TheBoogie
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Questions about Troika TourHey guys.. how are you?
There are some stuff I've been wondering about the Troika Tour that is coming to Brazil in August..... Some friends of mine are also wondering:
First, is the show really that colorful? Cause on the tickets seller website there is a hotsite about Cats and the pic really show the Cats with tremendously colorful makeups and costumes.. Does it look really that bright on the stage???
Another question: Is "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Policles" included in the show? 'Cause I heard there was a time in Broadway that they didn't have it... If it doesn't it's a shame, cause I really like it!! rsrs
Las one: Some guys here told me the show was kindda cheap.... I mean, how cheap is it?? Has it lost all that "fancyness" we could see on Cats video and Broadway and London stage productions? I mean, is there the possibility of people who kindda knows the show (such as me and my friends) to be disappointed? 
Thanks!
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Rumpleteazer4760
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I've had the good luck to see the Troika tour twice now, I believe, and both times I thoroughly enjoyed it. Both times I went, the "Pekes & Pollicles" number was left out of the show, but the number "Growltiger's Last Stand" was left in. The costumes are indeed very colorful, and the show has never struck me as cheap. I hope that helps! ^_^
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Cassandra
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| Quote: | | First, is the show really that colorful? Cause on the tickets seller website there is a hotsite about Cats and the pic really show the Cats with tremendously colorful makeups and costumes.. Does it look really that bright on the stage??? |
It is pretty colorful, but no more so than on the video. Some of the lighting effects on this particular tour are pretty interesting.
| Quote: | | Another question: Is "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Policles" included in the show? 'Cause I heard there was a time in Broadway that they didn't have it... If it doesn't it's a shame, cause I really like it!! rsrs |
Pekes and Pollicles was always in the Broadway version of the show, as far as I know. However, it is not included in the version you will see.
| Quote: | | Las one: Some guys here told me the show was kindda cheap.... I mean, how cheap is it?? Has it lost all that "fancyness" we could see on Cats video and Broadway and London stage productions? I mean, is there the possibility of people who kindda knows the show (such as me and my friends) to be disappointed? |
The show is not cheap. It is a professional production, and I'm positive you will be pleased with what you see. The complaints you have heard from some people (myself included) are comparing this current tour to other versions of the tour in the past. The past versions had even bigger budgets to work with, hence, their costumes were a little brighter and more well-maintained, they included the Pekes and Pollicles (as well as Mungo and Rumple's entire song), and they didn't use the 'blow-up' set like they have now. Personally, the past tour was very dear to my heart, so I only complain because I was used to that tour and didn't want to see anything change.
That said, this current tour is still excellent, and if you have never seen Cats live onstage before, you will be blown away. I believe the cast is what makes it so special. These are young, energetic, talented people who will make the show an unforgettable experience for you.
So, don't worry about what you've heard. Just go to the show with an open mind, and you will have a great time. Be sure to let us know what you think afterwards!
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TheBoogie
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Humm.. Thanks guys! heheh
I'll be sure to be open-minded when watching the show! I'll come back to tell you what I tought about it! hehehe
Just for letting you know, tickets are almost over.... It's gonna be full house every time!!
Thanks for your oppinions.. Other ones are still accepted. hehe
Se ya
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FoxDeimos
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I was about to post a topic asking about the same things, but it seems that someone already did it 
I have just ordered my tickets for me and my friend, and i am really excited about seeing Cats performed onstage for the first time. It's really a shame that they didn't include the Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Policles, I find it a very amusing song... but their version of Mungo & Rumple is the complete one or not? If it's not the complete one, that'll be so sad, as it's one of my favorite songs at least they've included Growltiger's Last Stand, which I've never saw before, so i think that's just fine. 
I just hope nothing wrong goes with the ticket ordering, I usually have a tough luck with ordering things.. 
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Pounce
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I suppose if Troika didn't have their compact set, a trip to Brazil would not be possible financially. When they were in Atlanta, on closing night I counted three trailers whereas for Wicked I counted nine.
