#I just want to share ;___; | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cassandra-has-moonlit-eyes · 2 years

Text

Some rambling

Cats Vienna is ending soon and I just want to write a few toughts down.

When I first got into Cats back in October I watched the 1998 DVD first then I went to the theatre to see it (I blame google ads for that because I was googeling the Musical and of course living in Vienna I got an ad for the Ronacher. your not immune to online ads but in this case I’m happy about it haha).

After that with the theatre being quite expensive I stuck to the DVD for quite a while and then I became part of the Musical Club that the VBW have so I could get tickets quite cheap like one hour before the show starts.

That’s when I started to go regually. When I felt like Cats I didn’t watch the DVD I literally just went to the theatre. That was really amazing for me because so I could become a fan not just by watching the DVD but by seeing it live again and again (I’m somewhere between 20-25 times now).

Seeing it live has quite a few advantages.

First of all Vienna has quite a few Swings and “minor” characters covering “major” characters so I was able to see quite a few actors in different roles and see their different interpretations of the characters. And because some portrayed their relationships with the others very differently from other actors it fed my headcanons and my poly ships.

Next advantage that other than the DVD, where die movie is a fixed text that can’t be changed, theatre is an “open” text which changes with every evening you go. There was always something new or/and something different to see and to fall in love with.

Also you become biased. That’s some sort of taboo to talk about in some fandoms but I’ll just say it: You start to enjoy some actors perforamnce of a character more than an other’s. This is of course very subjective in most cases. Cats was the first Musical I saw that often and let me tell you: There is a certain joy I developed when I saw certain names on the cast list. I do not know if that is an unique experience or it other musical fans have that too because I never was part of a musical fandom before.

All in all the cast in Vienna is absolutly amazing. I don’t know how long I will be part of the Cats fandom because my fandoms tend to change but I’m pretty sure that if I get the chance to see other productions later in life that I will take it just so I can reexperience the joy I felt every time I went into the theatre during the last half year.

And not just the cast. The orchestra, the stage, the costumes, the make up the production as a whole is absolutly amazing. So much thought and love went in every little detail and even thou it’s a classic post 1998 Movie reblica production it has it’s own vibe and feeling to it. The costumes alone do not make the characters, the actors do.

The Vienna Cast is absolutely amazing, and I will always remember them and their enactment of the characters very fondly. They were quite some hissy kitty cats but they portrayed the bond between the characters and their love for each other so well.

This post is more of a dairy entry for me really. This post is mostly me “fangirling”, it is subjective and biased and I’m not a professional theatre critique (thou I had to write some reviews for university). I generally do not know the criteria for good or bad acting, I’m not a professional dancer and I have no theoretical knowledge about music.

I can only write about how much joy these people and their performances brought into my life. This text is very subjective, it talks about my interpretation of the acting and a big part of it is just me fangirling and saying how much I loved their performance. I just want to shout out some of them specifically.

Anneka Dacres (Cassandra)

Most of the times I went she played Cassandra and she really made me fall in love with the character. She really took her three words (thou I do not know for sure if Vienna used them, but I guess): haughty, disdainful, aloof and put them into her performances but she didn’t make them her whole performance. She also had a lot of fun with the character, especially during the Tugger number, the Jellicle Ball and Mistoffelees.

She stuck out to me from the beginning. Her posture and movements were always on point, and she put so many small details into her performance. First time I went I knew next to nothing about the characters but her cleaning herself before getting picked my Mistoffelees, being the only cat that was not trying to get chosen for the part but was just minding her own business was so fun. The actors don’t use words, there is no dialogue, so they must put everything into their acting. Her being surprised, pointing at herself and then shaking her head like “what? Me? Nooo!!!!” was so well played and funny from the first time I saw her when I didn’t even know her character trades or name and is still one of my favourite parts of the musical till today.

More than once I was lucky to sit front right, right there where she talks to during the Naming of the Cats. Her facial expressions, eye movements and reinacting of the words were always on point and she really took that “acting like a cat” very seriously. She could be seen cleaning herself in the background from time to time. During the Jellicle Ball I loved how she sometimes looked confused after the cartwheel but then when seeing Alonzo there was pure joy on her face and she took his hand and perfectly in sync they danced together. She also portrayed so much joy during the Bomba section and the Rum Tum Tugger, but at the same time she could be proud and aloof, especially in front of Grizabella or when she got attention by other cats that she wasn’t feeling at the moment (in character). I loved the moment, when she shooed Victoria away, looked and Grizabella and then left the stage with every movement looking absolutly on point, cat like and proud.

It never seemed inconsistent to me but simply cat-like. Most people who own cats know how it be sometimes. In one moment, they are playing or snuggling the next moment they become very distant and don’t want you to touch them at all.

Anneka Dacres also covered Demeter and Bombalurina a few times and I was so lucky to see her as Demeter once. I loved her portrayal of this character too. She put so much emotion into her acting and seeing her dancing the Macavity number was so amazing. With her you could feel the story that is told through the choreo.

George Maniadis (Alonzo)

At the beginning of getting into Cats I wasn’t really interested in Alonzo at all. In the 1998 movie he was just there for me. I didn’t understand the fandom obsession with the character and then Maniadis’ interpretation of the character stepped into my life. He and his performance made me like the character.

His line during Jellicle Cats is: “Bist du stolz wie ein Pfau?” and he took that line and made it an important part of his character. He played Alonzo vain, he was always cleaning himself in the background and carrying himself with a little bit arrogance. He thought that he is the main character and made sure that the audience had the best view of him all times possible. At the beginning I thought he was scared by Grizabella but really, he was disgusted by her. He also took the uncertain part very serious whereby (?) I would describe him as more scared especially when confronted with danger like Macavity. During the first Macavity scare when the cats leave the stage, he often really tried to be brave and to stay at Munkustrap’s side, but he just was too scared. Again, no words, but Maniadis portrayed it so well, the proud posture at the beginning, then started to crouch slightly and hastily leaving the stage.

He also played the Macavity fight so well. He came back on stage, looking at the fight and at the other cats, like he was looking for somebody else to step in. When nobody stepped in he had to find his courage and do it himself. It was always so great and so satisfying to see him overcoming his fear in order to help the others.

Maniadis also played Alonzo quite flirty, mostly with Cassandra, a lot of Bombalurina, some Demeter and sometimes even some Jennyanydots. He also put so many small details and interactions in his performance and was always 100% in character. He also was very good at portraying a cat, a very neat and clean cat. His dancing was always amazing and enjoyable to watch especially during the Jellicle Ball (Jellicle Cats are black and white and big boiis 1 A+).

I was also lucky to see him as Admetus/Macavity a couple of times and he was the scariest Macavity from all the Macavity’s I’ve seen in Vienna. Greatly enjoyed his performance here too.

Nicholas Li (Admetus/Macavity)

Like Alonzo I never cared much about Admetus in the 1998 movie then Li’s interpretation of the character stepped into my life. This man put so much joy and effort into that character.

He was always so happy and cute, and I loved how he sometimes nuzzled Electra’s head after helping her with the trapeze.

During Tugger, I know that Tugger is the protagonist of this song, but I usually looked at Admetus when he was played by Li because it was so enjoyable to see his different facial expressions and the small details he put into his performance. More than once he for example nuzzled Tugger’s head when the other cat was leaning on him.

He was also always very active during Grizabella’s performance, interacting with Carbucketty and Bill Bailey. During other numbers he stepped in when either Bill Bailey or Carbucketty were missing.

He was always so fun and cute during the pas de deux, very shy at the beginning and very proud of himself, when he lifted Vicky. More than once her tail landed in his face, and he seemed like he really needed to hold back his laughter. His posture and form always seemed right and on point for me.

He was also an amazing Macavity. Admetus/Macavity is more of a dance role, and I can’t stress enough how perfect he was casted for that role. You could really see how well he worked with the others, especially with the Munkustraps and Alonzos, so everything would go right. The little signs he gave them so they would know when to jump him. He also played the being hurt at the end so well, when everybody was attacking him, he just wanted to get away.

With all three of them Dacres, Mandiadis and Li you could see how much love and effort they put into their characters and into their performance. Even thou there is no dialogue in cats they portrayed their characteristics, sympathies, dislikes and their emotions over all so well through playing and in some cases even put them into their dancing. I can’t do a really close analysis because I can’t rewind and rewatch certain parts put it always felt to me that Dacres put a lot of elegance and precision in her dancing, Mandiadis did the proud and sexy parts very well and Li as Admetus was always so playful while being very dangerous, forceful and threatening as Macavity.

I think we as a fandom must hype up the dance roles more (I’m a biased bitch). Vicky and Misto get a lot of love but what the Admetus/Macavity actor must pull off is also incredible and I feel that the dancers hardly ever get recognition for it because general audiences can’t tell them apart from the other cats and Admetus doesn’t do the bows in the Macavity costume. If you ever have the chance to see a performance, give him all your applause and cheers, he really deserves it!

Barbara Obermeier (Jellylorum/Griddlebone)

I just looked at all the cast lists from the dates where I went and Barbara Obermeier played Jellylorum so often. She was always an absolute amazing Jellylorum, a little bit more fun and chaotic than your usual Jelly I would say. She had a lot of great interactions with Gus, taking his hand for example when leaving the stage during a Macavity scare. During Tugger she was so much fun. One time she imitated his hip movements, another time she was a part of his “band”.

During Gus she was always so caring but also a little bit done with his antics. You could see the Fremdschämen on her face when he tried to do his growl, but it didn’t come out as expected.

She is also the main reason why I started to enjoy the Growltiger part. Honestly, I don’t like Opera at all, it’s one of my least favourite genres of theatre but her voice was always so beautifully clear that after some time I really started to enjoy this part. And she was such a fun and dramatic Griddlebone. I enjoyed when she pulled her long tail away from Growltiger and showed him a no no no with her index finger.

I also was so lucky to see her as Grizabella and she played her sadder and more broken I think than some of the other actresses. And I’m absolutely in love with her voice, really. I know this is a me problem, but I have something with my ear/nose so sometimes it hurts me when things explode on stage and the “touch me” part usually did too but when she was performing it didn’t hurt. I could really enjoy this part to the fullest.

