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Sunday July 8, 2001
First public performance of the new Cats tour Atlantic City New Jersey
This was my very first time ever visiting Atlantic City I arrived a little early. I found my way to the main street and with the help of a very friendly woman I was put on the correct bus to Harrah’s Hotel/Casino, and the very friendly drive promised to let me off in the correct place. On the way I called Adas and she informed me that she missed her bus and would be a little late. So I decided to have a little lunch and by than she should be there, so I thought. During lunch she called and said her bus broke down and the new wasn’t any better this one was breaking down every fifteen minutes. She told me to go to the box office and find Dax and Carbucketty. After finally finding the box office and not seeing either guys I decided to stand in the box office line to pickup my tickets. While standing there I saw Car he came over to talk to me for a bit and asked where Adas and Dax where, by this time Adas had called again and said she might not arrive in time to see the show. Car left and went to stand in the theatre line after I got my ticket I did the same. We talked a while and than Dax showed up but still no Adas.
They than let us into the theatre and when the lady lead us to our table we were a little disappointed. Dax ask the lady if we could have a better seat and with a little coaxing she sat us in the second row form the stage and with three extra seats for Adas, Amanda and Nicci. They had this little one page flyer for the show that listed the cast, credits, musicians and staff, no bio's or pictures.
As I wrote this report I tried to keep an open mind since this cast has only rehersaed for three months, and that this was their first public show. So I’ll try my best not to compare this new tour to the Broadway version.
They cut out a lot for this performance because the casino didn’t want its patrons away from the slot machines too long. The show was supposelibly cut to 90 minutes but it went over by about 15 minutes. The cuts were as follows; the whole Bustopher song, Pekes and Pollicles and Growltiger. They shortened The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball, The Jellicle Ball, and Mr Mistoffelees.
The curtain went up and it was nice to see the old tour set as it was. I didn’t hear an announcement about not taking pictures so I snapped a few along with everyone else (I hope they turn out ok). However when the show was about to begin they did announce no photography. By the way Adas and company did make it in time.
The music began and when greens eyes started, Adas was caught off guard when Mistoffelees stuck his head in her face, LOL. That was very funny. The cast performed the Songs for Jellicle Cats very good everyone was right on clue or at least appeared to be. I noticed the costumes where the ones from the tour as well as the wigs, the leg and arm warmers and tails were all new and you could tell. When it was time for the boot to fall I thought it fell a little too soon. One more thing I should mention here is that this tour doesn't have any Cats chorus.
During the Naming of Cats the cast did come out into the audience and Mungojerrie (Bryce Bermingham) crawled on the skinny little railing in front of our seats and right up and into Dax’s face, he commented “I wish someone had a camera.” LOL. Because of this we got a close up view of Mungo as he recited the Naming of Cats, he was very good and was very convincing when he did the line “his mind is engaged in a rapt of contemplation of the thought”. Very well done.
Than we go on to The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball, Victoria (Shylo Smith) did a beautiful job. The only surprising part here was that Mistoffelees or Quaxo (McCree O’Kelley) as the say in the program, didn’t sing “jellicle Cats come out to night…..” instead Munkustrap sang these lines. This just caught me off guard a little, LOL.
The Old Gumbie Cat Song sung by Jennyanydots was performed by Julie Garnye. I love the beginning where Misto jumps up on the pipe and magically opens the oven and Jennyanydots rolls out, this was very cute. LOL. She has a beautiful voice and was very comical even though her hat came off and hung around the back of her neck, she just went on with the show like nothing had happened. The tap dancing part is always my favorite part and everyone did a beautiful job with a few exceptions.
The Rum Tum Tugger (Stan Stanley) I loved his opening "meow" to the song. He was very funny and did a wonderful job. He was very determined to get the woman he choose up to dance with him, which he did.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer (Emily Haag) were just adorable and very funny. I loved Emily’s voice she was so cute and Bryce was so comical. Their performance was very remarkable, with all the dancing and all the singing I don't know how they could stay on key, and they looked as if they were having a ball. These two worked very well together like they had been doing this song for sometime.
Right before the Jellicle Ball they went into the beginning of Pekes & Pollicles but than they cut it and the cast went right into the dance part. The Jellicle Ball is I believe the hardest song in the show to perform and this cast did a very good job for only doing it for three months, and I believe they will get stronger the more they perform it. But all in all I think they should all be very proud of themselves.
Gus the Theatre Cat was never really one of my favorites part of the show but the way William Hartery performed him was very good. He was funny and serious and I have to say I really enjoyed this song for the first time. I can’t wait to see Mr Hartery perform Asparagus again.
Skimbleshanks (John Sechrist) had to be the most energetic cat on stage, I've never seen Skimble played this way. I always loved this song and John’s performance was a most memorable one.
The Macavity song was performed the way it was on B'way with Alonzo (Ronnie Nelson) shadow dancing (I think that's what it's called) with Demeter (Jessica Lea Patty). When Bombalurina (Sharon Hunycutt) got up to sing you missed her first few words cause the sound person must have forgot to turn her mic on. But she had a pretty voice and had all the moves down perfect.
The Macavity Fight was not as scary as B'way because Alonzo doesn't swing Macavity around but the fight was good and Alonzo did the hurt part really good.
Mr Mistoffelees song was a bit of a disappointment for me, Mistoffelees being my most favorite character in the show was cut up just like in the video, no conjuring turns. But I did hear that that was only done for Atlantic City. Oh well, I guess you can’t have everything. Mistoffelees was played differently than any I've ever seen, this one struck me as a bit of a wise guy.
Than there was The Journey to the Heaviside Layer beautifully sung, but poor Grizabella didn't get to make the journey to the heaviside Layer for the first public show, it seams the door got stuck, but the lighting was VERY VERY beautiful. Grizabelle (Grethen Goldsworthy) was good she just slowly sat down close to Old Deuteronomy and for a while there I forgot she was still there, but hey this is live theatre and things like this happen.
There were some performers that didn’t have their own song but I
thought it was fitting that I mention them because their perform was very
good. First there was Sillabub (Sara Schudde) she has a gorgeous voice
and made an adorable Sillabub, Tumblebrutus (Brad Barnes) he definitely
lived up to his character name, Plato/Macavity (Everett Taylor) an amazing
dancer/actor and one of the tallest Macvacity I’ve ever seen live. Alonzo/Rumpus
(Ronnie Nelson) he is very good also. Poor Ronnie hurt his foot in this
show and he
was taken to the hospital later when we met him he told us that
he was fine but would be off for a bit. Jellylorum (Wendi Bergamni) another
beautiful voice and very nice smile, Demeter (Jessica Lea Patty) beautiful
voice and very cat like. Munkustrap (Grant Turner) he had also a beautiful
voice but seamed a little tense it was probably first night jetters and
last, Pouncival (David Blonn) he had a lot of cute cat moves and he is
a really GOOD dancer he must have had a really good dance teacher. I bet
he would make a good Misto.
My final word is the show I thought was very good and you could tell these dancers put a lot of time in learning there parts, I highly recommend the show for any Cats fan.
Cindy
