I have watched CATS live twice, once in Singapore, and once in 
London. I do not remember anything about the Singapore production 
because I could not see from where I was sitting, and I was at that 
time a newcomer to the music. However, the London production was a 
superb production that I will never forget. The cats' eyes made their 
presence felt in the surrounding darkness and I felt the experience 
when the cats were near me. Victoria's (Sarah Soetaert) solo dance 
was gracefully done, the Tugger (Tee Jaye) was more playful than 
before, and Grizabella (Sally Ann Triplett) more yearning. Act One 
had passed very quickly, all because I enjoyed myself tremendously. 
Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer and the Gumbie Cat were all outstanding in 
every way. What added to my enjoyment of the first part was the Pekes 
and the Pollicles and the Jellicle Ball, which has never been 
performed with so much verve.

When Act Two began, Old Deut (Nicholas Pound) was reminiscing the 
Moments of Happiness as if he wished they were back again, just as 
Griz wished her Memory to return. Growltiger has never sounded so 
better than on that night, when Gus (Michael Cantwell) and Jellylorum 
(Catryn Darnell) sang "In Una Tepida Notte" better than any other 
opera singers. Skimbleshanks had a lot of symptoms of train-craze 
about him, and Macavity was TERRIBLY menacing that he nearly sent 
shivers down my spine during the cat-fight. Mistoffelees' (Gen 
Horiuchi) dance was more magical and Jemima (Veerle Castlelyn) was a 
hint of what I would expect in the video. Overall, the live 
performance was so enjoyable that I wished that I could see it a 
third time, especially when I return to London, and even though the 
New York production is closing.

by Yi-Peng