![]() ![]() Its worldwide box office totals more than £1.4 billion. In 1939, Eliot published a book of poetry, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which included feline-focused verses he likely wrote for his godson. "Cats" is the second-highest grossing musical of all time, behind The Phantom Of The Opera. And so in time you reach your aim, And finally call him by his NAME. ![]() In New York, the Tony-winning Broadway version of "Cats" ended in September 2000. A Cat’s entitled to expect These evidences of respect. "Starlight Express," a similarly environmental Lloyd Webber extravaganza, closed in January in London after nearly 18 years. "Cats" played to more than 8 million people in London alone, setting the stage for a British musical revolution with such subsequent shows as "Les Miserables" and "The Phantom of the Opera" - both of which are still running in London and on Broadway. ![]() Others included Paul Nicholas, Wayne Sleep, and Brian Blessed. Paige, the first Grizabella, was among 170 or so previous members of the "Cats" cast who eventually took to the stage to further roars of approval. This story was written by David Hinckley.) In case there was any doubt, Valerie Eliot confirms that yes, its true her late. The stunning costumes have thrilled eight million West End theatregoers (AP) (Originally published by the Daily News on October 8, 1982. The audience - mostly invited, with 150 members of the public included via ballot - cheered throughout for the various Jellicle Cats whose stories the musical tells.Īctress Chrissie Hammond stopped the show - as countless performers, beginning with Elaine Paige, have before her - by belting out "Memory," the mournful lament of Grizabella, the faded glamour cat. Several streets away, thousands of people sat outside at Covent Garden Piazza to watch the show via a live video relay - the first time any West End musical had attempted such a feat.Īt the theatre, Champagne was served before the show and during the interval along with cat-shaped biscuits and dips presented in tins of Whiskas cat food. The sellout crowd of 1,100 cheered his remarks, urged on by a rousing finale from choreographer Gillian Lynne that flooded the stage with "Cats" performers past and present, several of whom flew in from the United States and Australia for the occasion.Īccompanied by confetti, indoor fireworks and bells, the audience stood and applauded for nearly 20 minutes before moving on to a celebration at the Waldorf Hotel.Įleven-year-old Jessica Hill, a dancer from south London, was hoisted above the cast as a symbol of the regeneration of "Cats" to come. "Eliot's words are timeless, and that's why I think the show will be timeless," he said. Thanks for signing up to the InReview newsletter.Will another musical ever beat the 21-year record run of 'Cats' on the London stage? Get InReview in your inbox – free each Saturday. What’s so overwhelmingly perfect about this production, without gushing too much, is that each aspect of the show is equally impressive: the costumes rival the make-up, which rivals the sculptured setting of an alley-cat underworld of a scrapheap of junk, which rivals the lighting of the clouds skimming past the moon, which rivals the feline dancing and the catchy or raunchy or moody songs. But kudos to the poet for making art that inspires other artists to do great things.Ĭats is one of the great theatrical productions of all time, and the Festival Centre rolled out the red carpet, literally, to celebrate its return after a 12-year hiatus. ![]() Truly, Eliot’s claim to fame is The Wasteland, which could never have a song so catchy as “Mr Mistoffelees”. This simple story of the naming of cats is so well known not because of Eliot’s charming poems, but because of what Webber first achieved in London’s West End in 1981 – and what the show continues to achieve all over the world to this day. ![]()
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