[MungoShanks]

Hello all! So, the Troika Tour has been long awaited and very much talked about in various forums. I would like for all to participate in this "activity". Would you post what you would like to see this year? CATS is advertised as" the one, the only, the original..." But Troika isnt exactly giving us the original, which is definately "what we want to see". Not that this will make a difference, but I would like you to post what you think should be added/ taken from this production. And who knows. I may "know a girl who knows a guy......" that could make a few minor changes in the show. PleasePleasePleasePlease post and I promise to keep you updated on my continual emails with Troika.
Your Obedient Servant,
MungoShanks

[darkmage]

Well, I didn't vote in this poll as my answer is 'maybe.' If Troika can use the hard set, which they own, and restore it to what it was under the Equity tour (run by Stage Holdings IIRC), then hell, let them keep it. If they want to keep chopping bits out and charging more money for a stripped-down show, then yeah, give it to a company that will do it right.

Troika ran the Evita tour and it was an exact reproduction of the 1978 Broadway version. I saw it and it was *amazing.* So they can do shows right, but the question should be, 'Do they *want* to?'

As for what I feel should be added, if they can't add Pekes and Pollicles back (and tbh some critics said that number should have been yanked during previews anyway), they need to put in the other bits they cut out at minimum. This includes:

--the mass chorus during the Invitation. It always reminded me of an Edward Gorey illustration when all the cats came out, dunno why. It doesn't anymore.

--The 'lost verses' of Mungo and Rumple

--The extra bars during Growltiger

--Mr. Mistoffelees' flying thing, as well as making him sing his part of the song again.

--Also, during Mr. Mistofelees, there was a part toward the end where the cast used to come out and run up and down the aisles like during the Green Eyes bit. In all fairness Tour IV cut this out about 1993-4 and I didn't like it, as I liked seeing the cats come out and interact with the audience. I can see where some venues wouldn't want that, though.

None of these additions would really add any cost or any additional props to the show. They would lengthen runtime by about another 10 or 15 minutes, that's all.

Some people have said that the costumes have changed over the years for the worse, but I don't necessarily agree. They should stick more closely to what the NYC version was though as it does look like Troika made them into a hybrid of the London and NYC versions. This is not *bad,* just different, but I personally would like them to stick as closely as they can to the Bway versions. *shrug*

[Peritombry]

I sort of agree with you but... on the other hand if they do put the missing parts back in, are those parts going to be done properly? I may be wrong as I honestly don't know all that much about them but it seems to me that they've been half hearted with it so far at best. I'd rather it went to someone who wanted to do it properly because it's the right way to do it, and not just because they received complaints.

[Stargazer]

It's just one of those things that if you cut stuff out, only the ones who know the show backwards and forwards will notice the changes. I'm going to be in and out of tech with CATS in October and will get to see the show that Saturday of their performances (Maybe usher it Friday to see it twice... Maybe not)

Once a company has the show they do what they feel is fit for the audiences and venues they are going to go to. They might have cut the show down so families could sit through it longer with their children, especially with children now a days being very antsy.

Not saying this should be a cop out, by all means no. Once Troika drops the tour, it will probably be picked up by another company later and be revamped. Will they put in both Pekes and Growltiger? Probably not, most places stick with one or the other and usually they go with Growltiger because it is more interesting.

Things are cut for tours, things are cut for school and community productions as well. They always have reasons for cutting the things they do. I've always been in a production where they've cut or added songs to musicals, or changed things. Why? They felt with the audiences they were going to have it needed to be done. So this probably what Troika did.

I can always ask why they cut things, but the people who are on tour now probably weren't there when they did the original cutting so they wouldn't know.

that's my 2 cents... I feel everything has a reason to be done.

(feels like asking her friend about Mistoffelees before he gets here a week from saturday... hmmm...)

[darkmage]

I understand what you're saying, but if they're cutting out stuff because the kids can't sit still for two hours, then the kids need to be left at home. Period.

Cats was not originally designed as a family piece--it just sort of became that over time. If the kids are not disciplined enough to be quiet and not get antsy then the parents need to hire a babysitter for the night. If the parents can't do that, then stay home and leave the theatre to the grownups.

My 3c.

