Cats

What do you do when there are no words to describe what you’ve  witnessed, when it’s your job to find the words? No review that I could write would be able to fully do justice to the spectacle that was RTSA’s latest production, Cats. 
The show was nothing short of perfection and could transfer to the west end stage tomorrow.
Before the show had even started, audience members were treated to members of the cast jumping from seat to eat and sitting on railings. This set the scene for what was to be a brilliant evening of pure entertainment. 
Each performer on stage was brilliant, it was obvious that the director had made them study our feline friends and it showed. Every head movement, every ‘paw’ gesture was spot on. I must mention the incredible costumes, wigs and make up. Kath Wall and Pat Bunting had done a sterling job on this show. Every cat looked completely different with a different costume and a different face design for every performer. Not easy when you have a cast of 45!
The cat that everyone talks about is of course, Grizabella. Grizabella sings the shows most famous song, Memory, and in this role we had the wonderful Gracie Malloy. Gracie managed to capture the emotion of Grizabella’s story with every movement she did on stage, and her rendition of Memory was breathtaking. 
Millie Ducker and Josh Webster were brilliant and very entertaining in the roles of the mischievous Mungo Jerry and Rumpletezer. Their acrobatics brought the house down and never once lost the tune during their number (I also want to try the cartwheel move, however I don’t think it will be very successful) 
Now where would a show about Cats be without a tomcat? Rum Tum Tugger was played to absolute perfection by the very talented Sam Simmons. Sam was every inch the tomcat we have come to love, with his rock star voice and thrusting pelvis the audience absolutely loved him. An exceptional individual performance. 
I was brought to tears during the evening  by the beautiful performance from brother and sister, Jack and Daisy Lockley. Jack and Daisy played Gus & Jellylorum respectively and their number ‘Gus the Theatre Cat’ was performed with such love,  emotion and tenderness that it melted my heart. 
However, the stand out performance for me was Ciara Stothard as Demeter. I have seen Ciara perform many times, but this performance has to be her best to date. She was so captivating that I couldn’t take my eyes of her during the entire performance. Ciara dances with every part of her body and her facial expressions are first class. Her song in Act 2, Macavity - the mystery cat, where she is joined by Amelia Depledge as Bombalurina, was the highlight of the show for me. 
None of the above would be possible, without the exceptional talents of the production team. Dee Bennie-Marshall and Matthew Symonds, step forward and bow, bow and bow again. This show is your best yet. How lucky we are in Rotherham to have talent like your’s to bring incredible shows to our theatres. 
My only negative comment would be is that I don’t have a ticket to watch again. Well done RTSA, here’s to Little Shop of Horrors. 
 

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