1 month ago
An wholly convincing how-to guideline successful transforming (rescuing, even) well-trod, beloved worldly (and, yes, nan philharmonic that gave america “Memory” is beloved, each spot arsenic overmuch arsenic it is mocked) into thing bracing and resplendent, Cats: The Jellicle Ball is that uncommon thing: A classical shape spot reimagined not arsenic stark and gloomy minimalism (see Daniel Fish’s Oklahoma aliases Jamie Lloyd’s Sunset Blvd.) but arsenic a big, joyous glitter bomb.
Dressing up nan “Now and Forever” Cats successful nan accoutrement of nan Harlem queer shot segment celebrated successful nan documentary Paris Is Burning and reflected successful each past sequin of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Cats: The Jellicle Ball opens astatine Broadway‘s Broadhurst Theatre tonight. Its estimation preceding heralded by an acclaimed, award-winning 2024 Off Broadway staging, Jellicle Ball is already packing nan venue, and assemblage guidance astatine nan reviewed capacity – whoops and claps and nan click-clacking of souvenir folding fans – suggests nan caller return surely fulfills nan “Now” portion of nan aged slogan, pinch “Forever” a possibility.
Production-designed to a fare-thee-well – costumes (Qween Jean), lighting (Adam Honore), sound (Kai Harada), sets (Rachel Hauck) and each nan wigs (Nikiya Mathis), make-up (Rania Zohny) and descending staircases therein – Jellicle Ball is truthful flat-out nosy it smothers each flimsy ever suffered by Lloyd Webber’s 1980s mega-musical, from snickers layered into Tony Kushner’s Angels In America and Paul Rudnick’s Jeffrey to nan travesty of that uncanny vale movie successful 2019. There’s astir apt a joke to beryllium had astir cats really having 9 lives.
The Jellicle Ball originates pinch a lone DJ (Ken Ard) connected stage, flipping done a stash of vintage LPs including Michael Jackson and, inevitably, nan original Cats formed medium pinch nan iconic yellowish eyes logo. Taking his spot successful 1 of nan Broadhurst Theatre’s container seats, DJ Griddlebone wastes nary clip pumping up nan crowd and welcoming each and sundry Jellicles to nan stage. Dressed successful gloriously vivid and eccentrically shaped costumes, these cats (only passing attempts are made to mimic existent felines, a important correction of that movie) stride individually astir nan shape earlier coming together arsenic a thrilling, pulsing whole.
As pinch nan original musical, Jellicle Ball is system mostly arsenic discreet, individual showcases, pinch each feline (or two) taking nan spotlight astatine immoderate fixed clip to show creation moves, ocular flair and, possibly astir crucially, personality. Vibe mightiness beryllium a amended word, and Jellicle Ball is loaded pinch it.
Once nan ensemble finishes up pinch nan introductory “Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats” and “The Naming of nan Cats,” nan shape is group for nan solo(ish) turns from members of nan various shot “Houses.” We’re soon successful afloat gear, pinch Rum Tum Tugger (Sydney James Harcourt), ever nan crowd pleaser, taking nan spotlight successful sexy achromatic and see-through attire to item his stone star/male stripper moves. His runway title category? “Butch Queen Realness.”
The remainder of nan acquainted names are coming and accounted for, each arriving successful wonderfully varied shapes, sizes, ethnicities, genders and intersexual orientations: Munkustrap (Dudney Joseph Jr.), Jennyanydots (Xavier Reyes), Tumblebrutus (Primo Thee Ballerino), Bustopher Jones (Nora Schell), Mungojerrie (Jonathan Burke), Rumpleteazer (Dava Huesca), nan mysterious Macavity (Leiomy) and nan conjuring Magical Mister Mistoffelees (Robert “Silk” Mason).
As always, nan showstoppers are nan showstoppers: nan entranceway of Old Deuteronomy (the incomparable André De Shields, outfitted successful purples and a glorious awesome grey mane) brings nan assemblage to its feet, and each hint of “Memory,” nan opus that conscionable mightiness beryllium Lloyd Webber’s top achievement, is astir overwhelmed pinch thunderous applause. Portrayed by “Tempress” Chasity Moore, Grizabella delivers “Memory” pinch capable powerfulness to return her spot alongside greats for illustration Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige, those aged schoolhouse Grizabellas who inhabited nan glamour feline pinch undiminished perfection.
Directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch person made judge to salary joyous, respectful homage not only to nan original philharmonic but to nan shot civilization that receives its well-deserved Broadway spotlight, from casting (trailblazing M.C. Junior LaBeija, of Paris Is Burning fame, plays nan aged theatre feline Gus) to ocular creation (at 1 point, vintage photographs of existent ballroom denizens passim nan decades are projected for each to see).
From commencement to finish, Jellicle Ball‘s thoroughly modern euphony – creation beats, hip-hop, each suitable for voguing, and nan choreography, by turns slinky and athletic, of Omari Wiles (House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons (House of Miyake-Mugler) – keeps nan show’s power level astatine a 10, ably assisted by Kai Harada’s top-notch sound creation and nan orchestrations by Lloyd Webber and David Wilson (musical supervision and euphony guidance is by William Waldrop). Somehow, each philharmonic number is wholly recognizable yet wholly caller (only “Memory” is left, wisely, mostly intact and unbothered).
If each of this seems, successful description, strained aliases on-the-nose, it isn’t. The parallel betwixt subcultures – Eliot’s fictional Jellicles, Harlem’s self-invented House denizens – is an easy match, seemingly ready-made, pinch cats and queers celebrating fierce independence, pridefulness and showmanship arsenic a hallmark of some communities. Moving nan action from alley to runway, nan title now involving trophies arsenic good arsenic an opportunity to ascend, arsenic always, to nan Heaviside Layer, is an thought that seems each but preordained.
What wasn’t preordained is conscionable really beautifully executed nan full task turns retired to be. You’d person to beryllium a existent stickler for contented to begrudge Jellicle Ball its innovations, and 1 suspects moreover nan stickliest will find joyousness successful nan tunes and communicative that stay successful this show’s DNA. It’s each still here, fueling yet different life, acquainted arsenic an aged tabby yet caller arsenic a kitten.
Title: Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Venue: Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre
Directors: Zhailon Levingston, Bill Rauch
Book & Lyrics: Based On Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats By T.S. Eliot
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cast: André De Shields, Ken Ard, Kya Azeen, Bryson Battle, Sherrod T. Brown, Jonathan Burke, Baby Byrne, Tara Lashan Clinkscales, Bryce Farris, Sydney James Harcourt, Dava Huesca, Dudney Joseph, Jr., Junior LaBeija, Leiomy, Robert “Silk” Mason, “Tempress” Chasity Moore, Primo Thee Ballerino, Xavier Reyes, Nora Schell, Bebe Nicole Simpson, Emma Sofia, Phumzile Sojola, Kendall Grayson Stroud, B Noel Thomas, Kalyn West, Donté Nadir Wilder, Garnet Williams, Teddy Wilson Jr.
Running time: 2 hr 25 min (including intermission)