[MungoShanks]

I agree with all of you and appreciate your few cents. Thank you very much. Personally, I do agree with DarkMage a little more, because I have seen the EVITA tour and the JC tour and thought that they were both fantastic! So if TROIKA could just find all of the missing pieces, it would be an amazing tour! But I do think that Troika is trying to make this a true Children's production, which I have thought it was never directedto be. After all, Gillian Lynne even said "This show isn't supposed to be about pussy cats that children can sing along to". so to Troika, STOP DOMESTICATING OUR JELLICLES! Also, I have again Emailed Troika. please PM me if you would like to knowthe details they have given me about the tour, or request that I start a new topic about it. Thank you all again
Your Obedient Servant,
MungoShanks.

[darkmage]

[Mungojerrie_rt]

Considering it involves themes of prostitution and rape, should hardly be fluffy. It's meant to be social commentary. For that matter I don't like the US costumes anyway. To cute, not enough animal and character in them. The original was so much darker and better looking.

[Heavylove]

When I move around the web and seeing different costume designs it strikes me that modern (Like stockholm 2009) cats costumes comes with more cloth feeling rather than the origal feline feeling and from what I can see the reason for that must be its cheaper and easier to do a show using a "coverall" than a feline costume. And also keep in mind its something to do it over and over again on youre home theater than doing the same thing on a new and unfaliar stage on a tour.

As for shortening I havent seen the original show so I have really no answer on that question. If its works why not?

[Stargazer]

So I found out the other day from the Company Manager the reason they cut Pekes and the Pollicles. They cut it because there were too many props to take on their tour of the show. I found this very interesting. The show at the moment is running about 2 1/2 hours.

[Peritombry]

Yeah I'm sure a box of fake bagpipes takes up a whole heap of space.

[Stargazer]

I'm pretty sure they were talking about the feet, paws and head pieces they would have to wear as the Pekes and Pollicles... Since basically every cat has to have a set. that means they would have to be in seperate gondollas, Probably several of them since they need spares for everything (They have 3 sets of costumes for each character, same with wigs) That would probably equal another truck just for that song in reality making their grand total 6 trucks. It cuts down on money for truck drivers, making the gondollas and making all the pieces times three, maybe four. I can see why they would do it but it sucks.

[Heavylove]

Reducing the number or wigs and other costume parts is understandeble but in sweden they skipped the small boat part all together under the growltiger song and still making a good part off it so thats maybe a way to go.

[MungoShanks]

To Darkmage: Thank you for agreeing! And they SHOULD watch the interviews. Having a show as big and great as CATS, you should get to know it WAY too personally and understand it!

To Mungojerrie_rt: AMEN!!! With the themes it does involve, such as prostotution and rape, they should stop "fluffing" it up. This darker show that was the original should replace this happy, yippy-skippy, rainbow, sun-shiny childrens show that is put on an inflatable set and labeled CATS! The costumes- I must say I don't think they are that bad, but yes, too cute. Where is the darkness that mixes with the musical to make the show what it is??

To Peritombry:You just made me like you alot more Yeah, I'm sure it would be such a trouble to add in a few more boxes. HECK, I'll drive around the extra supplies if that's what it takes to get what I want for CATS!!! I'm sure it wouldn't be *that* bad!

To Stargazer: First of all: How did you like the show? Was it any better than what it has usually been? I think I read it premiered this past week or so. Please tell us how it went! Now, to the point. If the company is already lugging around 6 trucks, 1st of all, why can't they at least cover one with the CATS LOGO? I know they used to have the CATS trucks with the signiture CATS picture on them. Maybe I'm wrong and they still do, but last time, I don't remember seeing anything special about the big trucks in the back. 2nd, since they are already using 6 trucks, why not just add another? I say HECK_ ITS WORTH IT FOR MY SHOW! Don't tell me they aren't making enough money to afford another! I'm not trying to be mean or rude, but I think that they should just add one more for the extra supplies.

To any TROIKA's: USE THE HARD SET! Even you know that the bouncy set is crap! What would the great ALW say if he saw that retched thing? Or even worse: What if the one and only John Napier saw this horrid thing lying there? I don't know about you, but I'm not so sure he'd be too happy about you're whole, "The economy is bad and we need to save gas money" speech. Trust me, I've heard it and its not so great. So I say to you: GIVE US BACK OUR CATS!

