Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

  Lennox Tan Cats Stunning On The Outside Have you ever had a ridiculously catchy song stuck in your head? As a visually appealing masterpiece, Cats , directed by Trevor Nunn, opened on Broadway on October 7, 1982 as a majorly successful musical. With another look, the musical may have been too much of a musical. The seemingly simple plot of cats proving themselves in wishing to be reborn is met with minimum dialogue and more song, which resulted in a slightly confusing plotline. Nonetheless, I cannot ignore the absolutely stunning performances, and the wonderful choreography and lighting completely engulfs the stage with impressive execution. Most notably, Tayler Harris, who plays Grizabella, a character that lived in worsened conditions when related to the other cats, stands out in showing the mix of emotions in her vocals. Bits and pieces of the song, “Memory”, is sprawn out across the musical, and while some high notes were difficult to capture, the song is finally brought toge...

  Thomas Stoeckig CATS CATS is a classic, a cultural touchstone of the 1980s. My parents, who were both adults in the early 80s, tell me all about how much of a splash it made in popular culture, with their coworkers all talking around the water cooler on Monday mornings about what a masterpiece it was around the water cooler on Monday mornings. Now, after seeing a play very similar to the one they saw 40 years ago, the show on Tuesday, October 25th at the Orpheum, I must say that I can understand why it was so popular. The question that I was left with when I was driving home afterward, however, was why a play so similar to its 1982 incarnation was playing in 2022.  In terms of performances, all were satisfactory. The vocal talents of Cameron Schutza as Old Deuteronomy blew me away, and I got a huge kick out of the audience interaction of Hank Santos as Rum Tum Tugger. The choreography was incredible, as well as incredibly well executed by the cast, who sold me that they wer...