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The Mysterious Jellicle Cats

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The mysterious Jellicle cats with the glowing yellow eyes prowled slowly through the aisles of the audience under the glimmering full moon, starting the performance off with an eerie yet intriguing beginning. The musical I watched was CMT Mainstage’s performance of Cats, Les Chats cast. This famous show composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber is the second longest running musical on Broadway, and it is based on T. S. Eliot’s conglomeration of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Each musical number is the story of a different cat. Since it is based on an assortment of rhymes, Cats doesn’t have a single obvious lead role but instead relies heavily upon ensemble singing and large group dance numbers. There was very little spoken dialogue, but the storyline was beautifully communicated nevertheless. The story begins with many felines coming onstage and singing about the tribe of the Jellicle cats. The kitties of this group meet annually so that Old Deuteronomy can determine which cat will soar off to Heaviside Layer and return to a new life. A sleek white cat named Victoria announces the invitation to the Jellicle ball in a grand musical number. One by one, the cats present themselves to be chosen to ascend to Heaviside Layer with Old Deuteronomy, their leader. First of all, there is Jennyanydots, the old Gumbie cat. She slumbers and reclines all day long, growing plump on massive helpings of food. Next, the suave and pompous tomcat known as the Rum Tum Tugger, bursts onto

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