CATS
at Connelly School of the Holy Child

Reviewed on February 28, 2015

Jemma Stratton
Centreville High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

As the eerie overture began to play and fill up the auditorium, the audience was transported to a place where cats were gathering under the Jellicle moon in this production of Connelly School of the Holy Child's CATS. CATS was first performed in the West End in 1981 and then on Broadway in 1982, becoming known as the third longest running Broadway show, finally closing in 2000.

CATS is a stylistic exposé of the lives, trials, and mystical practices of a clan of cats called the Jellicles, whose leader picks one cat every year to be reborn. The music is hauntingly beautiful and each number demands commitment and energy.

Connelly School of the Holy Child did a wonderful interpretation of this classic musical and really showcased the impressive vocal talent of its performers. The energy was sometimes uneven but the momentum picked up as the show progressed.

Especially noteworthy was the jazzy voiced Demeter, played by Maggie Rudman. She dazzled the stage with not only her singing but her vibrant stage presence. During the fantastic rendition of "Macavity", Rudman and duet partner, Sam Boccia (who played Bombalurina), created an infectious energy on stage that kept the audience riveted from beginning to end.

The desolate and rundown Grizabella, the once 'Glamour Cat', played by Maddie Weldon, held the audience in the palm of her hand as she gave a stunning and powerful performance of the famous song, "Memory". Weldon's emotional vocals captured the song perfectly and left the audience in chills.

Certain ensemble members truly stood out in their roles by their commitment and performance quality. Chemistry among characters sometimes varied, but it held strong during the number, "Gus: The Theatre Cat", prominently sung by Jellylorum, played by Tahana Augustin. Augustin was personable and charismatic as she sang alongside guest actor, Aidan Bird, who played Asparagus (Gus for short).

The set, although static throughout the show, showed just how much creativity and effort the cast and crew put forth. Details like the over- sized objects used to give the perspective of a Jellicle cat, and the license plate with a tribute to the original poet, T.S Elliot, gave the perfect setting to such a whimsical show.

Overall, the cast embraced their inner feline remarkably well and gave a performance that was enjoyable for all. The Connelly School of the Holy Child did their best to develop their own magical interpretation of CATS and really showed that cats are indeed very much like you.

Olivia Hunt
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

With beautiful voices, animated choreography, and giant balls of yarn, Connelly School of the Holy Child takes on Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Based on T. S. Elliot's Old Possums's Book of Practical Cats, Cats made its Broadway debut in 1982, and remains its third-longest running show in history.

On one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats gather at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, decides who among them are deserving enough to make the journey up to the "Heaviside Layer" to be reborn and live another life. The show is comprised of each cat's reasoning and personal story behind why they are the best candidate to be chosen.

A very talented group of performers brought this whimsical Broadway classic to life. Memorable performances included Elizabeth Webster as Munkustrap, who provides plenty of pop along with strong vocals as the show's narrator and Aidan Bird as the highly passionate Gus/Growltiger. Maddie Weldon's portrayal of Grizabella, the fading and shunned "Glamour Cat", was executed brilliantly. Her performance of the famous, sorrowful ballad "Memory," was simply breathtaking. The ensemble was energetic throughout the show and the Cats interacted with the audience on numerous occasions. Another bright spot was the duet in which Maggie Rudman as Demeter and Samantha Boccia as Bombalurina sing about "Macavity," the evil cat everyone fears. Distinguished dances included Stefani Murray's large leaps as Mr. Mistoffelees and Theresa Cotton's impressive ballet skills as Victoria.

The show's costumes were very effective as the different patterns and cat-like colorings not only complimented individual characters, but blended together flawlessly when the ensemble was seen as a whole. Particularly impressive costumes were Grizabella's ragged, tassled black and gray dress as well as Mr. Mistofelees' eye-catching light-up jacket. The makeup was also noteworthy in its complexity and uniqueness to each character. The set was quite creative, featuring objects purposely massive in size including a Starbucks cup, a ketchup bottle, balls of yarn, and a clever license plate reading "TSE 1" as tribute to T.S. Elliot. Although some microphone switches were delayed, the special effects, especially the colored smoke for Mr. Mistoffeleees' magic, wowed the audience.

Connelly School of the Holy Child truly captured the magic of Cats in their production and left the audience "feline" good.

Emily Carbone
West Potomac High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

What is a Jellicle Cat? On the evening of February 28, the bright young women of Connelly School of the Holy Child worked hard to tell us through their production of CATS. CATS, based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, ran from 1982 until 2000, making it the third longest-running show in Broadway history. Eliot's dynamic characters, Andrew Lloyd Webber's enticing music, and Gillian Lynne's astounding choreography all came together to make a revolutionary new musical for audiences around the world.

