CATS - By TheatreBits at The Regal
Thu, 12 Apr 2007, 07:36 pmTari-Xalyr33 posts in thread
CATS - By TheatreBits at The Regal
Thu, 12 Apr 2007, 07:36 pmI went last night (April 11th) to see CATS at the Regal. And all n’ all. It was an enjoyable night. I have some honourable mentions and some not so honourable. Some possible advice and my opinion in general.
Firstly congratulations to all involved. It’s a challenge to put on any show but one with such an expectation attached to it. You all did a great job.
Secondly. Honourable mentions to
- Griddle bone & Jellylorum - Emma Shaw - you’re voice is amazing.
- Victoria - Taihla Saunders - Flexible, spineless and beautiful.
- Rum Tum Tugger - David Bowyer - Brilliant stage presence and by the looks of things quite comfortable in lycra. Lol.
- Growl tiger - Daniel Burton - Loved Growltiger. He was very well done.
- Macavity - Cassandra McNamara - wow. Lol. that’s all I can say. I don’t think you got the applause you deserved last night and I tip my hat to you.
An honourable mention also to the company - those cats who didn’t get an individual song, etc, you were a brilliant support. My particular fav’s were Aurora - Shelleyt Weir - and Chloe - Danielle Carter.
A piece of advice, Mungojerrie from last night (not sure which girl it was.) Your voice was rather strained - and thus I am assuming it was put on and is not your natural singing voice. Perhaps try and sing the role in your “normal” singing voice. Audiences are not ignorant and if they are willing will believe that you are playing a male cat even if the voice doesn’t sound “masculine.”
Munkustrap, - Ryan Taaffe - you looked a bit uncomfortable. Not sure what it was, though. Also if you noticed or not - there was one particular area of the stage that whenever you stood there your voice disappeared - interference with the mics or something which was a pity.
Jemima - whose name I’ve lost appologies - you seemed out of your comfort zone with some of those high notes which was a shame for those solo’s because they are beautifully composed.
I’ve spoken at length with the Techies about my opinion and with what they had to work with - and the problems with frequency from phones etc - they did an amazing job. And Richard I’m not just being nice. I’m being honest. Smooth over those few glitches in the first act and it’ll be perfect.
The orchestra/band (whichever you prefer) were briliant but at times - for example when the company sang The Jellicle Song - the music over powered and drowned out the performers. Perhaps fiddle with volume a bit. An honourable mention to Jessica Andrews on Clarinet (I’m a sucker for that instrument) - beautiful and full bodied are those little solo’s in CATS for the clarinet. Craig Dalton - the conductor - I tip my hat to you. Well done. Overall the music was wonderful and it was nice to hear a live orchestra/band rather then listening to tin cans rattling about.
To the costume/make-up and set designers. Congratulations on a job beautifully done. I loved the wigs - which were creatively and effectively done. Although I would attack Grizabella’s coat with some paint and scissors. It looked brand new instead of “tattered and stained with sand”. I loved Macavity’s costume in particular, the colours were amazing.
My favourite two scenes - overall - was Gus: The Theatre Cat and Growltiger’s Last Stand. David Gostlow was brilliant and I easily loved the character. And Daniel Burton - mentioned above - your Growltiger was fun to watch - he was quite comical at times. I previously hadn’t been a fan of those two scenes but now I am. Lol. So congrats.
Although I admit overall the second act was better then the first act - but I have always preferred the second act to the first anyway. The combination of songs seems to work better - well in my opinion anyway.
Congratulations again to all involved. I tip my hat to you all.
~ Tari
not anonymous
Tue, 17 Apr 2007, 11:58 pmI dislike this show, pro or amateur.
I have voted by not spending my money. Mr Richard, if you are in the habit of spending your hard-earned on going to things you think you'd not like simply to prove a point one way or the other, you are either very rich, very mad, or simply nothing like most other people.
Congrats to those doing the show, I don't think I ever implied it would be awful, just that I could not understand why people would spend big money on this particular show, and that it had not been clearly signposted as an amateur production.
I also stated that being pro does not necessarily guarantee quality either. That's another discussion.
In fairness to us 'quiet ones' we suggested tech issues might not be done to the best- all the reviews I've read have mentioned problems with sound.
We also suggested the public might be unaware of the amateur status of the cast- this appears to have been borne out in several reviews/statements.
I also think that every review has confirmed my major potential issue with this particular production- that being that as an amateur show it would be inconsistent. If I pay big money to a show that I think is pro, I expect EVERY role and character to be exceptional. This is not me having a go at any performance, I haven't seen the show after all, but the reviews posted thus far indicate this may have been an issue.
and anyone who has been on this site for more than a week would know my position on producers making money on a show while it's cast and crew are not...
As questioned previously- if you can't do your amateur/community production for a fair ticket price, should you be doing that particular production in that particular venue? I still believe not, and no amount of positive reviews will change my position on this.
$41.20 was the cheapest ticket possible for me, and that is not cheap (or fair) in any version of the universe.
Again, big congrats to all involved with the show, and may it lead you to bigger and better things.
Neville
It's the simple things stupid...