The longest running musical of all time walks on all fours to The Bristol Hippodrome for the next few weeks as the felines take over and the Jellicle Cats come out to play.

Originally opening in 1981 Cats was the most ground-breaking musical to hit The London Stage, sitting in the plush surroundings of the Hippodrome you forget just how unique this was at the time, and how theatre-goers had never seen anything like it. Fortunately the magic which must have graced those early performances is still there in bucket loads, from the moment the lights go down and you hear the opening chords the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and they refuse to go down throughout every second which is the miraculous experience of Cats.

Based on the poems by T.S Elliot and placed to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats introduces you to a multitude of furry characters that take place in the Jellicle Ball. Old Deuteronomy choose a cat to be re-born and start a new Jellicle life, during the two hour show we get dancing, singing, conjuring, special effects and some truly memorable songs including the fantastic Jellicle Cats, Memory and Magical Mister Mistoffelees.

The Hippodrome is transformed into the Cat’s playground and the whole theatre becomes part of the action, with Cats in the aisles and lighting all around, you really feel like you are part of this show. The fantastic set and design by John Napier is brought to life by some stunning lighting from David Hersey and fantastic costumes which make the actors really look like feline counterparts.

The dancing throughout is truly unbelievable, the cat-like movements added to the grace of Ballet is awe-inspiring to watch, and the fifteen minute long Jellicle Ball at the end of act one is a non-stop cavalcade. The strong cast are not only purr-fect dancers but also singers of the highest order. Chrissie Hammond’s powerful version of Memory can’t fail to affect an audience. Patrick Clancy delivered a moving performance as Asparagus and James Paterson’s Old Deuteronomy brings an air of grace to the stage.

Mattthew Cutts as Munkustrap narrates with a striking voice and Gavin Keenan produces a brilliant performance as Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat with the right amount of humour. Stuart Ramsay steals the show as Rum Tum Tugger, the stud of the night whose performance is somewhere between Elvis and Julian Clary, brilliant to watch as he captures the stage and doesn’t let go. His voice in Magical Mister Mistoffelees is something the audience will remember for a long time.

Cats is one of those shows which will stay with you all your life, it must be seen and you’ll never regret it.  A real magical evening out which will delight audiences of all ages.  

Don’t be a stupid Dog, go and catch cats before it’s just a Memory.

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