REVIEW Felines own the stage, audience in 'Cats'

In costume and demeanor, the actors become the cats.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Real felines supposedly blessed with nine lives inspired the musical, "CATS," which enjoyed record-breaking runs in London and Broadway. And the touring company is purring away on the road.
The troupe from Cat's-Eye LLC played to a full house Monday night at Edward W. Powers Auditorium, and it was easy to see why "Cats" won seven Tony Awards in 1983 including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.
The musical, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by poet and critic T.S. Eliot. The "Cats" program noted that some lyrics, specifically Grizabella's tale, were found among Eliot's unpublished writings.
The Jellicle Cats gather at the annual Jellicle Ball in the junkyard, where one will be chosen as the "reborn cat of the year." The old Deuteronomy Cat will pick the lucky feline, and among those clawing for the prize are Gus, Jennyanydots, Rum Tum Tugger, Growltiger, Grizabella, Macavity, Mistoffelees and Skimbleshanks.
In character
The cats, dressed in colors ranging from white to black, along with calicos, tuxedoes, tabbies and tigers and even Siamese, pawed their way to an exciting performance.
Makeup changed human features to catlike -- complete with whiskers and tails. Though many actors wore sleek latex outfits, others, such as Deuteronomy, wore full-length fur outfits.
The incredible costumes sometimes became one with the backdrop and lighting, just as real cats blend into the shadows.
The cats lounged, lunged and lurked among the junkyard setting of stacked tires and old cars. Razzle-dazzle came from smoke and dramatic lighting effects and the actors spiced up the show with their acrobatic dance moves.
But it's the music that takes the audience to humorous, dramatic, sentimental and sad points as the story unfolds. The rousing prologue of "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" bursts with enthusiasm in the words and dance moves.
And the cats stalk, slide, slink on the stage as they teach the audience about how they're named and how they should be addressed.
"The Old Gumbie Cat" is a light-hearted romp featuring Jennyanydots played by Suzanne Dressler, the cat who likes to sit by the hearth. But the Gumbie Cat got into the swing, shaking her fringed fur, and tapped to the tune with the troupe. Martin C. Hurt as Old Deuteronomy regaled the audience with his fine voice as he shone in the spotlight.
"Gus: The Theater Cat," who contended he once knew "70 speeches by heart," fit the bill as a lead or character cat. Steven C. Rich offered a compelling performance as the old and palsy-stricken cat whose voice faltered then rallied to the strong voice of his youth.
The curious cat, the mystery cat and the railroad cat all got their turns in the musical limelight.
The audience probably was most familiar with the song "Memory." It was sung by Anne Brummel as Grizabella, whose powerful and poignant voice will be a wonderful memory from this "Cats" performance.