CATS Perth review: 40th anniversary Australian tour at Crown Theatre continues to enthral generations of fans

The 40th anniversary Australian tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS is letting the musical’s memory live again in a pretty purr-fect production. The season at Crown Theatre Perth invites audiences to immerse themselves in this junkyard-set mystical world of ‘cattitude’ that first captivated theatregoers in 1981 with its timeless musical score, notoriously demanding choreography and breathtaking blend of set, lighting, makeup and costume design. It is a truly remarkable creative formula that has not only survived but thrived in the evolving musical theatre scene, as it continues to enthral generations of fans. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS ran for a record-breaking 21 years when it opened at Covent Garden’s New London Theatre, since renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2018 to honour the musical’s famed choreographer, instrumental to the show’s feline-fuelled success. Winner of Olivier and Tony Awards, the Trevor Nunn-directed musical has since been staged in more than 50 countries and has been translated into 23 languages. This new tour opened in June at Theatre Royal Sydney on the same stage Webber’s iconic production made its Australian premiere in July 1985, launching the era of presenting large-scale British mega-musicals in this country, many by the same renowned composer. Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats poetry collection, the production shares the story of the Jellicle cat tribe who meet one night of the year at the Jellicle Ball, where they wait for elder Old Deuteronomy to choose one cat to be reborn into a new Jellicle life. Before that happens, a cavalcade of cat characters is introduced to the audience in a series of entertaining vignettes, the stage filled with bright-eyed and bushy-tailed triple threat performers whose agility and vocal prowess shines as these magical musical moggies. The Jellicle Ball choreography is an awe-inspiring physical feat of synchronicity, athleticism and stamina, with cat-like complexity and delivered with tremendous precision. While CATS is regarded as a full ensemble production, the goosebump-inducing heights Gabriyel Thomas hits in her performance as Grizabella — the former glamour cat ostracised by the others — during the musical’s iconic song Memory is the ultimate showstopper. Musical stalwart Todd McKenney expertly plays the dual roles of Bustopher Jones and Asparagus the Theatre Cat, teaming up on stage with WA Academy of Performing Arts alumna Lucy Maunder as the delightfully caring Jellylorum. Fellow WAAPA graduate Jarrod Draper as Munkustrap is the ever-adept narrator as he guides the audience through the show, while Des Flanagan’s rebellious Rum Tum Tugger demands the spotlight with his rock-star swagger. Powerful tenor Mark Vincent is back where he belongs on the musical theatre stage as wise tribe patriarch Old Deuteronomy, bringing a calming yet commanding presence to the show. Felines and friends, raise your paws for applause because Jellicles can and Jellicles do really deliver a live production of pure escapism and polished performances. 4 stars CATS is at Crown Theatre Perth until December 6.