From what I remember, instead of a staircase, a platform is lowered and raised for Grizabella and that platform is even smaller now. And because the platform is so small, Misto does not descend by rope from above but rather enters from the back. And Misto no longer has his flashpots but instead fires streamers over the audience. One good thing about not having those flashes is that they were painful to see. Later shows did tone the flash level down however.
In past shows, the orchestra was in the pit but now they are backstage which I think is how it's supposed to be anyway. They place a television monitor in the front of the stage so the actors can see the conductor.
The cats still go out in the audience but not as much as they used to which is a shame. Old Deuteronomy enters from the right on stage instead of from the audience which I think sucks. 
And sorry guys, but I hope that chubby Misto has moved on. He could do the dance but he wasn't graceful at all and couldn't get much height in his jumps. Plus, his heavy set frame looked ridiculous in a unitard. Good thing the fabric stretches. 
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Cassandra
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| FoxDeimos wrote: | | but their version of Mungo & Rumple is the complete one or not? If it's not the complete one, that'll be so sad, as it's one of my favorite songs |
The version of Mungo and Rumple you will see will not be the complete version. The verses starting with "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer have an unusual gift of the gab..." and "When the family assembles for Sunday dinner..." have been left out.
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Nemi
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Both times I saw it I swear it had the "sunday dinner" part included... I'm surprised I never noticed, if it is indeed left out.
And I know Misto had the flashpods the first time, and streamers the second... and that he did come from the ceiling.
The times, they are a'changing.
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Smudge
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| Pounce wrote: |
And sorry guys, but I hope that chubby Misto has moved on. He could do the dance but he wasn't graceful at all and couldn't get much height in his jumps. Plus, his heavy set frame looked ridiculous in a unitard. Good thing the fabric stretches. |
That's rather mean and I hope he doesn't read this...but if you're talking about who I think you are, he's not in it anymore. Most of the cast turned over in June.
As for Misto coming out on the rope: A lot of the smaller theaters didn't have the fly space they needed to lower him and in a lot of cases it became dangerous. I think they've now done away with it completely, but I can't say so for sure.
As for Cats coming out in the audience: Also depends on the house. A lot of houses don't have a way for the cast to get on and off stage into the audience, so sometimes they don't do it.
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Pounce
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| Smudge wrote: | | Pounce wrote: |
And sorry guys, but I hope that chubby Misto has moved on. He could do the dance but he wasn't graceful at all and couldn't get much height in his jumps. Plus, his heavy set frame looked ridiculous in a unitard. Good thing the fabric stretches. |
That's rather mean and I hope he doesn't read this...but if you're talking about who I think you are, he's not in it anymore. Most of the cast turned over in June. |
Yeah, I guess and sorry for being so blunt but that's show biz. If I was casting I'd have to say to him "yeah...you can do the moves but...no...no...no............no. He can do Bustopher or Gus but not a major dance role like Misto. In the Misto outfit he resembled a penguin more than a cat. CATS is image and the dancers should all be svelte. Appearance is important in casting. A short small framed Tugger or Munk doesn't work. Victoria especially needs to have a good figure.
It sort of goes back to my opinion that a Tugger with a gay sounding voice also doesn't work. Munk needs a somewhat commanding voice.
| Quote: | | As for Misto coming out on the rope: A lot of the smaller theaters didn't have the fly space they needed to lower him and in a lot of cases it became dangerous. I think they've now done away with it completely, but I can't say so for sure. |
I thought in an article posted earlier, it was because the smaller platform they're now using doesn't have a hole in the middle from which Misto can descend. I've seen the rope descent in older shows but in the same theater now Misto comes in from the back.
| Quote: | | As for Cats coming out in the audience: Also depends on the house. A lot of houses don't have a way for the cast to get on and off stage into the audience, so sometimes they don't do it. |
Again, I've seen the same Troika production in the same theater but now there is far less audience interaction and that sucks.
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darkmage
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Well, I saw the Troika production this past New Year's Eve, and Misto came out of the rope in the ceiling. It's my understanding that they're using the Tour IV set if they have the space, although I could be wrong. I should be seeing it again in a couple of months so I'll let you all know.
