AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Cats - The Plaza Theatre, Stockport.

What a joy to see a set design that wasn't a rubbish dump! I have had a very long and productive relationship with this musical over the years, and it is probably fair to say, it is one of the few that I know inside out and backwards. However, this evening it was the first time I have been shown a stage design that didn't include, at least in part, a pile of rubbish! How refreshing! This was The Drama Department's youthful and hugely energetic production of Lloyd-Webber's 'Cats'. Here, we were outside the Stage Door of the feline version of Stockport's Plaza Theatre, with posters advertising productions such as 'Meowin' In The Rain', and 'The Whiskers Of Oz', was a superb touch, whilst the design allowed for different levels, and enough room (just!) for the company to perform their fantastic dance routines. I am uncertain what the two "slides" were meant to represent, but I enjoyed watching the cats slide down them!

This was a very large, youthful, and talented cast, and on this, their opening night, they were performing full steam ahead, giving 100% at all times, and seemingly enjoying every second of it too, which seemed to spill out from the stage over the audience, as their energy and commitment was both tangible and infectious. 

The story (what there is of a story) concerns the coming together of the local group of Jellicle Cats, who await the arrival of their leader, Old Deuteronomy, who will then listen to their lifs stories, watch them perform, and decide which of them should be chosen to be 'reborn', and come back in another Jellicle life. Over the years the musical has undergone various changes and rewrites, and so some of the songs, 'transitional melodies', etc have either been altered or completely replaced, but the basic premise remains the same; even if, in my humble opinion, the show has worsened because of these changes.

All the cast deserve credit, but, in the space of this review, I should like to mention just a couple, who, for this reviewer at least, managed to impress just a little more, standing out not in a showy or bad way, but simply that their talent and stage presence made me want to watch them whenever they took the stage. In this regard, I must mention Bombalurina (Louise Colohan), Rum Tum Tugger (Isaac Murtagh), Bustopher Jones (Gavin Chadwick), and the two young turbaned "twins", who sadly I am unable to name. (maybe someone can help me?!). And of course, the enigmatic and impressive presence of the "narrator" of the show, Gary Jones as Munkustrap. It was also a truly wonderful idea to use a smaller chorus of preteen 'Kittens', and they all did remarkably well.

Both the costumes and make-up were a mix of some working excellently, and others being extremely strange and seemingly unsuitable. A truly mixed bag; but those that did work, worked superbly, and were the ones that I tended to watch when they were on stage. The sound levels were good throughout, and the lighting was creative, but sadly the perimeters of the stage seemed to remain unlit the whole evening, and so cast members placed in these areas were unlit too. It also was a huge shame that when cats were singing solo lines (especially in the 'Jellicle Songs'), the voices were coming from the stage, but we were unable to see the singer.

The choreography (Carolynne Jones) was imaginative and filled the stage. I loved the group work, the use of space, and the picture endings, whilst the acrobatics did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Directed by Michael McCaw [any relation to the sadly cut song of Billy McCaw..??!!], the show was pacey and dynamically satisfying. The story was nicely signposted, and the characters and their relationships easy to understand. There were also a couple of nice directorial additions in this show too, which were nice touches and made me laugh. Musically secure under the direction of Paul Lawton, the pit orchestra was kept in check and sounded good the whole evening. The singing from everyone was superb. I loved Gareth Smith (Old Deuteronomy)'s mellow baritone. The chorus singing was joyous and lush, but there were times when the male harmony voices overpowered the female tune, and so the balance here just needs a little tweeking. 

Overall, and taking first night nerves into consideration, this was a hugely enjoyable, high energy, "vollgas" production, and the cumulative talent on stage was awe-inspiring. Bravo.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 26.9.23