Thirty-two young women from Connelly School of the Holy Child and two young men from outside of the school worked to tackle the incredible challenge of CATS. The production is made up of twenty massive musical numbers, a majority of which feature almost the entire ensemble. Although it was, at times, difficult to understand what the students were saying, these extremely wordy and often nonsensical songs offer a nod to the cast's memorization skills and overall focus. Energy from the actors also built increasingly throughout the show, working to draw the audience in. Some girls even crawled through the chairs, creating an appropriately eerie air of cat-like interaction. Commitment to the animalistic characterization helped maintain the illusion of a stage filled with cats.

Individual actresses also showed specialized talents in the show's many featured roles. Theresa Cotton as Victoria showed strength and poise in her dancing through combinations of arabesques and extensions. Contrastingly, Stefani Murray as Mr. Mistoffelees showed boundless energy through her various jumps and movement routines during the number Mr. Mistoffelees. Both girls demonstrated their beautiful abilities in two very different ways.

Individual vocal talents shone through with Tahana Augustin as Jellylorum, Maggie Rudman as Demeter, Maddie Weldon as Grizabella, and Elizabeth Webster as Munkustrap. Augustin featured heavily in the song Gus: The Theatre Cat showed extreme aptitude in her musical abilities. Her smooth, rich voice carried throughout the song, effectively telling Gus' story. Rudman, featured in both Grizabella, the Glamour Cat and Macavity, performed astoundingly. Her strong, jazzy voice drew audiences into the story with an energetic sense of mystery. During Macavity she demonstrated creative movement and individual characterization while blending well with her partner, Sam Boccia as Bombalurina. Weldon, singing "Memory," had a powerhouse voice that remained consistent throughout the entire song. Finally, Webster carried the production with a narrator-like presence. Her sleek soprano vocals offered a lovely yet strong element to the show.

Few schools would dare to attempt a production as challenging as CATS. With a high reputation and a demand for many individual talents, it certainly is a difficult feat. The students of Connelly School of the Holy Child tackled the famous show head-on, proving once and for all that young actresses are capable of great things.

Madelene Whitfield
Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

What's a jellicle cat? The theatre department at the Connolly School of the Holy Child can tell you in their vibrant production of CATS! Based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, the jellicle cats gather at the jellicle ball to decide who will go onto the next jellicle life. Throughout the show, different cats are introduced through song and dance. Dressed in wild print and furry wigs, all the cats opened with energy that they carried to the end of the show. CATS is widely known for the intense dancing and consistent singing and the actors at Connolly School of the Holy Child brought in all the stops.

Munkustrap (portrayed by Elizabeth Webster) was one of the main voices of the show. Webster had a lovely soprano voice and kept the show moving with her poise and stage presence as each cat was introduced. Another notable performance was by the sassy Demeter (played by Maggie Rudman) who lent her strong vocals to the duet Macavity. Rudman also introduced one of the most famous characters in the show, the dejected, fallen star, Grizabella (Maddie Weldon). Weldon's take on the widely-popular song, "Memory," was emotional and an audience favorite. Other crowd pleasers included the mischievous dynamic duo, Mungojerrie (Jordan Karanian) and Rumpleteazer (Isa Hoyos) and the magical Mr. Mistoffelees (Stefani Murray). Karanian and Hoyos had high energy throughout the show and stayed in character up until the final curtain and Murray wowed the crowed with her strong dancing ability in her character's namesake song, Mr. Mistoffelees.

The actors performed on their version of the iconic CATS junkyard which included tunnels, steps and a trashcan sized Starbucks cup. The overall singing was vocally strong despite the lack of projection at times. But the special effects, which included a light up jacket and smokey fireworks, were very impressive, with the fireworks appropriately going off during Mr. Mistoffelees. The lighting, though sometimes a bit slow, gave off an eerie feel to set the tone of the entire show. The choreography, though appropriate for this show, flip flopped between breathtaking and weak at times. The acrobatics, however were always strongly executed. As mentioned before, the costumes replicated the famous CATS look as well as the intricate makeup. Both the costume and makeup departments did a wonderful job with dressing the actors in the mismatched attire and designing each face with a unique pattern, tailored to each individual actor's character.

Overall, the Connolly School of the Holy Child's CATS was engaging and fun. From curtain to curtain, the actors has personality and cat-titude that enticed the audience. Despite a few hiccups with the sound and the pacing, the show would've made even T.S. Eliot beam with satisfaction.

Teresa Cummings
Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Montgomery Gazette

It is said that cats have nine lives, each different from the last. CATS the musical is based on the poems of T.S.Eliot and with music from the illustrious Andrew Lloyd Webber illustrates the adventures cats in the alleyway experience during their nine lives.