[Heavylove]

lol you certanly know what you want to have! Well for me shuffling/excluding whole part of the show is all wrong but if its about using the inflateble sets or not I just dont care. After all the sets is merely in the background an its the actors that do the show! So Id rather have a bunch of great actors than a great set with loosy actors! And in stockholm/gothenburg they changed the junkyard to a closed tivoly and in norway the set is a theathre so I dont see whats the argue is about... Then its more important that the theathre has a good layout making it possible with the key interaction and the feeling of being invited to the show rather than youre average audience.

And basicly I dont see an error doing a "kids friendly" show just that you have to call it something else than "original Cats". And what I can see kids like Cats even in the unchanged way so there is really no need to pg13 it.

[Stargazer]

MungoShanks: It was okay, I did a nice little review after I saw the show and loaded the show out... Long night.

No, the trucks do now have the logo on them at all, they are all standard white trucks. Why they don't have the logo, I dunno, but now a days it seems that the trucks carrying sets rarely have anything on them, they are just all white.

[Heavylove]

Id post this post here rather than doing a thread of my own...

Well Ive been thinking a bit what I would like to have as a ultimate cats experience and this is about it (No regards to cost and directors/stage managers heart )

Total Experience: Its clear that Cats is intended to be an invitation to theyre home rather than an audience going to the theathre so my dream show clearly evolvers much more interaction between the cats and the audience. First all (public) staff would be masked and dressed like the cats in the show giving an all out experience from the moment you arrive to the theathre to the moment you leave. Every one workinig in the theathre should basicly be a Jellicle. And it doesnt stop there. I want the cast to mingle with the audience before and after and during the break and maybe throw in some events like Old Deut sigining autographs or mr Mistoffleles doing some magics during the break. When the show starts thea cast follow the audience inside the theathre and its an all out interaction (or at least as much as possible) from there... Overall would be awesome I think...

Stage: Well I liked what theyre done in stockholm so for me id rather, or as much, has other setings (Like amusement park or even a theathre) than the standard junkyard even thou its hard to beat the classic set. Id love the wall as a curtain and the idea of having a cat looking down to the audience before the show started so if I cant do the above Id definately go with that aproach.

Theathre: Id skip any theathre thats block the interaction between the cats and the audience for obvious reason. Ive saw an Czech theathre that gived awesome closeness and the audience basicly sat on the stage and its such a scen I would choice.

Costumes: Id love the original as well as the stockholm one. But as I love furries as well it would be fun to combine the italian masks with the more feline feeling of the original show would be a great combo. Other than that Id rather go with any less feline feeling thats not to creative and breaks the cats feeling to much. Either Stockholm or original aproach work fine for me.

As for the show itself I go with the full length, unchanged show (complete with the little darker and with the pellicles part ofc) as its always the original thats the best. If it could be done without destroying the show Id might throw in something (Like a host or a narrator or some binding songs) that make the story a bit more coherissive if you know what I mean but this would be superhot and much discussed before Id guess.

Overall Cats is a great show with little that needs to be changed but what do you think about this concept?

[OldDeuteronomy]

Kinda O.T. but since the L.A. production was dubbed "Tour II but never moved around (until becoming Tour IV after closing in L.A) how does that make the current tour,Tour V?

[Heavylove]

Maybe whe shall try to do something like a "dream Cats production" and then see if we can get a theathre actually doing it... Could be preatty fun to see if were all wide apart or simular to eachother...

[Peritombry]

I'm not keen on the Italian masks at all. And I think the cast would need to actually rest in the interval. Or at least the ones doing the most leaping around. The show is physically draining, and though I'm sure that the professionals would be far more used to it than I had time to get, I can't really see them wanting to perform through the interval as well.

Someone suggested an outside production a while ago with a real full moon in a more realistic junkyard. The problem there would be weather of course. You could have a shelter but unless it were transparent it would sort of defeat the purpose of being outside.

[Heavylove]

Talking of being outside maybe it would be fun with some sort of Cats/Jellicle lajv? Either totaly free played or more seted around the Jellicle ball. Maybe something for a tv series...

By the way: The italian masks looked a bit od while on theyre current costumes but IMO if theyre pared with a more furry look for the rest of the costumes it would be much better. I doubt it would be "user friendly" thou.