I didn't catnap in Cats

Of course, you know the saying about cats having nine lives.

In the case of Cats, this musical is still running after it opened in London on May 11, 1981 — kept alive mainly by an Australian touring group that will be visiting Manila soon and will start purring and meowing (in a very melodious way) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines beginning July 24.

It’s going to be mostly an all-Aussie cast that will perform here in Manila — with the exception of Grizabella, which will be done by our very own national treasure Lea Salonga.

Cats will be brought to Manila by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Francis Lumen’s All Youth Channels (AYC), Bambi Verzo’s Concertus in cooperation with the Really Useful Company Asia-Pacific — with Citi as major presenter. The musical will play for three weeks and the tickets to the first two are already almost all sold-out, but you can take a chance by calling Ticketworld (891-9999). For corporate nights, call Concertus at 403-2099.

I had a preview of the Australian production in Sydney last week and I can tell you what to expect when the touring company gets here in July.

Based on T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which I doubt if many people read (I didn’t), the musical is divided into two parts. The first half is about the night of the year when the Jellicle Cats gather to celebrate who they are — what they are — in song and dance. Part two introduces more characters and this is when the feline creature going to cat heaven is selected. More singing and dancing.

Okay, so there’s not much of a plot to this, but this musical still works because it stands solidly on the two basic foundations of what a musical should be: Show-stopping songs and bouncy tunes and skillfully executed dances.

Now, I have to admit that I wasn’t in the best condition to watch anything — or even perform any activity — on the night I saw Cats in Sydney (at the Lyric Theater) since I didn’t have even a decent wink prior to that, having just flown in from Manila that day.

Maybe I could catnap in some parts of the show. That never happened. This musical came so alive it never gave me the chance.

To begin with, you have to be on the lookout for various activities taking place not just on stage, but around the theater where cat-costumed performers roam from time to time — very much like your typical alley cats that may just jump on you in the dark.

Seeing the actors in their furry get-up also made me confront my phobia for cats. Pet lovers may hate me for this, but I can’t stand the sight of feline creatures — especially black cats. They give me the shivers.

And here I was surrounded by cats the size of humans — six-footer Aussies at that!

I knew those were actually people in cat costumes. But the costumes were so creatively done in a way that these gave the illusion you were seeing and almost touching real cat hair. I also blame the actors for moving like real cats — facial expression and all. Why do their movements have to be so perfectly cat-like that it made it extremely uncomfortable for somebody like me who doesn’t like cats? Oh, but the cat lovers in the audience — and they were the majority — found them all so cute! Even the kids in the theater who came into contact with the performers (they interact with the audience) petted them and some squealed with delight.

Strangely enough, I totally forgot about my dislike for felines in time because the other aspects of production just completely overwhelmed me. For one, there was the brilliantly conceptualized choreography — plus the masterful execution of the dances. Like cats, the dancers were landing on their feet regardless of height and they were at a disadvantage because real felines have four feet, while humans only have two.

The dancers’ bodies were also remarkably malleable you’d wonder if they have bones under their flesh. It also helped that the Aussie performers had long limbs and they all looked majestic on stage. But the wonder of it all is that they were able to dance and sing without catching their breath (as I would later find out, most of them are young).

As for the music (by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber — and we don’t need to get into that anymore, he had always been great) the most awaited song, no doubt, is Memory. But the rest of the songs are just as memorable — and varied (different beats and tempos), so you don’t get bored with any of them.

Believe me, even during the intermission number, you will get entertained. How? Go find out when you catch the show at the CCP. I’m not letting the cat out of the bag.

What I found amazing was the fact that after watching the show, I had totally forgotten that I had an aversion to cats — which only proved that it was such an entertaining production it made me forget about my problems, sleepiness and even fears.

On our return home, upon our arrival at the NAIA 2, along with Citi executives Bea Tan and Cecille Fonacier, who would greet us on our way to retrieve our luggage, but a stray little kitten? Pam Pastor of the Inquirer even tried to take Tessa Prieto-Valdes’ photo with the kitten, but the little feline got impatient waiting for them to set up their camera and walked away. But I found it cute. Did I really say that about a cat?

Maybe it’s not too late for me to start loving cats. But I don’t think I can ever love them the way I loved those magical moments in Cats, the musical.