Feline frenzy

Published on November 12, 2007

The press couldn't even get a purr out of the actors from "Cats" when they were being made up for a rehearsal of the Broadway musical's Thai debut. They were in the process of becoming animals, you see, and animals don't talk to people.

The show, now playing in Bangkok, has of course spoken volumes to millions of people around the world - the story line, music and lyrics are enchanting - but the extravagant costumes and stripy makeup make it easy to forget that those are actually human beings onstage.

The transformation into animal form is complete, and much of the wonder of the show is in discovering that animals and humans share the same emotions.

The rehearsal that was open to reporters proved enlightening. The actors began, suitably enough, with a stretching session. When they stopped stretching they were cats, creeping around close to the floor, eyes fixated, braided tails brandished.

As the action begins, Victoria invites her fellow felines to the Jellicle Ball. She lies curled on the floor as another cat playfully scratches her leg. The others bound forward from all directions, one growling at a camera insinuating itself into his tabby world.

Andrew Lloyd Webber came up with the genius idea of turning TS Eliot's poems from "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" into a musical. It's currently the task of director-choreographer Jo-Anne Robinson to teach temperamental actors how to behave - and communicate - like cool cats.

All of the Bangkok cast members are Australian except for Korean Han Lim, who plays the wise and fascinating Old Deuteronomy in a vast woolly costume that matches his venerable status. Yes, he confessed, the outfit is a steam chamber, but Lim's deep voice and opera background guaranteed him the coveted role.

"Deuteronomy is like a trusty umbrella," he said. "He's a father to everybody."

Grizabella is "the Glamour Cat" who leaves the catpack to explore the world, only to return and face rejection. Francesca Arena faces no such ostracism among this friendly cast, but said her character spends so little time among theirs that she does indeed feel disconnected.

Thus life imitates art. The role is a mental drain rather than a physical one, Arena said, to such an extent that she's sometimes reluctant to get back into character.

"Grizabella is fragile. She's slow when she moves. There's a lot of torment in her life after she comes back." Plenty of people in the audience can empathise, Arena believes.

Tony Farrell plays three different characters. He's the cat with the weight problem, Bustopher Jones, and he's Growltiger, but his main role is that of Guz, an ageing stage actor who loves to reminisce about the glory days.

Farrell is the oldest member of the cast, which must be useful in playing Guz, but he's only been acting since 1998. Before that, for 16 years, he was a police detective. Dancing, he said, has been his biggest challenge, particularly in "Cats", which is blessed with a squad of fit, younger hoofers.

Handsome Rohan Browne plays the playful prankster Rum Tum Tugger, adored by the lady cats. There are many interesting things about pusses that have to be adapted for the stage, he said, such as the way they move their hips. "A cat's hips are at the back, but the human's are in the middle," he points out.

The performers' singing abilities are forgotten beneath the fur. Music supervisor Friz Shapur has coached them through the full "Cats" repertoire and strained them further with "a few surprise numbers" that don't appear in any other "Cats" production. The only hint he offers is a wish to include "things that are relevant to Thai culture".

So, at the very least, maybe we can expect some Siamese cats.

The musical is being performed at the Muang Thai Rachadalai Theatre until November 28, eight shows having been added to meet demand. Tickets are on sale for Bt1,000 to Bt4,000 at Thaiticketmajor. Call (02) 262 3456.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation