PUURFECT CATS

image source: www.catsthemusical.com

Last month I went with my mum to see CATS the amazing show based on T.S Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" the tickets were a gift and I am not sure we would have gone otherwise which would have been a total loss. I used to go to musicals a lot during high school because I was studying drama and that was part of our course (a perk of our course actually!) - any kind of stage production was a total dream to me and I enjoyed every single one I went to, particularly "The Man from Muckinupin" which coincidentally (or not) was a production we actually performed at school in my final year and of which I had a major role. 

The Tickets!

We were lucky to have the seats we had as we had an incredible view of the stage, which was dressed with a set that was absolutely purfect and was designed in such a way that it consistently surprised us throughout the show with new additions or amazing stage entrances! Whoever did the set design really did an amazing job and it added tenfold to the performance itself. The musical was held at a common place for stage performances and productions - Burswood Theatre at the Crown Casino. I have gone to many shows at this location and have enjoyed them all, but none surprisingly as much as this one. I had no idea what I was in for, so seeing the stage dressed the way it was was meant nothing to me and I was excited from the get-go. 

Terrible quality photo, but our seats were great & the set design was incredible.

The set is a larger-than-life junkyard that the cats all come to play at. The cats are actually Jellicle Cats and they all come out to play at a particular time of the year for something that is known as the "Jellicle Ball" - different cats have different stories and each story is crazier than the next, with singing (musical score by Andrew Lloyd Webber) and absolutely awe-striking costumes and dancing their voices ring out and make music in your ears while their beautiful, catty costumes really enhance the performance. Each cat performs for their leader, the wise Old Deuteronomy and there is some hilarious wit and jokes throughout the entire performance. 

Image source: www.catsthemusical.com 

 Delta Goodrem had been confirmed to play the Australian shows, however it was not Goordrem who played the role of Grizabella in Perth, it was in fact Delia Hannah and she was absolutely amazing. I had thought I would have preferred Goodrem purely because I enjoy her music and voice outside of musicals, but I was pleasantly surprised at the way Hannah portrayed Grizabella and sang her heart out. Hannah's performance of Memory was the only part of the entire production which I was expecting as I had heard about it many times, and even knew the song prior to the show, however her performance was above my expectations and really swept me away with the intensity and rawness of the entire song, it really left me quite emotional.

While all the cats and performances were incredible, including that of Grizabella it was none other than Mr Mistoffelees, played by Christoper Favaloro, who took my heart and impressed me the most. Mr Mistoffelees performed a magical conjuring act, he is an illusionist cat who dazzles the rest of the Jellicle Cats and absolutely enchanted me with his surreal tricks. I was awe-struck watching him dance, with absolutely insane choreography, and Favaloro made it look so easy! When I left the show I was in love with Mr Mistofelees and his song was stuck in my head for days afterwards. There was never a cat so clever as Magiacl Mr Mistoffelees!

Image source: www.catsthemusical.com

If you hadn't seen the show, I feel sorry for you, because it was incredible and if you still have the chance to see it, I highly, highly recommend it. I give it 4/5 stars!

Now, I leave you with Goodrem's performance of Memory, the most iconic of all songs.