Cats at DPAC Features Nonstop Hyper-Speed
Dance Moves and Full-Throated Singing

The U.S. Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats will play DPAC on Jan. 31-Feb. 5 (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Last night, at the Durham Performing Arts Center, was the first time seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats for both 70-year-old Kurt and soon-to-be-seven-year-old Carra; and (based on our reaction), I think it would be safe to say that this outstanding show, directed by Trevor Nunn, "is a delight for people of all ages." I can't imagine it being done any better!

Loosely based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a 1939 poetry collection by T.S. Eliot, Cats tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make the "Jellicle choice" by deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer (a heaven for cats) and come back to a new life.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats starred Aiden Pressel as Macavity the "Napoleon of Crime" (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

The entire performance is "presided over" by a full moon in a faintly cloud-streaked sky that undergoes some (mostly subtle, but less so when appropriate) changes in color. When the houselights go down, sit back and prepare yourself for an in-the-dark light show in which, you will soon agree, "the eyes have it."

Watch for an effect that might remind you of a Close Encounters of the Third Kind-style of UFO lifting off, and then buckle your seatbelt for nonstop hyper-speed dance moves and full-throated singing.

Indalecio De Jesús Valentin starred as Old Deuteronomy in the U.S. Tour of Cats (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

By the way: If you find yourself "waiting for the other shoe to drop" (and you'll understand ...) forget about it -- it never does. But do stick around for another "UFO," which will be even more spectacular than the first.

Andy Blankenbuehler's choreography (based on the original by Gillian Lynne) is sensational, and each dancer's execution measures up. The moves, the timing, the synchronization -- every aspect is mind-boggling. There are always smooth transitions into and out of each of the principal performers' showcase moves -- they never disturb the flow.

Tayler Harris stars as Grizabella the former Glamor Cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Music director/conductor Jonathan Gorst's live orchestra is superb as backdrop for the mostly upbeat and lively (but sometimes hauntingly beautiful) songs. And every song -- solos as well as company -- couldn't be performed better. Especially touching is Tayler Harris' rendition of Grizabella's "Memory."

Scenic and costume designer John Napier delivers in spades on both counts, Lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Mick Potter both pull out all stops.

Sam Anker Bow stars as Bustopher Jones in the U.S. Tour of Cats at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

From the Department of Picky-Picky (suggestions to potential audience members):

1. Make sure every member of your party is prepared for a sung-through musical -- there are no "pauses" for talking. (During the opening dance sequence, before she "got the hang of it," Carra whispered to me "When are they going to finish this sang-and-dance?" And her first comment after the show was, "That was great, but I wish there had been more drama.")
2. Read a little about the show before attending. (Wikipedia is good enough.)
3. Read a little about (and maybe indulge yourself by perusing a bit of) T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats -- you will be glad you did.

Once again, Wikipedia will do, but you might want to check this link: https://poets.org/book/old-possums-book-practical-cats. And "literature nerds" will appreciate this one: https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/an-introduction-to-old-possums-book-of-practical-cats.

Cats starred Lauren Lewis and Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as Demeter and Bombalurina (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1-5), based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939) by T.S. Eliot, directed by Trevor Nunn, choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, presented as part of WRAL Greatest Hits of Broadway at DPAC, and starring Yuka Notsuka as Victoria, Brian Craig Nelson as Mungojerrie, Allyson Duarte as Jellylorum, Sam Fossum as Alonzo, Wilson Livingston as Coricopat, Tayler Harris as Grizabella the former Glamour Cat, Ibn Snell as Mr. Mistoffelees, Sam Anker Bow as Bustopher Jones the Cat About Town/Gus the Theatre Cat who plays Growltiger/Peter, Kade Wright as Munkustrap, Taryn Smithson as Rumpleteazer, Sam Buchanan as Plato/ Macavity the "Napoleon of Crime," Hank Santos as Bill Bailey/ Rum Tum Tugger, Cameron Schutza as Victor/Old Deuteronomy, Brendan Moran as Tumblebrutus, Michelle E. Carter as Jennyanydots, Erica Lee Cianciulli as Bombalurina, Lexy Bittner as Cassandra, John Zamborsky as Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat, Nora DeGreen as Demeter, Reagan Davidson as Tantomile, Sam Bello as Sillabub, and Dominic Fortunato as Pouncival, plus a Cats Chorus, including Rachael Haber, and Swings, including dance captains Gracie Anderson and Kieran Macdonald, Megan Arseneau, Luke Bernier, Ellie Chancellor, Max Craven, Melissa Paull Gorst, Clara Havia, José Raúl Mangual, and Tony Mowatt (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/catsmusical. WRAL GREATEST HITS OF BROADWAY AT DPAC: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/category/broadway. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://twitter.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/DPACLive. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. DPAC COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/vaccination-and-covid-19-test-requirements. THE TOUR: https://ustour.catsthemusical.com/, https://www.facebook.com/CatstheMusical/, https://www.instagram.com/catsthemusical/, https://twitter.com/catsthemusical, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical), and https://www.youtube.com/user/catsmusical. CATS (1981 West End and 1982 Broadway Musical): https://www.catsthemusical.com/, https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/shows/cats/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/cats-2449, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cats, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical). ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/andrew-lloyd-webber-12073, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515908/, https://www.biography.com/musician/andrew-lloyd-webber, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Baron-Lloyd-Webber-of-Sydmonton, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber. TICKETS: $29.50 and up, plus taxes and ticket fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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