West End Wednesday: CATS
CATS is a 1980 West End musical that is based on a book of poems by TS Eliot called ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’. It tells the story of a group of cats called the Jellicles who are attending the Jellicle ball to see which cat will get to chosen to ascend to the “Heaviside Layer” and be reborn.
The production started as a song-writing exercise for composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wanted to see if he could write music to established words. Although initially unsure what he wanted to do with the songs he had created, Lloyd Webber made his then song-cycle part of his Sydmonton Festival and invited Eliot’s widow Valerie to watch. Valerie attended with some of Eliot’s unpublished poems which, upon reading, encouraged Lloyd Webber to extrapolate the subject matter into a full musical. Interested in the concept and post presentation producer Cameron Mackintosh came on board to finance the project alongside the Really Useful group’s Brian Brolly. Lloyd Webber continued to set these new poems to music and compose an overture and the music for the ‘Jellicle Ball’ whilst Mackintosh recruited the creative team. After much persuasion RSC Director Trevor Nunn was brought on board alongside his colleagues’ choreographer Gillian Lynne and set designer John Napier. Nunn eventually gave in to Lloyd Webber’s grand vision for the show over his more intimate chamber musical concept under the condition that the show had a through line instead of just being a collection of musical numbers. Nunn set about bringing Grizabella to the forefront as a narrative device. Another one of Nunn’s conditions was the use of the actor Judi Dench. Due to her industry presence, Dench was immediately hired and cast in the dual roles of Grizabella and Jennyaydots.
CATS was infamous for being plagued with production problems. The first day of rehearsals, the script hadn’t been finished and the musical director quit by lunchtime due to the unfinished score. They employed lyricist Richard Stilgoe who was infamous at creating lyrics off-the-cuff to pen ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats’, which he did overnight. ‘Memory’ was still unfinished but became a priority due to it being the emotional core of the show, and even with a collaboration between Nunn and Stilgoe and a rejected draft from Tim Rice, the song wasn’t finished until partway through previews. Mackintosh struggled to raise the capital to finance the show due to investors being hesitant that the subject matter would make a return. Lloyd Webber himself underwrote the musical and took out a second mortgage on his house to pay for the theatre; had CATS been a failure he would have been financially ruined. On top of all of this, a week before previews began Judi Dench injured her Achilles tendon and was replaced by her understudy Myra Sands for the role of Jennannydots and Elaine Paige for Grizabella.
CATS is infamous for many reasons. It was the billed as the first English dance musical and is lauded as one of the most challenging shows to dance in the industry. Gillian Lynne fused various styles together to form the choreography, which came to a peal in the 13 minute ‘Jellicle Ball’. The set by John Napier was also revolutionary in the fact that not only did it revolve but it took a section of the stalls with it as it went, giving the audience members a full immersive experience. Action was directed through the audience so cast members could prowl amongst theatregoers, and catwalks and walkways were connected to the boxes and circles to ensure full audience immersion.
CATS opened at the New London Theatre on 11 May 1981 and was a smash hit, running for and closing on its 21st birthday. The final performance itself was broadcast live onto a massive screen in Covent Garden to provide an experience for everyone who wann’t able to get a ticket.
The musical transferred to Broadway in 1982 at The Winder Garden Theater with a recording-breaking $6.2 Million dollar in pre-sales. At the time of its production, CATS had the biggest budget in Broadway history of $5.5 million, all of which it recouped in its first 10 months. Although it didn’t match its London run, the Broadway production still ran for a whopping 18 years and contributed $3.12 billion to the New York economy.
The show enjoyed two major West End revivals, both at the London Palladium from 2014-2015 starring Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella and then Kerry Ellis, and then 2015-2016 with Beverley Knight.
CATS was revived in a new production on Broadway in 2016 with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, but with Nunn and Napier reprising their original creative roles. Due to the success of the first London revival, the producers secured Nicole Scherzinger to play Grizabella, however, she later withdrew and was replaced by Leona Lewis. Lewis was succeeded in the role by Mamie Parris and the production closed in December 2017.
In 1998, the London production was captured and released on VHS and later DVD. In 2019, the motion pictured adaptation of CATS was released signalling the first time Judi Dench was able to appear in an incarnation of the show, she was cast as Old Deuteronomy. The film adaptation of the musical, unlike the stage show, was a critical and commercial bomb.
CATS is one of the most successful musicals of all time and I refuse to believe you haven’t listened to it, Besties!
Cast recording available from streaming services. Filmed productions available at various retailers.
FACTS:
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: T.S Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
Theatre: The New London Theatre
Run: 11 May 1981 – 11 May 2002 (8,949 performances)
TONYS:
(NOMINATED) Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical – Harry Groener, Stephen Hanan, Best Choreography – Gillian Lynne, Best Scenic Design – John Napier
(WON) Best Musical, Best Original Score – Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S Eliot, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical – Betty Buckley, Best Direction of a Musical – Trevor Nunn, Best Costume Design – John Napier, Best Lighting Design - David Hersey
OLIVIERS:
(NOMINATED) Actor of the Year in a Musical – Brian Blessed, Wayne Sleep, Designer of the Year – John Napier, Director of the Year – Trevor Nunn
(2015) Best Musical Revival, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Nicole Scherzinger
(WON) Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in a Musical – Gillian Lynne