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TheBoogie
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Well, in Brazil it is going to be in a hugeeee showhouse, not theater... So I think there is enough space for Misto to come down from the cieling....
But I'm afraid the place is a little too big and the stage up too high from the groud for any audience interaction, I really do... there would have to be some sort of stairway from the stage to the audience levels, which I think will not happen......
too bad......... i guess i'll just have to make up my mind that we are not having an 100% CATS...
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Smudge
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Pounce, I'm just going by what their last SM told me, so I don't know for sure
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Pounce
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| TheBoogie wrote: | Well, in Brazil it is going to be in a hugeeee showhouse, not theater... So I think there is enough space for Misto to come down from the cieling....
But I'm afraid the place is a little too big and the stage up too high from the groud for any audience interaction, I really do... there would have to be some sort of stairway from the stage to the audience levels, which I think will not happen......
too bad......... i guess i'll just have to make up my mind that we are not having an 100% CATS... |
Not sure what a showhouse is. CATS works best in smaller more intimate theaters. I've heard of CATS being performed in very large venues but in my opinion, it won't work as well except for the people close to the stage. One show in Georgia (Statesboro), the theater has only 825 seats so that might be ideal. In Atlanta, the theater is a little too big but its fine if you sit fairly close to the stage. Seats in the "nosebleed" section are just not worth it.
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TheBoogie
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| Pounce wrote: | | TheBoogie wrote: | Well, in Brazil it is going to be in a hugeeee showhouse, not theater... So I think there is enough space for Misto to come down from the cieling....
But I'm afraid the place is a little too big and the stage up too high from the groud for any audience interaction, I really do... there would have to be some sort of stairway from the stage to the audience levels, which I think will not happen......
too bad......... i guess i'll just have to make up my mind that we are not having an 100% CATS... |
Not sure what a showhouse is. CATS works best in smaller more intimate theaters. I've heard of CATS being performed in very large venues but in my opinion, it won't work as well except for the people close to the stage. One show in Georgia (Statesboro), the theater has only 825 seats so that might be ideal. In Atlanta, the theater is a little too big but its fine if you sit fairly close to the stage. Seats in the "nosebleed" section are just not worth it. |
Sorry.. Showhouse is a term we use in Brazil for very huge concert places. Like, music concerts with thousands of people happen there...
It had to be in a big place, cause it's just for a month and a lottt of people will want to see it...
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Pounce
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| TheBoogie wrote: | Sorry.. Showhouse is a term we use in Brazil for very huge concert places. Like, music concerts with thousands of people happen there...
It had to be in a big place, cause it's just for a month and a lottt of people will want to see it... |
Ok, but try to get in as close as you can. I saw CATS in the balcony once and the show didn't have enough...well...ooompf. If it were louder, it would have been better. Mamma Mia! shows are played loud.
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Cassandra
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It seems that they use two different sets. The one from the previous tour ("4th National") is larger, with more set pieces and the bigger "cherry picker" from which Misto descends on a rope and Griz rides up to the Heaviside Layer. This set required four or five trucks to hold all of it plus the props, costumes, etc.
There's an additional set this tour had built in order to perform in the smaller venues. It's referred to as the "blow-up set" because that's what it does..... it literally blows up like a balloon. From the audience, though, you can't really tell. This set also has the smaller "cherry picker," which is why Misto can't descend on the rope, and instead has to enter at the back of the stage. Because all they have to do is deflate the set, it takes up a lot less space in the trucks. Consequently, I believe they only use two trucks for this set instead of the four or five for the other.
If I had to guess, I bet they'll be taking the blow-up set with them to Brazil. It would be much more expensive for them to travel all that way with the bulky 4th National set instead of the more compact blow-up set. But again, you most likely won't be able to tell the difference, and the show will be just as good.
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Drumdraper
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I just hope the blow up set doesn't get lost and end up in unclaimed baggage somewhere between the US and Brazil.
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