The first Broadway revival of Cats, which is neither wholly reimagined nor an exact replica of the original, is unlikely to turn off Cats-lovers, nor win over Cats-loathers. Those with an open mind will most appreciate it as a showcase for the energetic young cast, and what they do best – which is to dance.
As Mistoffelees, for example, 20-year-old stand-out Ricky Ubeda, season 11 winner of the TV competition So You Think You Can Dance, delivers an athletic solo turn late in Act II clearly tailor-made to his talents.
While director Trevor Nunn and set and costume designer John Napier more or less recreate their work from the original production, new lighting designer Natasha Katz adds her own touches, as does Andy Blankenbuehler, the Tony-winning choreographer of Hamilton, although the program carefully credits his work as “based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne.” Anybody who’s seen Hamilton or The Wiz Live will recognize some of Blankenbuehler’s signature moves, which enlist the ensemble in some hip rhythmic bending, but the dancing is most marked by its variety, from jazz to rock to ballet.
If T.S. Eliot’s lyrics are largely lost in the swirl, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score holds up. The acting, though, is uneven. Cast as Grizabella, pop star Leona Lewis certainly has the voice for “Memory,” but captures none of the character’s complexity – dignity mixed with pathos – that such great ladies of the theater as Elaine Page and Betty Buckley brought to the role.
Four stars
The first Broadway revival of Cats is best for showcasing its energetic young cast dancing to Hamilton choreographer’s added touches.
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