(The cast of CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

by Tim Leininger

NEW YORK — Musicals can wear out their welcome, becoming a parody of itself before its initial run is even over. Cats’ initial run, on Broadway, went for about 18 years, and by the end was a running joke on David Letterman and shows like The Nanny. The reality is, that Cats, though successful as it was, is not a great musical. There are memorable songs and some incredible dance sequences, but the plot is episodic and thin as an alley cat’s waistline. So, what can be done with a musical that is as thin as this to make it fresh and new?

            Well, in came Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, who have conceived a whole new vision of Cats, placing the story inside a drag ball that celebrates the era of drag balls that took place in the 1980s and 90s. It’s vibrant, colorful, and a brilliant reinterpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit show.

            The premise isn’t all that different. Instead of a bunch of literal cats looking to have themselves selected to be taken to the Heaviside Layer where they will be reborn as a new cat, The Jellicle Ball has a series of drag competitions as each cat, whether it be Tumblebrutus (Primo Thee Ballerino), Mungojerrie (Johathan Burke), Bombalurina (Garnet Williams) or any of the others, compete against each other, winning trophies as they are judged by guest celebrity judges — the night I was in attendance Alex Newell and Wendell Pierce were judging. There’s less emphasis in the production placed on the idea of going to the Heaviside Layer, as it is a celebration of the ballroom culture of the period. Sure, eventually the plot around Grizabella (“Tempress” Chasity Moore) plays out, as well as Macavity (Leiomy) and Magical Mister Mistoffelees (Robert “Silk” Mason), but these elements don’t feel as important as the ball culture as a whole. Grizabella, Macavity, and Mistoffelees become narrative tools to represent the need to honor and preserve the heritage of drag and ball culture. It’s all immaculately done and fits the narrative that Levingston and Rauch have devised.

(Robert “Silk” Mason as ‘Magical Mister Mistoffelees’ from CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

            The performances, across the board, are exceptional. Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons’ choreography coupled with each actor’s conception of who each cat is in their own image is glorious, as they make it their own, from Dudney Joseph Jr.’s Munkustrap to Junior Labeija’s Gus, each character has a quality that evokes not just the “cat” character, but an infusion of their own identity. Andre de Shields’ Old Deuteronomy, which is essentially Andre de Shields being André de Shields in all his spectacular glory, has a bravura quality about him that doesn’t feel like he did anything challenging as an actor, but evokes himself as Old Deuteronomy. Normally, I would consider this lazy acting, but in this case, it worked as de Shields is, symbolically, the Old Deuteronomy of Broadway at the moment. How the man still does it, I don’t know, but I love his energy regardless. I would love to see how the show evolves as replacements come in. I imagine unlike most plays and musicals this show will allow for a bit more interpretation and individualization of the character as each performer’s drag persona takes shape.

            Taking Cats out of the alley and into the ballroom required significant creative magic by the design team, and I love Levingston and Rauch did with scenic designer Rachel Hauck, lighting designer Adam Honoré, and sound designer Kai Harada to create an immersive ballroom with runway and all, even having some onstage seating for audience members who want a more indepth experience. Qween Jean’s costumes are fabulous, capturing the spirit and glamour of 1980s/90s ball culture. I particularly loved Ken Ard’s DJ Griddlebone’s costumes as at one point he comes out with this awesome style hairdo reminiscient of Powerline that I was cheering for.

(Ken Ard as ‘DJ Griddlebone’ from CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

            The choreography is incredible. Wiles and Lyons slay whether it be the duckwalking, voguing, or some incredible ballet and high kicking, all of it was glorious to behold.

            In a season of mostly underwhelming musicals, Cats: The Jellicle Ball has taken a dried up, passe musical and shot it in the arm with life, resurrecting it with a new, vibrant vision. Get to the ball before it’s over.

TICKETS: https://catsthejellicleball.com/

PRODUCTION

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot; by Arrangement with LW Entertainment Limited; Directed by Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch; Choreographed by Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons; Music Supervision & Music Direction by William Waldrop; Orchestrations: Andrew Lloyd Webber & David Wilson; Scenic Design: Rachel Hauck; Costume Design: Qween Jean; Lighting Design: Adam Honoré; Sound Design: Kai Harada; Projection Design: Brittany Bland; Hair & Wig Design: Nikiya Mathis; Make-up Design: Rania Zohny; Magic: Paul Kieve; Dramaturg & Gender Consultant: Josephine Kearns; Music Coordinator: David Lai; Music Producer: Doug Schadt; Beats Arranger/Producer: Trevor Holder; Sensitivity Specialist: Ann James; Marketing: The Season; Advertising: Serino Coyne; Digital Media: Arthouse; Social Media: Marathon Digital; Ticketing & Revenue Director: Brian DeVito; Public Relations: DKC/O&M; Publicity/Strategic Marketing: The Chamber Group; Production Stage Manager: Cody Renard Richard; Company Manager: Tyler Siems; Casting: X Casting/Victor Vasquez, CSA and Sujotta R. Pace, CSA; Production Management: Juniper Street Productions, INC; General Management: Baseline Theatrical, Nick Lugo, Jessica Fried, James Hickey

CAST (listed by ballroom family tree)

André de Shields as Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicle leader

Dudney Joseph Jr. as Munkustrap, our Master of Ceremonies

Xavier Reyes as Jennyanydots, house mother of the House of Dots

Baby Byrne as Victoria, the “white cat,” from the House of Dots

Primo Thee Ballerino as Tumblebrutus, from the House of Dots

Emma Sofia as Cassandra, a virgin voguer from House of Dots

Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger, a “curious cat”

“Tempress” Chasity Moore as Grizabella, “the glamour cat”

Teddy Wilson Jr. as Sillabub, Grizabella’s number one fan

Nora Schell as Bustopher Jones, the “cat we all meet,” bartender and so much more

Jonathan Burke as Mungojerrie, a “cat burglar” from Victoria Grove, N.J.

Dava Huesca as Rumpleteazer, a “cat burglar” from Victoria Grove, N.J.

Leiomy as Macavity, the “mystery cat” and house mother of the House of Macavity

Bebe Nicole Simpson as Demeter, from the House of Macavity

Garnet Williams as Bombalurina, from the House of Macavity

Junior Labeija as Gus, the “theater cat”

Bryson Battle as Jellylorum, Gus’s grandchild

Emma Sofia as Skimbleshanks, the “railway cat”

Robert “Silk” Mason as Magical Mister Mistoffelees, a “conjuring cat”

Kya Azeen as Etcetera, an aspiring house mother

Tara Lashan Clinkscales as Booth Singer/Police Officer/Server

Phumzile Sojola as Booth Singer/Police Officer/Server

Kalyn West as Booth Singer/Server

Ken Ard as DJ Griddlebone