The Show: 

The Jellicle Cats gather again under the moon to play, to dance, to cause some mischief, to reminisce, and to select one deserving cat for another chance at youth. It’s Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s musical based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which became a musical sensation and one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history. A musical that introduces us to a number of unusual cats through song and dance highlighted by the wistful ballad to days of lost happiness which may never return, Memory.  

The Production: 

Director Kenny Grossman and his talented group at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale, Arizona had a lot of fun with this one, which translated to a lot of fun for the audience. It begins in Bobby Sample’s cool-looking set: a deserted junkyard that includes the rear of a car jutting out and other standard junkyard paraphernalia lying about, illuminated by a mirror ball providing some starlight where a bunch of cool-looking cats (costumes by Tamara Treat and make-up by Jacob Hamilton, Lindsey Brown, and Vinny Jordon) are about to appear. 

The cast is full of triple-threats that use great dancing, singing, and acting to bring to life numerous cats in both amusing and touching ways. That includes Alex Acosta as a dynamic Munkustrap – a young leader of the cats who gets an amusing Jennyanydots going (Ally Lansdowne) and who demonstrates great awe and respect for their wise, old leader Deuteronomy. Philip Amerine is said leader, striking just the right balance of stately and friendly, sonorous vocals, and some nicely understated humor (when everyone starts looking for the mischievous Macavity cat, Deuteronomy starts searching through his humongous fur coat, and another slightly rattled cat appears to fall out of his great folds of fur). Vinny Jordon is both the wily Macavity and Gus, as the latter delivering the goods as an elderly thespian reminiscing on yesteryear and in a hilarious scene with pirate cats as he and Griddlebone (Marley DeGroodt) struggle with romance.  

Elsewhere, Rum Tum Tugger (Tyler Gasper) romances a dozen female felines at a time. Jessica Arnold and Carly Grossman offer a sultry introduction to the bad-boy tomcat Macavity. Ally Lansdowne, Carly Grossman, and Brooke Shobe entertainingly tell the tale of Bustopher Jones. Brielle Amrein delivers a compelling performance as the saddened, taunted, and aged Grizabella, nicely singing Memory joined by Leigh Treat and Alex Acosta. Lynzee 4Man’s fantastic choreography is highlighted by Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat, using a rake, fan, trashcan lids, plungers, lights, and umbrellas to put the train in motion with the help of the cast led by Trey DeGroodt, Philip Amerine, and Carly Copp. Carly also lights up the stage alongside Ben Maussouras with a great Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Tyler Gaspar leads the cast in announcing Reese Miller who swings in with mesmerizing magic as Mr. Mistoffelees. And the entire cast of all-stars shine with physical charm and remarkable vocals, from their opening number where a huge human shoe thrown at them only pauses them for a moment, to their beautiful finale.

Performed August 26 - September 18, 2011

Rob Hopper
rob@nationalyouththeatre.com
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National Youth Arts

~ Cast ~ 

Munkustrap: