Cats - The Musical (1998)

This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than $2 billion in ticket sales. Now that Cats has finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid not just by fans of this critic-proof show, but also by those entertainment mavens who have somehow avoided Cats until now. The video version has been restaged but, alas, not really reconceived for its new medium.

The video cast, assembled from London, Amsterdam, and New York productions, is competent. Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees, and Elaine Paige--the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat well past her prime--are a great deal more than that. Paige has toned down her theatrical belting of her big number, "Memory," and allowed the faded ruin of her character's soul to prevail in close-up. For all the "covers" of her signature song, Paige's version remains definitive. The video is, by definition, more intimate, not always a good thing: costumes are even more Halloweeny in garish close-up, the cats less cuddly without that all-important interaction, the stage's appropriately midnight lighting transmuted to a Las Vegas neon. And the chorus of cats in production numbers is even clunkier and more amorphous in two- and three-shots.

The one complete newcomer to the cast is the 90-year-old icon among English actors John Mills, a delight as Gus the Theatrical Cat. Sir John and his character show the youngsters how it's done in close-up, largely behind the eyes, abetted by a heart-tugging delivery of his one song. Yet virtually all of the songs are lip-synched, further robbing the video Cats of its onstage seeming spontaneity. It's clearer than ever that Lloyd Webber's music is mostly twaddle, with the important exception of "Memory," which instantly and rightly became one of the genuine theater standards not dependent on context, in the vein of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns." On the plus side, most of the Cats characters and lyrics, from T.S. Eliot's 14-poem Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, are far better defined and understood from the video version. --Robert Windeler Amazon.com essential video

Broadway plays are the best.... especially this one!

I highly recommend this DVD for hours of enjoyment! It was delivered fast and in the best shape possible! August 15, 2008

CATS

Having learned T.S. Elliot's poem and performed it in high school, I absolutely love Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical interpretation and production of it.Of course the actors in this production are legendary. July 26, 2008

CATS dvd

This is a must, must buy. If you have ever seen it live on stage, this dvd will clear up any questions about the storyline. The upclose expressions of the characters are priceless. ALW outdid himself. You will watch this over and over again. July 4, 2008

Cats: A Love/Hate Affair

I really enjoy most of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, but this one didn't really interest me. As expected the music and choreography were great and the acting was wonderful. Where Cats seemed to lack was storyline. After watching the film, I'm not exactly sure what the story was about, other than a bunch of Cats. I have never seen Cats on stage, but it seemed the DVD captured the stage experience fairly well. Overall, good job on the music, dance, acting and transfer to DVD. A more defined plot is what would have pushed this to the next level. July 3, 2008

Awesome musical!

I have seen the musical on stage, and this captures it well, especially if you never had a close-up view. My daughter, who is 5, watches it over and over. We just took her to see the musical live, and it was amazing, of course, but she had to watch the DVD as soon as we got home. June 26, 2008

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