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LAST year’s announcement of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Cats, finally being staged in Manila, Philippines were met with absolute glee for anyone who’s familiar with a Broadway songbook. And as if that wasn’t enough, it was also announced at the same time that our very own Lea Salonga would be playing Grizabella. These two great pieces of news were so exciting, some may have even heard angels playing harps in the background.
And now some months later, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises and Concertus in association with The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific finally had Cats open onstage to a very welcoming audience last Saturday, July 24, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theatre.
The production is from an Australian touring production and has been staged in Hong Kong, Singapore and throughout Australia.
Cats first charmed audiences with its original production on the London stage on May 11, 1981. It is based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats which award-winning lyricist/composer Andrew Lloyd Webber translates into song and melody. The production quickly won rave reviews worldwide and went on to win a record-breaking number of awards including two Laurence Olivier Awards for Musical of the Year and Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Musicals, as well as seven Tony Awards. On Broadway, it debuted the following year. Cats then became the longest-running musical of all time in Broadway history until 2006 when The Phantom of the Opera surpassed its record.
A day before the musical’s debut in Manila, the Asian Journal was invited along with other media outfits for a special press call where the cast, including Lea herself who gamely performed even though she sprained her ankle a day before during the rehearsals, performed some "teaser" numbers which were enough to prove why this musical is one of the must-see shows ever created. During the press call, the Cats producers also awarded a donation from a portion of ticket sales to Philippine Red Cross. Philippine Red Cross’ Blood Program chaired by Rosa Rosal received the P2,380,000 check in time for the charity’s 60th anniversary.
Both James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, and Tim McFarlane, Producer of The Really Useful Company Asia, attests to the musical’s lasting and wide appeal.
Production Musical Supervisor Fiz Shapur says that staging a musical like Cats is no laughing matter.
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