response 1 of 20:

Oct 31 16:07 UTC 2001

CATS has closed.  If you want to see MAMA MIA, its playing across the
street on broadway though

response 3 of 20:

Oct 31 17:59 UTC 2001

I never saw CATS. I kind of wanted to just to see what all the fuss was 
but everytime I was in New York, there was something else I wanted to 
see and everytime the show came to Detroit, I either didnt have the 
money for tickets or I had something else to do. 

I really would like to see Momma Mia and The Producers. I am thinking 
about saving some money up and taking a long weekend to New York in Feb 
or March. 

response 5 of 20:

Oct 31 20:12 UTC 2001

Slynne:

If you can, try to get the commemorative edition video. It not only has the
musical itself, but a bonus video about the filming of the video, which also
has some interviews with some of the actors/actresses who helped make the
video.

Among the people interviewed were Michael Gruber (Munkustrap) and Ken Page
(Old Deuteronomy). If I remember correctly, John Partridge (the video RUm Tum
Tugger) is reprising that role in the London production. Also, Jacob Brent
(the video Mistoffelees) is also reprising his role in the London production.

Also, if you can, try to go to the Musicals.Net CATS forum. I post there as
Dayus X Makina.

Macavity's Brother

response 7 of 20:

Nov 1 00:49 UTC 2001

CATS is OK.  But I prefer the original book.

response 9 of 20:

Nov 1 02:06 UTC 2001

I taped it when it was on PBS as a fund raiser special.  The kids almost wore
the tape out before we replaced it with a purchased copy.  That one is
beginning to show signs of wear as well.  I think they can both repeat the
whole thing, line-for-line and song-for-song.

response 11 of 20:

Nov 1 23:36 UTC 2001

Peter, what you really want is a copy autographed by T.S. Eliot.

Patti LuPone, who had a falling out with Lloyd Webber but still sings 
Sondheim, was recently quoted as saying that the difference between 
them is that one is a genius and the other one just wants to be.

response 13 of 20:

Nov 2 12:38 UTC 2001

We've taken our kids to see CATS a few times, three times in Detroit 
and once on Broadway in 1999.  I know all of Eliot's poetry, some of it 
by heart, and I don't like any of it much, including Old Pussum's Book 
of Practical Cats.  So I didn't expect to like CATS, and was pleasantly 
surprised at how enjoyable it was.  It's really a kids' show.  The 
coyly pseudomystical "Round the cathedral rang 'Vivat!'" nonsense is 
the least effective part.  It probably goes unnoticed by most people, 
which is good.  The ingenious song-and-dance numbers, the scary 
business with Macavity and Old Deuteronomy, and the message of love and 
acceptance at the end (personified by the incredibly sweet-faced dancer 
who plays Victoria -- the pure white cat who finally touches Grizabella 
and thus identifies her as the "Jellicle Choice" -- in the 
commemorative DVD, which we bought) are all perfect for children.  

response 15 of 20:

Nov 2 16:40 UTC 2001

        Try looking for "Memory" as done by Big Daddy in an 
on-line music search, it is a rather unique version.
(Big Daddy is the band of 1959).

response 17 of 20:

Nov 3 05:05 UTC 2001

Big Daddy did "Memory"?  Wow.

Their version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is my favorite 50s rock 
song AND one of my favorite 80s rock songs.

response 19 of 20:

Nov 20 15:45 UTC 2001

CATS is my favorite *musical* ever.  The story is so-so, but I enjoy the music
as a whole body better than anything else.

Best humor-related tangent:  On an old episode of SNL, with Dennis Miller
doing the news, they mentioned that since the "tomato industry" had finally
standardized on Ketchup as the only acceptable product name (i.e. Catsup was
"out"), the musical was renamed to KETCH.  :-)