One of the most beloved shows in American history, CATS is one of the longest running productions in the United States beginning at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1982. Inspired by T.S. Eliot's poems, CATS is set in a dark alleyway littered with trash, the home of the Jellicle Cat tribe. With the signature song, "Memory", CATS highlights the story of a once glamorous cat whom fell from esteem in her tribe and struggles to gain back acceptance. This Tony award winning show has enticed thespians around the world with its demand for music, dance, and animal portrayal.

CATS is perhaps one of the most challenging productions a high school could set out to accomplish. It demands expressive choreography, passionate vocalists, and talented costuming and makeup teams. To turn an average person into a furry feline is a feat that Connelly School of the Holy Child met with grace. Unique in their own, the mismatched costumes caused this production to stand out among others in a risky way. While some of the wigs and makeup needed a little more finishing, most of the makeup identified each cat well, distinguishing one from another. Special effects were added onto certain costumes, such as Mr. Mistoffelees' elaborate jacket giving further distinction within the tribe.

No matter how good the makeup and costumes were, it fell on the actor to convince the audience that she was a cat with her mannerisms. Although some of the ensemble fell short in this category in the first act, like true cats they landed on their feet in the second.

Munkustrap and Victoria,(Elizabeth Webster and Theresa Cotton) were the epitome of elegant cats, sauntering in dance like fashion on stage. Demeter (Maggie Rudman), a red shouldered jazzy cat, displayed clear mannerisms in each of her scenes as well as a voice that could move a mountain to dance. Her solo in "Macavity" sprung chills and a contagious air causing everyone to move to the music in their seats. Macavity (Sara Cangarlu) performed well, showing off the fun choreography in place. Easily Macavity's sequence was the best of the show. Other standout performers included Rum Tum Tugger (adult actor Stanley Pane), Asparagus and Growltiger (Aidan Bird), and Old Deuteronomy (Shamaria Bell).

In addition to the energetic dancing Mr. Mistoffelees (Stefani Murray) and the ensemble displayed in the song, "Mistoffelees" showcased special effects of smoke and light showing the talents of Connelly's tech crew. Effects throughout the show were perfectly timed and appropriate, including an incredible echoing sequence and moon glare on stage. Lastly, Connelly's Cats knew no bounds as the fourth wall was demolished. Cats interacted with the audience throughout the show -- while this was enjoyable the first time, it became distracting as the show went on.

A tough challenge to achieve, Connelly's School of the Holy Child may take pride in their unique CATS production.

Joey Ledonio
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

Moonlight spills onto the stage as a haze settles on a mass of darkened forms. An oversized license plate that reads "TSE-1" stands in the middle of a cluttered junkyard. A single cat creeps to a standing position and the show begins. Welcome to the Connelly School of the Holy Child's eerie production of Cats.

Opening in London in 1981, Cats has been a persistent musical theater classic for decades. This sung-through musical penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber takes all of its lyrics from T.S. Eliot's collection of poetry titled Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The quasi-ethereal show follows a curious group of Jellicle cats on the cusp of an annual celebration and features the famous power-ballad "Memory." With an impressive 18-year Broadway run, Cats is the third-longest running show in the history of the Great White Way and continues to be an international favorite among regional and community theaters alike.

Cats is an ensemble-driven show so the cast at the Connelly School encapsulated the audience's attention by operating as an effective company. The cast often employed strong formations to build effective stage pictures while bending and twisting together to add to the fabric of this production. The cast found strength together and exuded a common confidence when performing as a unit. While the large cast of characters seemed to lack a cohesive energy at times, the performers moved well together as they leaped at the Jellicle Ball and crawled around the gymnasium with unabashed commitment. Chanting and harmonizing to Webber's undeniably catchy and oftentimes eldritch tunes, the dedicated cast proved that the whole is larger than the sum of its parts with their committed collective performance.

As the cast hissed and pawed across the stage, several strong voices pierced through intermittent mic issues to carry this feline tuner from beginning to end. Maggie Weldon as the forlorn Grizabella commanded attention from the moment she stepped on stage, bringing brass and pathos to the show in her classic song "Memory," a melancholy anthem to days gone by. Weldon played the outcast-cat with a haunting discord to match her character's broken past. Joining Weldon as a strong performer is Maggie Rudman as Demeter whose soulful voice carried through in "Macavity," one of the highlights of the night. As she sang of the mischievous tendencies of Macavity the mystery cat, Rudman sizzled with sass and commitment throughout the show.

The gymnasium stage at the Connelly School was used effectively with several entrances and exits built throughout the space. Consistent lighting and excellently timed sound effect cues complemented the equally efficacious set design. Smokey hazes and colorful costumes meshed well to deliver a sleek yet mysterious aesthetic while makeup and wigs were capably executed to transform the cast into a gang of cats.

While some moments may have underwhelmed the audience, the cast and crew of Cats at the Connelly School of the Holy Child shone in their outstanding commitment to one of Broadway's classic shows.