‘Cats’ still a howl on return to Center

Tom Titus

When Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Cats” first saw the light of day

22 years ago this month, it trumpeted the motto “Now and Forever.”

Whoever thought that one up was quite the prognosticator.

After 3,358 performances, the T.S. Eliot-inspired “Cats” became

the longest running musical in the history of British theater -- and

it’s still running. The show’s Broadway run “only” lasted from 1982

to 2000.

Over the years, “Cats” has been a frequent tenant at the Orange

County Performing Arts Center. It’s back for another week on its

fourth local go-round. It may be quite familiar by now, but it’s

still a howl.

Directed and choreographed for the current tour by Richard

Stafford, who’s based his presentation on the original direction of

Trevor Nunn and choreography of Gillian Lynne, “Cats” has lost none

of its bite and probably has added a few bells and whistles. The

technological pyrotechnics seem even more advanced this time around.

The emphasis on this particular incarnation, it seems, is on

choreography. The opening segment, “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle

Cats,” has been expanded by Nunn and Richard Stilgoe, while a

balletic segment in the second act seems to have increased in

elaboration.

Basically, “Cats” is one big backyard Ed Sullivan show (or,

perhaps, “American Idol,” since a “winner” is chosen at the close).

Each frisky feline struts his or her stuff with energy and alacrity

until “glamour cat” Grizabella arrives to blow her competition (and

the audience) away with the show’s signature song, “Memory.”

The inhabitant of this role, Dee Roscioli, builds her poignant

solo with, well, catlike grace, erupting gloriously upon reaching the

“Touch me” lyric, and earning a sustained ovation. Roscioli has the

least stage time of any performer, yet she is the most memorable.

This is saying quite a bit, since the other feline soloists excel

on a more energetic level, particularly Ryan Jackson’s acrobatic

master of magic, Mistofeelees, and Adam Lendermon’s hyperactive

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat. And, of course, Gus, the theater cat,

puts on a terrific show as he recalls his performing past, this time

in the personage of Kevin C. Wanzor, headlining the memory play

“Growltiger’s Last Stand” and fighting off Siamese pirates.

Mungojerrie (Mario Martinez) and Rumpleteazer (Katy Burns) perform

a smooth duet as the mischievous kitties. Karl Warden is a sly

McCavity, the felonious feline, and Staci Rudnitsky lolls around as

the pampered, overfed Jennyanydots. Stan Stanley kicks up his paws as

the frisky Rum Tum Tugger.

Joshua John Edwards’ Munkustrap keeps the proceedings humming as

the show’s emcee. And Martin C. Hurt earns the affection and

deference of the rest of the troupe as the cats’ ancient leader, Old

Deuteronomy.

Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” with music by

Webber and lyrics culled from Eliot’s writings by original director

Nunn, “Cats” won seven 1983 Tony Awards, including best musical, best

book of a musical, best lighting and best costumes.

Viewing the show two decades later, it seems as though Lynne was

robbed -- it also should have been honored for choreography.

Since its opening, “Cats” has been presented in 26 countries and

more than 300 cities. It has been translated into 10 languages and has been seen by more than 8,250,000 audience members. After over two

decades, it’s still the cat’s meow.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.