Review: Cats The Musical at Marina Bay Sands

Cats the Musical has been staged three or four times in Singapore since it landed on our shores in the early 1990s.  It was the first long run musical playing in Singapore, held at the Kallang Theatre.  The show last played in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Theatres in 2015.

It would be my third time watching the musical.  For some reasons, I did not enjoy my first encounter of Cats in London West End.  This could be because I prefer musicals with a strong storyline.  I did have a change of opinion when I saw it again in 2015 at the MBS Theatre in 2015, due to a good cast and staging. (Review of 2015 Cats The Musical)

Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical took place in a junkyard where on one special night of the year, the Jellicle Cats would tell their stories to the wise Old Deuteronomy, who would then choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn.

The problem with, or uniqueness of, Cats the Musical is that it does not have a strong narrative.  It is made up of different segments of tales related by the Jellicle cats. It is thus left to the director and cast to deliver each individual segment.  Fortunately, the cast did not disappoint.   Joanna Ampil’s Grizabella had both the emotions and the voice for an old and outcast cat.  Her rendition of “Memories” was touching. (However, her costume still looked glam to me!).   I also like the segments by Skimbleshanks (the railway cats), Gus the Theatre Cat, and Mr Mistoffelees.  The set design extended to the auditorium and the Jellicle Cats appeared among the audience at times.  While it added some fun to the audience, I did not feel it was necessary.

The bad acoustics of the MBS theatres did not occur this time, and it thus made a pleasant theatre going experience.

Overall, this production has strong production values and the cast is enthusiastic.  Good night out for families, and for those who want to find out more before catching the movie version.

The show runs till 5 Jan 2020.   Tickets available at sistic.com.sg.