Jo Lucy Rackham (swing, dance captain, booth, covering 1/3 of the cast!)

I saw her as Demeter, Rumpleteazer, Electra and Carbucketty and there was hardly a performance I went to where she wasn’t on stage (and when she wasn’t she was in the booth). None of the performances I watched were without her (apart from one). For me she IS Cats Vienna. I completely fell in love with her pure talent, versatility and hard work.

Every single character she played she played differently. She is not just a great singer with clear voice and a great actress she is also an amazing dancer with perfect stamina while singing, even during numbers like Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer or Macavity. It always felt like she knows and understands every character (as dance captain it’s probably also part of her job) and she put so many details into every single character she played. If I would write everything down, we would be sitting here still tomorrow. Just know following: Fun and cheeky Rumpleteazer, great interactions and chemistry with Mungojerrie, Tugger and some of the younger cats. Extremely prominent and energetic during the Jellicle Ball. She also knows Demeter well and I loved her portraying her relationship to Macavity with fearing him and being drawn to him at the same time. It always felt like she really thought about Demeter’s backstory. Macavity Number A+. Great Jenny, great tap dancing, great interaction with Bustopher Jones, Tugger and Victoria (+other kittens). Extremely cheeky Carbucketty, also dancing with Misto during the Jellicle Ball was very enjoyable. Great interactions with Electra, Bill Bailey and Grizabella.

This woman was hell of prominent on stage and always did an absolute amazing job for every single performance.

Others I want to mention:

Vicky Riddoch: Saw her as Electra, Rumpleteazer and Jemima. Amazing actress and dancer (Electra has centre stage during the last part of the Jellicle Ball and she absolutely deserves it <3). She is so fun and had always great interactions with the other cats and with the audience even thou she had to stay on stage. A+ cat like movements and facial expressions always on point.

Meghan Peploe-Williams: She will always have a special place in my heart because she was the first one to newly join the cast after I became a fan. I saw her as Electra like three times or something and she brought so much joy to the role. Loved her interaction with Bill and how she played during Tugger and Skimble. Also saw her as Tantomile and Cassandra. Very cute and very caring Cassandra and Tantomile.

Both are the reason I fell in love with Electra too.

Anneke Brunekreeft: Saw her as Demeter quite I few times and I always loved her voice and her portrayal of the character, especially how she played her relationship to Munkustrap. To me it seemed like you could really see how the romance evolved through the play. Also saw her as Jenny, Tantomile and Bombalurina. Loved her performances here too. Versatile queen.

Giulia Vazzoler: To me this woman has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard live, and she has incredible stamina during the Macavity number. I loved er portrayal of the character very much, especially her reactions to and compassion for Grizabella. Also: Amazing dancer. I can’t describe it but I just love when you can feel the Macavity choreo.

All in all: Vienna has had amazing Demeter actresses. Good job with the casting.

Petra Ilse Dam: I fell absolutly in love with her Tantomile. She was always so in synch with her Coricopats but made the character stand out on her own. I also loved the sort of friendly beef she had going on with Rumpleteazer. That brought so much joy to the character. Loved that she also recogniced Macavity and on some evenings sche had more interactions with Demeter which I loved too. Saw her as Bombalurina too and enjoyed her performance as the red queen too.

Hannah Kenna Thomas: Nearly every time I went, she played Victoria und most of the times she was on fire. I loved her reaction to Grizabella (and not being allowed to touch her, lol) and how well she played her admiration for Tugger. Her dancing in form and posture during her solo and during the pas des deux looked always so clean and right

Andrea Luca Cotti: nearly forgot him because he left a few months ago but he was an absolute amazing Mungojerrie. I loved his voice and his acting so much. He was fun and chaotic and had absolute great chemistry with every single Rumpleteazer he played with. In German I would describe his Mungojerrie as schelmisch and that’s exactly how he should be. He made people in the audience laugh a lot.

And last but not least:

Stephen Martin Allan: An absolute happy, fun, wiggly and sassy Mistoffelees. He took his character trades but never “overplayed” them. He was a little bit aloof, quite a bit neat and hardly ever competitive but still. I always loved the faces he made in reaction to the other characters or even to the audience, how he looked happy, curious, shocked or even scared. As far as I can tell he is an amazing dancer. The conjuring turns were always on point.

I mean I could shout out the whole cast. In my opinion they were all amazing, really (I now see here a had a strong bias towards the dance heavy roles haha). Great dancers, great singers, great actors, very multitalented and very professional with mistakes, mishaps and accidents. I started going regularly quite at the end of the run and they all seemed like they had their characters and how they wanted to portray them figured out. The make up was always amazing, even if you sat very close. I do not feel sad that it is ending. I’m happy that I had the chance to watch it as often as I did and that these people brought so much joy to me.

In retrospect this cast and their interpretations of the characters are the main reason why I got into Cats.

#loved every performance I saw so much #personal stuff #plz don't reblog #I just want to share

4 notes · View notes