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Cats
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Directed & Choreographed by Stacey Flaster
At the Theatre at the Center
1940 Ridge Road
Munster, IN
Call 219-836-3255, tickets $36 – 439
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 2 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 8 pm
Occasional Friday & Saturday matinees
and evenings on Thursdays & Sundays
Running time is 2 hours with intermission
Through August 19, 2007
Cats dances and sings in a most compelling production
I must confess that I love the show Cats, not the animals. So when a new production of one of my beloved show is mounted, I’m weary. To my delight, the talented young director/choreographer Stacey Flaster has mounted a reenergized and fresh production of Cats. This show has a clarity that allows the T.S. Eliot poems come to life through excellent singing and fresh dance routines that give each cat a distinct personality and the show a friendly atmosphere. Flaster’s staging allows for the cats to roam through the audience to the delight of all. Her choreography included the Cats’ stock styles with additions that allowed individual dancers as well as groups of boy cats and girl cats to underscore and add depth to a given song. This is a wonderfully designed and danced Cats. Stacey Flaster has emerged as a first-class choreographer and her Cats is a major work. 
The cast of young rubber-legged dancers offer terrific in character movements with outstanding acting and singing to give this production a warm connection from the Cats to the audience. From the enticing opening number introducing us to the world of Jellicle cats (here set in an old abandoned theatre in Jack Magaw’s smart set and Tim Fandrei’s terrific lighting), we relate to the feline’s personalities. This concept musical’s storyline is set at the Jellicle Ball where patriarch Old Deuteronomy (sung marvelously by Larry Adams) will select a cat to be reborn in the Heavenside Layer. We meet the candidates as each vie for favor. Stacey Flaster, in order to unify the show, has the cats sneer and snicker at old Grizabella who was once apart of the group but now an outcast. This worked as we realize that she is trapped in her memories. Katherine Condit belted Grizabella’ song “Memories” into one of the show’s finest moments.
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Featuring a varied score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Valerie Maze’s orchestra sounded outstanding as the horns soared. Cats is a musical treat and a terrific dance piece. Stacey Flaster’s ensemble exuded warmth, charm and personality to quickly entice us. Such energy, nimble dancing and enjoyable singing make this production of Cats a real treat. Cats is one of the finest shows I’ve seen at the Theatre at the Center. Come and rediscover Cats. This production has an intimacy and electricity that will impress you.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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