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Our story starts Saturday November 20, 1999
We arrived in NYC early so we went to the box office at the Winter Garden Theatre and purchased our tickets for the January 30, 2000 show. At 1:00 PM we returned to the WGT and met up with Keith Wilson (Macavity) at the stage door, to purchase some Jellicle Balls (ornaments). While waiting for Keith to return with the Jellicle Balls we met Stephen (Tugger) and he asked if we would be at the show we said no, but we would be at Sundays show. We also met Patrick (Tumblebrutus), he was in a little bit of a hurry so he just said hi guy and left. We met a few others but we can't remember all of them.
We started to get worried cause Keith was taking a long time, but when he finally came out the door and handed Cindy the box she was so surprised to see that Keith had gotten all the cast (that were there) to autograph the box. Awwwww, Cindy felt so special. Keith than said that Celina (Demeter) wanted to meet Cindy, Cindy thought WOW, Celina wants to met me. So he took us in the stage door. When we saw Celina, she gave Cindy a big hug. We all talked awhile and than Celina had to go finish putting on her makeup. Before we left Kyra asked them if Jacob (Mistoffelees) was going to be in Sundays show, they said yes and that he was also going to be in today's show.
Sunday November 21 1999 3:00 PM
We met Cat Morgan and NYtiger in the back of the theatre by the stage door before the show. While waiting Keith (Macavity) came up and talked to us a while before he had to go get ready for the show. We stayed till Jacob arrived, about a half an hour before the show. Than we all went around to the front entrance of the theatre. Kyra and I had front row seats row AA seats 2 & 4, Tugger territory. Mom who was also with us had the seat directly behind us in row A. We were happy to see that Roger Kachel (Mungojerrie) was back in the show, he had been out for awhile with an injury. Christopher Gattelli (Pouncival) was out today, his role was being played by Billy Sprague Jr, Silvia Arij (Tantomile) was also out and her role was being played by Angel Caban, and Sharon Wheatly (Jennyanydots) was out her role was being played by Jeanne Montano.
The level of energy of the cast was really high today and it just flowed over into the audience. Mistoffelees (Jacob Brent) must have had a really good mic on today because we could hear his voice very clearly. After the show Mom remarked how beautiful of a voice that Jacob has. On the Jellicle Song as each cat sings their lines we looked up and saw Rum Tum Tugger (Stephen Bienskie) looking at us, when he saw us looking at him he smiled and than hissed.
The Naming of Cats: We had Tumblebrutus (Patrick Mullaney) and Cassandra (Lynne Calamia) in front of us. The Old Gumbie Cat: At the end of this song as the bugs are leaving the stage, Misto (Jacob) looked over at Kyra, held up his knife and pointed it at her with his mouth open in surprise with a smile on his face. After the Gumbie Cat song the cats all leave the stage to take off their costumes and all slowly come back but Mistoffelees. He doesn't come back till the end of the song just before Grizabella's entrance.
During the Rum Tum Tugger song, Tugger had a hard time getting someone to dance with him. If we would have had seats in row K we would have considered it a honor to dance with him. So if any of you ever sit in row K, and he chooses you, dance with that cool cat it's lots of fun.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer song, nothing new to report here, we were just happy to see Roger Kachel back as Mungojerrie he always makes us laugh.
During the Awefull Battle Of The Pekes and The Pollicles, Kyra got some cute cat interaction here. During the part where Skimbleshanks and Mistoffelees go and drop off their hats and booties in the audience in between rows J & K, Skimbleshanks comes back and lays on the ramp right away. But Mistoffelees hung back for awhile, when Kyra noticed this she turned to see where he was and when she did he was right up in her face. It scared the living day lights out of her. We all laughed, Misto (Jacob) just smiled and went and laid on the ramp next to skimble. While laying on the ramp Misto lifted his leg and his tail fell down on Kyra's shoe. You know, I think he did it on purpose. I told kyra to pull on it but she wouldn't, so I kicked it and than Kyra kicked it, and we laughed. than Misto turned and smiled, grabbed he tail and pulled it up onto the other side of his body. Oh, and that Irish accent of Munkustrap's, just kills us everytime, it's so funny.
The Jellicle Ball: Nothing to much here except at the end of the Jellicle Ball when all the cats ran and slide to the front of the stage on the floor, Misto came so fast towards us we thought that he was going to come flying off the stage and into our laps. Cindy started to put her arms out to catch him but he stopped just in time on the edge of the stage.
Intermission: During this time you can go up on the stage and look around. Today they had Demeter (Celina Carvajal) and and Joel Briel (cats chorus and stand-in for Old Deuteronomy) selling CATS calendar's and posters, they sold out of the Jellicle Balls (boy am I glad I got mine the day before). Kyra went up to buy a poster that the cast all signed and I went and looked around. While I was looking Celina (Demeter) saw me and called my name, I went over to her and talked awhile and she told me when her Birthday was. I think I'll plan a little Birthday surprise for her. They announced that the show would start in 3 minutes so I told Celina I'd see her after the show.
As the cats come back on stage one by one they all find a place and sit or lay down, Tumblebrutus and Mistoffelees decided they were going to fool around. When Munkustrap (Jeffry Denman) saw them he went up and broke them up, and than Misto tried to get away but Munkustrap kept getting in his way blocking him from getting to the front of the stage. Misto finally gave up and backed up and sat down with this innocent look on his face, how cute.
During Gus The Theatre Cat, when Jellylorum went to rub her head against Gus, her mic crackled. It startled everyone except the cast, I guess their used to that kind of stuff happening. During Growltigers last Stand when the crew is sent down below deck, as their leaving Misto spins the ships wheel several times than go below deck. Munkustrap did something really silly here but we can't remember.
In the Macavity song the new Alonzo (Lenny Daniel) was doing the fight scene with Macavity (Keith Edward Wilson) when at one point of the fight, Alonzo smacked his foot up against a stage prop, it sounded really loud we hope he's okay. Other than that the song went on as usual.
Mr Mistoffelees song was all great as usual, Jacob always is just so perfect. Mom really loved it she was in awww of his performance, she said he is amazing. During every show they have to sew more beads on to Misto costume because during his dance some of them going flying off. We were hoping to get some of those beads off his costume but the ones that flew off didn't come our way, they mostly flew in the opposite direction (darn, maybe next time).
As Grizabella was going to The Heaviside Layer a woman in back of NYtiger took a picture of her. At the end of the show the audience went crazy as the cast encourages the audience to sing along while taking their last bow.
After the show we all met out side by the stage door. We talked to Celina when she came out. We all remarked about the cute hat she had on. Than she told us David Spangenthal (Standin for Munkustrap, Tugger, Alonzo, Plato/Macavity/Rumpuscat, Skimbleshanks) had made the hat for her ( Not only can David dance but he can sew, LOL). Than Patrick Mullaney (Tumblebrutus) came out and Cindy gave him a picture that she took of him and Jean Arbeiter (Jellylourm/Giddlebone), he loved it and gave Cindy a hug and a kiss. Than Jacob Brent (Mistoffelees) came out and we all said Hi. Kyra got another autograph from him and he kidded with Cindy about taking a picture at the end of the show. Cindy said, No way I would never do that to you guys. We all laughed and than we noticed he looked tired so we all said good night and he left. We got other cast members autograph, and than Cat Morgan gave us a little history of the show and the previous cast that have performed in CATS over the year. It was late so we all said goodbye and we promised to met again in January.
The Cast: in amphibolical order
Thanks You to the cast and we'll see you again December 19, 1999 for Jacob Brent's last performance. *sniff* *sniff* We'll miss him dearly.
