What’s it all about?
Cats. Specifically the Jellicle Cats. Who are the Jellicle Cats? Jellicles are and Jellicles do. Jellicles do and Jellicles would. Jellicles would and Jellicles can… this isn’t helping is it?
For those rare few who aren’t already aware of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, I suppose we should… err… let the cat out of the bag.
The Jellicles are a tribe of cats who meet every year for a special ball where Old Deuteronomy – the wise old leader of the group – chooses one worthy feline to go to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.
Who’s in it?
Nicole Scherzinger’s Olivier Award nominated performance in the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit isn’t exactly a distant memory, so the boots for the next puss to fill were always going to be big ones.
Luckily Beverley Knight, something of a West End regular these days, stepped up to the milk plate, bringing a real sense of vulnerability and sensitivity to the role of Grizabella. As for her rendition of Memory, let’s just say we’re lucky that the London Palladium still has its roof intact.
Among the other Jellicles, Paul F Monaghan stands out as a fragile Gus, Hannah Kenna Thomas is a beautifully delicate and flexible Victoria and Mark John Richardson is suitably majestic as the ever so clever Mr Mistoffelees.
What should I look out for?
It’s often Lloyd Webber’s incredible score that you remember from this popular hit, but in this glorious revival Gillian Lynne’s beautiful balletic choreography makes you realise just how much the Dame deserved her 1981 Olivier Award for her work on the original production.
We’re pretty sure we saw the Rum Tum Tugger playing bagpipes that were shaped like a rugby ball. But, then again, we could be going crazy.
In a nutshell?
The unstoppable Beverley Knight puts her best paw forward to deliver a third dazzling West End performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless musical.
What’s being said on Twitter?
@Beverleyknight incredible performance today at #Cats at #palladium! Your voice is just amazing! Well done to all the cast as well! ❤️ it!
— andrea fernandes (@andreita_f1) October 27, 2015
Will I like it?
By now, most people will know the answer to this. For those who don’t, you need to get to the London Palladium ASAP to find out! No matter what your feelings to actually cats – allergic, hatred, worship – with Knight leading the cast there isn’t much not to like about the musical Cats.
Cats is playing at the London Palladium until 2 January. You can book tickets for the show through us. Book before 26 November and we’ll enter you into our prize draw to win an amazing trip to New York.