella's acceptance by the adults seem less impulsive so it'd have more meaning. The contrast of the youths willingness to forgive versus the adults trouble would be dynamically interesting.
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Gwen
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I'd probably have a few of the variations on who sings what.
(see the thread Variations on CATS)
I think I'd like to have the chorus/younger version of Grizabella be called Belle. Possibly give her a small point in the spotlight, showing that she leaves at one point before (being interpreted as sometime later,) Victoria dances. So in the program, it would be something along the lines of Invitation:Belle, Victoria, Quaxo, Munkustrap. (but "Belle" would leave before the dance.) Later there would be more emphasis on the two seperate parts of her name. (Kind of like how Cinderella started out as Ella before cinder was added on as a sort of mockery.) So when she re-enters, her name is changed to Grizabella. I don't like sounding cocky, but I love this idea!
I'd also probably try to include cats that are seen very rarely, like Victor, or George, and have variations on characters. But also, I would like to see more of cats like Electra dancewise, and try to even out the spotlight.
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SapphireNight
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I love some of these ideas!
One thing I've been thinking of (which Gwen has pretty much beat me to) is also the idea of making it more obvious that the Bella cat in the beginning is the came cat as Grizabella. If you look at Elaine Paige's Bella make up at the begining of the video, you can see it is basically a 'clean' version of Grizabella, without all of the dark shading and smudging and age lines. Problem is, with all of this additional make up, and such a different costme and wig, you dont really realise/recognise that it is Bella from the beginning.
What i would do is design Bella's make up and costume to what could conceivably be an earlier version of Grizabellas- so the costume would possibly have a gray base colour (but a more prestine gray then the 'dirty' older costume), with a bit of colour here and there, possibly. Something which looks like, if she didnt keep care of her coat, it would end up looking like the Grizabella costume. Bella would also have a very bright Diamond/ CZ collar, which when shes Grizabella, would be changed for an iddentical 'duller' one, where all the fire has gone, and the stones look grubby.
What i would also do is give Bella a bit more of a spotlight. In my mind, Bella had a bit of a cocky and sly self centered personality, who considdered herself to be more beautiful (reflected in the way she held herself, like Cassandra) than the others but had a deep (love) connection with one of the male cats. I think she would naturaly stand out more, and when she comes on as Grizabella, to have this male cat rejecting her would be very painful- and would also jog the audiences into realising, if they hadnt already, who she was/is.
well, thats how i would change the Grizabella/Bella protrayal and costume.
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