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Holly
Collis Handford |
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When & Where July 5 to August 23, 2024; evenings at 8pm (fireworks nights at 7pm) | Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park Director Ashley Wright Choreography Julie Murphy Music Director Sean Bayntun Music Directing Fellow Monica Sumulong Dumas Production Manager Richard Berg Technical Director Blake Kriedemann Set Design Jennifer Stewart Costume Design Donnie Tejani Lighting Design John Webber Sound Design Brad Danyluk Stage Manager Philomena Sondergaard Dance Captain Haley Allen Reviewer Christian Steckler |
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Kudos to Theatre Under the Stars for showcasing the depth of the talent pool available locally in musical theatre by presenting CATS this year, with a large cast of sparkling performers. And kudos, too, for bringing so many of the performers on board for their debut performances with TUTS as an added spring to their careers! The excellence that is customarily associated with TUTS performances is certainly present in this show. Down to every detail, magic happens on the stage. The sets are fitting - depressing urban downtown alley, replete with dumpsters, boxes, and various debris. Light and sound focus attention without missing out on the vibrant antics of the ensemble and the live orchestra…well, just the cherry of perfection on the cake. It’s the cats, though, that tell the story (or their stories) for the audience, and here, director Ashley Wright is to be congratulated for filling the stage with life throughout the evening. There’s never a spot left empty or still. Always, everywhere, there is movement, slinking, stretching, curling, running, lounging, and, of course, dancing! Julie Murphy and Haley Allen deserve high praise for the breath-taking dancing talent that brings cheers from the audience time and again. The ensemble dances are wonderfully synchronized, and the smaller groups, duets, and showcased solos are delightful - all with grace, athleticism, acrobatics, and turns of body that are really impressive. Colton Bamber as Rum Tum Tugger is an astonishing performer, an excellent singer and talented dancer, in his role as the rough-and-ready helper and guardian of his peers.Hailey Fowler’s wonderful stage presence and vocal talent high-light Jennyanydots’ direction of the dance with the bugs, and the mousey mischief that comes with it. Isaac Aaron Johnson showcases his excellent vocal talent as a fat Bustopher Jones, and as Gus, the Theatre Cat who “used to be” all kinds of wonderful things. Jenna Lamb as Rumpleteazer and Haley Allen as Mungojerrie delight the audience with their duet about the mischief they get into. Holly Collis Handford as Skimbleshanks showcases her lovely soprano voice when we learn about her adventures as a train cat. October Penningroth as Mr. Mistoffelees, the magic cat, shows both impressive dancing skill and some magic dexterity, when he is introduced by Rum Tum Tugger. Jaren Guerreiro as Macavity, the mystery cat who is never there (a slick cat) labelled “the Napoleon of crime” by the others, is a real dancing talent, showing remarkable athletic and acrobatic skill. Sarah Lane is truly moving as Grizabella, an old cat with a questionable past, shunned by the others, misunderstood and under-appreciated by all except, of course, Old Deuteronomy, played touchingly by Janet Gigliotti, who hears Grizabella’s superbly performed lament in “Memory”. Then, there are all the other cats, all fabulous singers and dancers, all such great performers. What a wonderful future awaits audiences with such an abundance of talent around! CATS is a musical theatre chestnut, famous on Broadway, in London, and around the world. This production is special for this reviewer for its exposition of such a large cohort of deeply gifted artists, boding well for the depth of impressive talent in our country, and the stature of Canadian theatre. © 2024 Christian Steckler |
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