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Still a better story than Starlight Express (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've literally never watched or looked into the Cats musical, so I figured maybe the origin story and the plot was a gross oversimplification. I was wrong:

Cats is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. The plot revolves around a group of cats called the Jellicles, who gather for the annual Jellicle Ball, where their leader, Old Deuteronomy, chooses one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.

Throughout the night, various cats introduce themselves and share their stories, including Grizabella, a once-glamorous cat who is now shunned by the others. Despite being rejected, Grizabella sings “Memory,” expressing her longing for acceptance and a new life. In the end, Old Deuteronomy chooses Grizabella to ascend, granting her a second chance.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Cats technically has an overarching plot but it’s more like a collection of two dozen very loosely connected songs. It’s actually really good.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don’t believe you have ever seen a musical before if you think Cats is good.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I've been a theatre kid for my entire life. I've seen and helped produce hundreds of plays over my life.

Cats is incredible and the reason people don't think so is snobbery. I know you'll disagree and I don't care. I'll die on this hill.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have seen hundreds of musicals having grown up a short distance from Broadway at a time when standing room tickets were cheap. Cats is a weak story with disconnected songs whose overall appeal is to those that want a flashy stage show vs a solid musical. Weber in general is overly praised.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

cats is a weak story with disconnected songs

Yes and that's it's point. Its fun, it's dumb, and it doesn't really have any drama that you have to follow. Its not supposed to be a "solid or serious musical".

I imagine you're also the type of person who doesn't like the first couple of fast and furious movies. And there's nothing wrong with that, different stroke for different folks and all that.

Plus, Cats is so much fun to actually put on. I'm a tech guy, but Cats is one of my all time favorites to do because there's a ton that happens, and it's super flashy which is really fun to program and manage. But that doesn't really matter for how good a musical actually is.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yes and that’s it’s point. Its fun, it’s dumb, and it doesn’t really have any drama that you have to follow. Its not supposed to be a “solid or serious musical”.

Which is why it is a bad musical.

I imagine you’re also the type of person who doesn’t like the first couple of fast and furious movies. And there’s nothing wrong with that, different stroke for different folks and all that

The first was great and they don’t pick up again until 4 or 5. I have seen every film except X at least three times.

Plus, Cats is so much fun to actually put on. I’m a tech guy,…But that doesn’t really matter for how good a musical actually is

Im cutting out the stuff in the middle because you perfectly highlight the issue. The thing that stands out to you isn’t the musical rather it is the flashy effects.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Damn people enjoying things really pisses you off, huh?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Im saying Cats is a bad musical. They are saying the stage effects are good which is different than the actual musical being good. Im not saying they can’t enjoy themselves only that Cats is a bad example of its art form.

Was this conversation really that hard for you to follow?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Sorry wasn’t really paying attention. I was distracted by Mr. Mistoffelees’ magic.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Well one of you should.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago

Jellicle post.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

None of the other people working on it had any idea what or why they were making it. When they would ask ALW questions about the plot he would just say “It’s about Cats” as if that answered the question

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

To be fair -- it is about cats. It's not like it's about dogs. Or trains. Or horribly disfigured men who lurk under the Paris Opera House. Or the Son of God.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Or the Son of God.

That's what you say, you say that it's not. 🎶

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

are you just begging me to correct that? Because when someone says "That's what you say" in the context of "the son of god" I just want to burst into the confrontation with Caiaphas. (Not that I know it all by heart -- that would just be worrying and not of the natural order).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Glad it wasn't too subtle!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

(smirk)

Maybe later. Right now I am bursting into "loathing" from Wicked on another thread, so -- you know -- I'll have to get back to you :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Assuming you mean Wicked as in the stage play. Fantastic show, but my most vivid memory of it was as the applause died down and the lights came up at the end of Act 1, when my son-in-law said much too loudly, "That was dope!" It seemed like his voice resounded through the theater.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Can't remember the year, but my most beloved and I went to see it when Lee Mead was Fiyero.

At one point he swung in on a rope, land and looked around in such a "Aren't I just the sexiest thing you've ever seen?" way the entire audience just burst into spontaneous applause -- I am not sure he was expecting it because the cast just stared at us like we were mental. But the original look on his face (the "tadaaaaaaaaa!" expression) was the funniest thing you have ever seen.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Hurry, you fool
Hurry and go
Save me your speeches
I don't wanna know!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Having seen both I’ll say “Rolling Stop” is still stuck in my head 35 years later. Cats sucks

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

did cocaine