The 1981 musical based on T.S. Eliot's 1939 book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" has experienced a recent resurgence due to the release of the 2019 movie adaptation. However, this newfound attention has resulted in lots of negative feedback from the general public. I have read hundreds of reviews of the new movie that states that it is nothing more than a "bad acid trip". These reviews are mostly coming from those who are not familiar with the musical.
I am a self-proclaimed theatre kid who is an avid "Cats" fan. I was in a production of the musical as a backstage singer, I've seen the musical performed live, and the original Broadway cast album is on nearly every single one of my Spotify playlists. I've recently seen lots of people publicly trashing this beloved musical and I wanted to share why I personally love the musical "Cats".
1. The music is a BOP!
GiphyAndrew Lloyd Webber is notorious for writing musicals that are incredibly catchy and get stuck in your head for days on end and "Cats" is no exception. Every song will leave you tapping your toes or singing along. My personal favorites include "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats", "Macavity the Mystery Cat", and "Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat".
2. The dancing is phenomenal!
Whether I am watching "Cats" performed live or a recording, I am always in complete awe of the strength and athleticism demonstrated by the cast. I am by no means a dancer and could not possibly fathom being able to move the ways actors in the musical are able to. "Cats" is an incredibly dance heavy musical and requires a cast composed of very strong dancers and movers.
3. The plot is great.
For years many people have argued that "Cats" is a pointless musical because it doesn't have a real plot and doesn't make any sense. However, there is most certainly a plot it just is not blatantly pointed out to you. The musical focuses on the Jellicle cats coming together for the annual Jellicle Ball in which they make the Jellicle Choice and decide which cat will ascend to the Heavyside Layer and be reborn into their next life. The musical also contains themes of love and acceptance.
4. The musical is unique.
"Cats" is unlike any musical out there. Where else could you see a large cast dressed in cat suits and legwarmers pretending to be cats and dancing their butts off.
5. The Acting is incredible.
Actors in "Cats" must take on the daunting task of transforming themselves into a cat. This transformation goes beyond just makeup, wigs, and costumes. Actors must take on the physical behaviors of a cat. Actors in cats can often be seen crawling around on all fours, nuzzling other cats, grooming themselves, and exhibiting other common feline behaviors.
